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From the bride… I think the inspiration for our wedding actually stemmed from our photographers, The Nichols. Photography was one of the most important things to me, so after Darrell and I got engaged, I immediately started asking around. Someone sent me a link to The Nichols blog, and I instantly fell in love. THAT was what I wanted our wedding to be like — homey, authentic and happy. From there, we set out to find a venue, and stumbled upon the Hoffman Haus in Fredericksburg, Texas. It’s an adorable B&B — so sweet and comfortable. It felt like home, and I knew we had found the perfect place! One of the best things about the Hoffman Haus is that you take the entire property for the whole weekend, so we had the run of the place from Thursday night through Sunday morning. Our immediate family and the majority of our bridal party all got to stay on the property with us. It was exactly what we wanted — our families and all our friends coming together to celebrate with us all weekend. It was like a big house party! Before the rehearsal, everyone was hanging out in the garden, and Darrell looked at me and said, “This is perfect.”

After we found our venue, everything else kind of fell into place. With Style Me Pretty and Pinterest as my guide, we ended up buying or making most of the decor for our wedding (with lots of help from our families!). The ribbon backdrop in our ceremony space was one of my favorite things. It looked beautiful and vibrant blowing in the breeze, and it added wonderful movement and color to our ceremony space. Michelle Hodges at Sprout did an incredible job of tying everything together with gorgeous flowers. (She even managed to find me peonies in November!) Darrell and I got engaged in London last September, so we wanted to incorporate at least a bit of British flair. Working with Jason at Royal Fig Catering, we settled on a British-inspired cocktail hour and served Pimm’s cocktails and mini bangers-and-mash. Also on the topic of food, we decided to have an ice cream sundae bar in lieu of a groom’s cake. My mom made all the cookies and brownies and shopped for the toppings, and Royal Fig provided homemade ice cream — salted caramel and vanilla bean. Darrell and I often make brownies and ice cream for dessert on the weekend now because so it was special to us!

I loved the sense of calm and excitement that came over me when I finally reached Darrell at the end of the aisle (I barely kept it together walking down the aisle, but was totally fine when I got to the end!). Our ceremony was magical — very personal but also Christ-centered. I loved seeing everyone sitting down to dinner together talking and laughing and having fun. Our maid of honor and best man gave the sweetest speeches that were both heartfelt and funny. In lieu of a more traditional dance (which would have left me in tears), my dad and I busted out a choreographed dance to N*Sync. The whole weekend was absolutely perfect — the best day of our lives.

Wedding Photography: The Nichols / Wedding Venue: Hoffman Haus in Fredericksburg, Texas / Flowers: Sprout / Catering + Rentals: Royal Fig Catering / Wedding Day-of Coordinator: Aimee Villa of Lizze Belle Event Planning / Hair: Corinne Kimbro of Jackson Ruiz / Makeup: Deanna of Rae Cosmetics / Wedding Dress: Reem Acra via the Bridal Salon at Neiman Marcus / Groom’s Suit: Theory / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender / Wedding Invitations: Night Owl Paper Goods / DJ: Chris Hanson (DJ Rhythmic) / Wedding Cakes: The Peach Tree / Caramel Apples: Lone Star Candy Bar (830-990-9100) / Cake Stands: Sister’s Vintage Party / Ribbon Ceremony Backdrop: DIY

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Post tags: Aimee Villa, Amsale, Chris Hanson, Corinne Kimbro, DJ Rhythmic, Fredricksburg, Gray, Green, Hoffman Haus, Jackson Ruiz, Lizze Belle Event Planning, Lone Star Candy Bar, Neiman Marcus, Night Owl Paper Goods, Pink, Rae Cosmetics, Reem Acra, Royal Fig Catering, Sister's Vintage Party, Sprout, Texas, The Nichols, The Peach Tree, Theory, Vera Wang Lavender
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog

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From Theresa of Theresa Scarbrough Photography… I wanted to share with you Beata and Charles’ Chicago urban chic wedding from the fall of 2011. They are such a fun and sweet couple and I hope you enjoy looking over their images! Beata had her dress embellished with jewels on one side of the waist and matched it with the same jewels in her earrings and necklace matching with the glitter heels from Kate Spade. Charles wore his Army uniform. They were married on October 29th, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois, at St. Hyacinth Basilica. Portraits were taken around downtown and the reception was at the quaint Fulton’s on the River.

Wedding Photography: Theresa Scarbrough Photography / Ceremony: St. Hyacinth Basilica in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: Fulton’s on the River / Flowers: New Six Corners Flowers in Chicago, Illinois / Officiant: Rev. Francis Róg CR / Wedding Cinematography: Jeff Manimbo / DJ: Corey Sanford of Music Masters Entertainment, Inc. / Cake Topper: Milk Tea / Wedding Cake + Mini Pastries: Rolf’s Patisserie (Now Closed) / Red Velvet Cake Balls: The Bleeding Heart Bakery / Wedding Programs: Shine Invitations / Menus + Seat Assignments: DIY by Bride / Photobooth: Smilebooth / Makeup: Kelly Letto of Bobbi Brown / Getting Ready Location: dana Hotel and Spa / Bridal Party Gifts: Anthropologie / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Dress Applique + Hair Piece: Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Various Amsale Dresses in Eggplant / Sketch Pin Design + Save-the-Dates: Kelly Murray / Sketch Pins: Pure Buttons

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Post tags: Amsale, Anthropologie, Belle Vie Bridal Couture, Bobbi Brown, Chicago, Corey Sanford, dana Hotel and Spa, Fulton's on the River, Illinois, Inc., Jeff Manimbo, Kate Spade, Kelly Letto, Kelly Murray, Milk Tea, Music Masters Entertainment, New Six Corners Flowers, Pure Buttons, Purple, Rev. Francis Rog CR, Rolf's Patisserie, Shine Invitations, Smilebooth, St. Hyacinth Basilica, The Bleeding Heart Bakery, Theresa Scarbrough Photography, Vera Wang
Post categories: Chicago Weddings, Illinois Weddings, Traditional Elegance

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From the bride… Our wedding took place in November in Marble Falls, Texas. We had the venue booked within 24 hours of our engagement because I’ve known exactly where I wanted to get married since I was a child. I attended Camp Balcones Springs in Marble Falls every summer growing up, and the second I learned that people could get married there, I knew that was my dream. The camp is nestled in the heart of the Hill Country on Lake Travis, and of all the amazing things my parents did for me in childhood, sending me to camp is the one that I treasure the most.

In the off-season, the camp is The Retreat at Balcones Springs, and our guests stayed in the awesome cabins all weekend and enjoyed all the activities I did as a camper. I wanted our wedding to truly reflect the attitude of the Hill Country. Beautiful and cozy. Elegant without being formal. I have a hard time with color, so I always envisioned the wedding being soft and muted while creating a neutral spectrum. To enhance this, I used gold as an accent color. Our wedding bands are both made from yellow gold, and I love the way it glows. My shoes were gold, the crystals on my jewelry and belt were set it gold, the table letters were gold, and the centerpieces used gold urns. My gratitude for our florist is bottomless. Erin at Rosehip Flora completely floored me when I arrived at the reception. I really trusted her expertise and creativity, and with the little direction I gave her, she nailed it. The flower chandeliers made the pavilion feel so decadent, and the grape wood in the centerpieces bridged the gap between a summer camp and a beautiful wedding.

My very favorite details of the big day are walking down the aisle to “This Year’s Love” by David Gray, drinking bottled Coke from Mexico at cocktail hour, the way our cake matched my wedding gown and how overwhelmed I felt from all the love and support my friends gave me that day. I love that everything about our wedding meant something to me. I love that each and every detail came from my heart. And mostly, I love that someday we will be able to take our kids to Camp Balcones Springs and stand in the place that we began the rest of our lives.

Wedding Photography: Caroline Fontenot Photographer / Ceremony: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Marble Falls, Texas / Reception: The Retreat at Balcones Springs in Marble Falls, Texas / Wedding Coordination: Bess Baskin of The Retreat at Balcones Springs / Florist: Rosehip Flora / Dress: Amsale via Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon / Groom’s Suit: J.Hilburn / Band: The Drywater Band / Mariachi Band: Mariachi Los Gallos / Wedding Cake: Lou Carpenter Sapp / Event Décor + Design: The Bride / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: Morgan Stephanian, Best Friend of the Bride / Linens: Marquee Rents / Chiavari Chairs: Chiavari Chairs of Austin / Paper Name Banners: Ay Mujer / Wedding Cake Topper: Vintage Confections / Bride’s Belt + Bouquet Wrap: Kirsten Kuehn Designs / Place Cards + Clothespins: Morrell Décor / Table Letters: Hobby Lobby

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Post tags: Amsale, Ay Mujer, Bess Baskin, Blush, Caroline Fontenot Photographer, Chiavari Chairs of Austin, Gold, Hobby Lobby, J.Hillburn, Kirsten Kuehn Designs, Lou Carpenter Sapp, Marble Falls, Mariachi Los Gallos, Marquee Rentals, Morgan Stephanian, Morrell Decor, Rosehip Flora, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon, Texas, The Drywater Band, The Retreat at Balcones Springs, Vintage Confections, Wedding Details, White
Post categories: Austin Weddings, Casual Elegance, Texas Weddings

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From the bride… Brian and I wanted to feel like us on our wedding day — carefree and laid back. Having our loved ones take part in our big day was a personal experience for us — our good family friend officiated the wedding, our best friends and family members made up our wedding party, Brian’s childhood friends played the ceremony music and shot the day on 8 mm film, and our readers are close friends as well. We wanted our day to be easy — no stress for our guests or us. This feeling was the same for our décor. We wanted to have an understated sophistication and elegance. Basically, we didn’t want to go over-the-top. We kept everything very simple — planning, décor, flowers, using in-house pastries versus purchasing an additional wedding cake, and we added fun touches that tied into our mod desert venue (palm fans for programs, printed canvas gift bags, vintage family photos and Jonathan Adler “Mr. & Mrs. Muse” cake toppers). Finding The Parker as a venue was perfect for us because the décor is similar to our style: a fusion of classic, rustic, artistic and eclectic. When planning our big day, we focused on the decor and natural beauty of the gardens at the resort. Using what we had available allowed us to stay within a budget, but also helped to keep things simple like we wanted. With 90% of our guests flying in for the wedding, we wanted everyone to be taken care of. We wanted our guests to have an experience staying at a relaxing and beautiful hotel where the wedding would be steps away.

For the indoor reception, we wanted the ambiance to feel dark and warm, like at some of our favorite restaurants. We had a long table going down the middle of the room with our family and friends surrounding us, which made it feel intimate. The focus was on the experience and making sure our guests enjoyed themselves. The food was phenomenal; the music got everyone onto the dance floor; and our photographer, Shannen, captured countless candid moments. Finding the perfect venue and vendors truly made our day stress free.  We knew everything was taken care of and that our big day would go off without a hitch. 

I spent the day getting ready with my mom, soon-to-be mother-in-law and best friends in the world.  Although I was so happy to be with them, I couldn’t wait to see Brian. Once I was ready, I remember walking with Shannen to our first look location, having no idea where she was taking me. She held my dress as I babbled on about who knows what. As soon as I saw Brian, he took my breath away. After our first look it was time for the ceremony.  I’ll never forget the feeling I had walking down the aisle towards my husband to be … I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.  The joy in his face is a moment I’ll remember for the rest of the life. We will always remember having everyone we love most in the world in the same place at the same time.   

Wedding Photography: Shannen Norman Photography / Wedding Venue, Catering + Cupcakes: The Parker Palm Springs in Palm Springs, California / Event Design: The Bride + Groom / Event Planning: Kathy Recchia of Save the Date Events / Floral Design: Kate Holt of Flowerwild / Wedding Dress: Somsi Couture / Hairpieces: Nancy Shefts / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale, J.Crew, Dessy + Nordstrom / Bridesmaids’ Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Hair + Makeup: Neeraja Lockart (Makeup), Michael Strause (Hair) + Jodi Sanger-Weaver (Hair + Makeup) / Groom Suit: Hugo Boss Red Label via Nordstrom / Groom Shoes: Cole Haan / Men’s Ties: Nordstrom / Wedding Cinematography: Jac Cheairs / Wedding Invitations: Brown Printing / Wedding Programs: Ink & Envelopes / Black & White Cookies: Izzy’s Deli / Ceremony Music: Steve Paikai / DJ: DJ Chris Paul / Cake Topper: Jonathan Adler

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Post tags: Amsale, Blush, Brown's Printing, California, Cole Haan, Dessy, DJ Chris Paul, Flowerwild, Hugo Boss Red Label, Ink & Envelopes, Izzy's Deli, J. Crew, Jac Cheairs, Jimmy Choo, Jodi Sanger-Weaver, Jonathan Adler, Kate Holt, Kathy Recchia, Lavender, Michael Strause, Nancy Shefts, Neeraja Lockart, Nordstrom, Palm Springs, Pink, Plum Pretty Sugar, Purple, Save the Date Events, Shannen Norman Photography, Somsi Couture, Steve Paikai, The Parker Palm Springs, White
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Being a wedding planner myself (I own Sweet Pea Studio in Chicago), it was really important to me to make sure my wedding was a reflection of me and my groom. From personal touches in the details to nods to our family and heritage, we really wanted to wedding to scream “Ian & Kristin.” To start, we had the exact same wedding venues as Ian’s grandparents did 60 years prior — same church, same reception. And I was really proud to be wearing “The Veil.” It was first purchased in 1920 in Belgium and given to Ian’s great grandmother by her husband-to-be. The veil, made of “Bruges lace,” was dipped in tea to get the ecru color. Since then, Ian’s grandmother, mother, sister, aunts and cousins have worn it on their wedding day. I was the 12th woman to proudly wear it down the aisle, and at each wedding, a “veil photo” is taken where everyone there who has worn it stands behind the bride, holding the veil. We had our rehearsal dinner at an Italian restaurant (my family is Italian), a bagpiper to pipe us out of the church (Ian is Scottish), and we had the Chicago Cubs Dixieland Band play during cocktail hour (my late great uncle was Phil Cavarretta, a famous Chicago Cubs baseball player back in the 1940s). Our wedding reception was held in the ballroom at the Woman’s Athletic Club on Michigan Ave, where Ian’s mother is a member. The building has landmark status in the city and has a gorgeous, 1920s feel to it.

When it came to bringing our personal style to life in a ballroom setting, it was a challenge to include what Ian likes too. I’m into ballet, pink, ruffles and flowers, and growing up I always just wanted my wedding to be like Shelby’s in “Steel Magnolias” (i.e., blush and bashful). Ian is into fishing, nature and animals … which really has nothing to do with pink. I wanted to somehow combine our styles into one cohesive look and feel so it wasn’t just about me. So, we mixed lots of outdoor textures with soft pink florals. The floral plan included pheasant feathers in one of the centerpiece designs, and all the boutonnieres were pheasant feathers and monkey tail ferns. Our tables were named after African animals (we honeymooned in South Africa), and the names were slid into mini tree stump holders from Etsy. Ian and his groomsmen wore camouflage socks, and he even changed into a camouflage bow tie after dinner, which was so Ian. My dress made me feel like the ballerina I used to be, especially with the pink tulle crinoline I wore underneath. We absolutely love gummy bears, so we put our own spin on the candy bar idea with a gummy bar. And for a nod to Chicago, the city we love and adore, we had Frango mints in our hotel welcome bags and served our favorite deep dish pizza (Lou Malnati’s, of course) as a late night snack.

One of my favorite elements was our DIY save-the-dates. I found these rustic, wooden pencils which just seemed so perfectly us (I’m also a writer). My sister spent hours putting them together with me, and while it was a lot of work, I was so happy with the result. The save-the-dates really inspired me and set the tone for the rest of the wedding! We have so many favorite memories of the day, but one of our favorites was just after the ceremony when we had our “royal” moment. The church has this little balcony that overlooks the courtyard, so rather than coming out the front of the church like most couples do, we came out on a balcony, kissed and waved, just like Will & Kate! Overall, our day was everything we wanted: it was all about us. We had the most amazing vendors and could not have pulled off this day without them!

Wedding Photography: Molly Grace of Vrai Photography / Wedding Planning: Sweet Pea Wedding Studio (The Bride’s Company) / Flowers: Avant Gardenia / Wedding Ceremony: St. Chrysostom’s Church in Chicago, Illinois / Wedding Reception: Woman’s Athletic Club in Chicago, Illinois / Wedding Cinematography: Optrix Weddings / Wedding Dress: Christos via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Bride’s Pink Crinoline: Loca Loves Pirate / Bride’s Belt: Weddings 826 / Bride’s Shoes: Ivanka Trump / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Bella Bridesmaid / Jewelry: Left Bank Jewelry / Veil: Vintage Family Heirloom / Day-Of Coordination: An Event Less Ordinary / Cocktail Band: Chicago Cubs Dixieland Band / Reception Band: Final Say / Photo Booth: Red Eye Photo Booth / Wedding Invitations: Yellow Bird / Wedding Save-the-Dates: DIY / Hair: Blush Salon & Spa / Makeup: Primp / Late-Night Pizza: Lou Malnati’s / Tree Stumps Place Card Holders + Large Tree Stump with Wedding Date: This Fine Day

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Post tags: Amsale, An Event Less Ordinary, Avant Gardenia, Bella Bridesmaid, Belle Vie Bridal Couture, Black, Blush Salon & Spa, Chicago, Chicago Cubs Dixieland Band, Christos, Final Say, Illinois, Ivanka Trump, Left Bank Jewelry, Loca Loves Pirate, Lou Malnati's, Optrix Weddings, Pink, Primp, Red Eye Photo Booth, St. Chrysostom's Church, Sweet Pea Studio, This Fine Day, Vrai Photography, Weddings 826, White, Woman's Athletic Club, Yellow Bird
Post categories: Chicago Weddings, Illinois Weddings, Traditional Elegance

Meg & Dan | A Wedding at Elkhart Lake from I Do Films

Dan and I got married on the most perfect summer day in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – the same location where we had met six years earlier before my freshman year at Cornell.

I had always dreamed of having a tent wedding, so it was easy to settle on the beautifully-trimmed lawn at Victorian Village as the location for our reception. Using the warm, friendly, and vintage aesthetics of this family-run and family-fun resort as the foundation for our inspiration, my mom and I infused a little “Father of the Bride” and a few homemade touches to create a romantic and unforgettable Midwestern bash.

We started the day at my family’s home on Elkhart Lake, where Dan and I had a “first look,” but a very different kind. We were surrounded by my whole family while I came down the stairs and my brothers, dad, and Dan saw me for the first time. It was so special to have my whole family with us for such an important moment. The ceremony took place at Holy Name of Jesus in Sheboygan, where Dan had grown up and gone to church as a child. Our priest, who flew in from my family’s home parish in Los Angeles, stole the show with an incredibly touching homily that made reference to our “path” around Elkhart Lake. After the ceremony Dan and I took photos at a friend’s barn while our guests sipped homemade vodka lemonades and munched on Wisconsin cheese and meatballs.

Our 242 guests found their seating assignments on frames hung from vintage glass door knobs that Dan helped me power-drill onto a salvaged barn door found at my favorite antique shop, The Red Rooster in Plymouth. Dinner proceeded in a 60’ x 100’ century tent that glowed with warm rosy uplighting, ivory rice paper lanterns, and string lights. The tables were adorned with fresh roses, hydrangeas, and plenty of candles found at a local craft store by our florist Silvana Cassia of Twig Flowers. An oversize slate found at an antique shop and framed chalkboards found on HerMajestysPug’s shop on Etsy served as the menus for dinner and cocktails. To finish the look, we invested in a black-and-white checkered dance floor that exuded a snappy, jazzy feel.

A Beatles cover band called The Cavern Beat played four sets and kept the dance floor packed with guests of all ages. My mom always told me, “Meg, all you need for a great party are the two B’s: booze and a band.” She was so right!

Dessert included chocolate ganache cake from the bakery at the local Piggly Wiggly adorned with hydrangeas, an ice cream bar, and my mom’s molasses, snickerdoodle, and chocolate-chip cookies served on a three-tier cookie tower created with the help of a local carpenter.

We absolutely loved working with Anna and Jonathan Wheeler of Anna Page Photography, as well as Matt Buckman and Élan Villamor of I Do Films. Their ability to go with the flow, their attention to detail, and their cat-like reflexes certainly did not go unnoticed! Dan and I are so grateful to both of them for documenting our memories in such a beautiful and unique way!

Photography:  Anna Page Photography / Cinematography: I Do Films / Tent: Canopies Events / Band: The Cavern Beat / Event Coordination: Laura Cooper, Cooper Consulting / Floral Design: Twig Flowers / Ceremony Location: Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church / Caterer & Reception Location: Victorian Village Resort / Invitations: Bella Figura / Bride’s Dress: Amsale via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang / Bride’s Heels: Vince Camuto / Bride’s Flats: Aldo / Bride’s & Bridesmaid’s Earrings: Anthropologie / Bride’s Bracelet: J.Crew / Engagement Ring and Groom’s Ring: Steve Quick Jeweler / Floral Hair Clip: Sara Gabriel / Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Groom’s Bowtie and Groomsmen’s Ties: Brooks Brothers / Hair & Makeup: Aspira Spa, The Osthoff Resort / Guest Transportation: Discovery Coach / Wedding Party Transportation: Stargazer Limousine / DJ: Matt’s DJ Service/ String Quartet: Jubilate String Quartet, kayesara@hotmail.com (Sarah Oftedahl ) / Guest Photo Station: Beyond the Booth Photography / Candle Holders & Flower Bases: Hobby Lobby & Pier 1 Imports / Framed Blackboard Cocktail Signs: HerMajestysPug / Ice Cream Sign: The Back Porch Shoppe / Cake: Natalie’s Pastries, natalieblattner@hotmail.com / Ice Cream: Scoops Ice Cream Parlor

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Post tags: Aldo, Amsale, Anna Page Photography, Anthropologie, Aspira Spa, Bella Figura, Beyond the Booth Photography, Black Tie, Bowties, Brooks Brothers, Canopies Events, Chinese Lanterns, Cooper Consulting, Discover Coach, Elkhart Lake, Etsy, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Inspired, HerMajestysPug, Hobby Lobby, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, I Do Films, Ice Cream, Invitations, J. Crew, Jubilate String Quartet, Matt's DJ Service, Men's Wearhouse, Natalie's Pastries, Neutral Color Palette, Outdoor Weddings, Pier 1 Imports, Piggly Wiggly, Rustic Chic, Sara Gabriel, Scoops Ice Cream Parlor, Sheboygen, Stargazer Limousine, Steve Quick Jeweler, Tented Reception, The Back Porch Shoppe, The Beatles, The Cavern Beat, The Osthoff Resort, Traditional Elegance, Twig Flowers, Vera Wang, Victorian Village Resort, Vince Camuto, Vintage, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Stationery, White Color Palette, Wisconsin
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Cinematography

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Growing up on Centre Island and spending my summers sailing at Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht club, I never took the beauty of Centre Island, NY for granted. When my now-husband came to visit me one summer when we first started dating, I drove him by SCYC and jokingly mentioned that is where we would be getting married. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that would come true eight and a half years later. It meant so much to get married where I spent my childhood and for our family and friends to help us celebrate. However, Peter and I both studied abroad in Florence, Italy; Italian language, culture, wine and food are huge influences in our daily lives. Though set on Centre Island, we tried to bring a little bit of Italy home to share with our loved ones through various special elements. Our escort cards were tried to sprigs of rosemary, the guestbook was a wine bottle, our favors were hand-bottled olive oil and balsamic vinegar, we had a Bellini bar at cocktail hour, most of the food was Italian -inspired, and we included a glossary of fun Italian wedding terms on the back of our menu (Cent’anni!), along with tasting notes and special stories about the wine served at the wedding. In fact, much of the wedding was inspired by a particular paper pattern on a scrapbook I have from my travels in Florence, Italy. It has such vivid and beautiful colors — perfect for the celebration of our marriage! This pattern really inspired the feel of our whole wedding.

Based on this pattern, I designed nearly all of the paper elements with the help of talented printers at Village Invites and Spark Letterpress. When the paper company didn’t have the perfect liner, I found it from an Italian specialty store online, and shipped the paper company the pattern to custom line our invites with this print.  The extra paper was used to make candles by the Etsy vendor Crafty Clementines. We even had runners made from this stunning Fiorentina pattern. Two of my bridesmaids hand-made a beautiful pennant banner from this paper as well! Because the pattern is so vibrant, I wanted to keep the florals simple, mostly cream colored, a few pops of color, with lots of lush greenery and olive branch accents to evoke a Tuscan feel. The blues of the bridesmaid dresses were selected to compliment the beautiful blue hues in the Fiorentina pattern.

One of my favorite elements was our RSVP cards. We invited guests to design a wine label on the reverse side, and we were blown away by the designs our talented guests mailed back. I scanned in all of the labels we received, and created wine labels that were displayed on wine bottles next to a corkboard display of the original designs. In addition to the personal touches we tried to incorporate throughout the design and feel of our wedding, it was important to us to personalize the ceremony as well. Peter and I sat down together and came up with a special element, which we called, “Kisses and Wishes.” With the program, our guests received a little pouch filled with a candy and a penny. The candy was a “Bacio,” which means “Kiss” in Italian. Baci are our favorite candy, not just because of the flavor (chocolate & hazelnut) but it has sentimental value to us – and each has a little love note in the wrapper! Everyone got to have a little snack mid-ceremony — Grandma Bea seemed particularly happy about this treat! The penny was for each guest to make a wish on and place into a little lantern. Peter and I saved the pennies, and all the “wishes” are displayed lovingly in our home. Everything about the day was wonderful. Grazie mille a tutti!

Wedding Photography: R Wagner Photography / Wedding Coordinator: Melissa Bauer of Chandelier Events / Floral Design: Main Street Florist / Venue: Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club / Wedding Dress: Ivy & Aster with Customization by Sew Elegant + Ellen’s Couture (Sleeves + Sash Assembly) / Veil: Peter Langer via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Endless / Bride’s Belt Ribbon: Hyman, Hendler & Son / Bride’s Belt Applique: M.J. Trimming / Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid + Amsale / Groom’s Suit: Custom by La Sartoria / Groom’s Tie: Zegna “Quindici” via Saks / Paper Goods: Designed by the Bride with Village Invites / Save-the-Dates + Wedding Invitations: Village Invites + Spark Letterpress / Menus: Village Invites + William Arthur / Wedding Cake: Baked / Earrings: Bloomingdales / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: Hair by Kiss (631-923-0990) / Candles: Crafty Clementines

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Post tags: Amsale, Baked, Bella Bridesmaid, Blue, Chandelier Events, Crafty Clementines, Ellen's Couture, Endles, Green, Hair by Kiss, Hendler & Son, Hyman, Ivy & Aster, Kleinfeld Bridal, La Sartoria, M.J. Trimming, Main Street Florist, Melissa Bauer, New York, Oyster Bay, Peter Langer, R Wagner Photography, Saks, Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Sew Elegant, Spark Letterpress, Village Invites, William Arthur, Zegna
Post categories: New York Weddings

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From Shari of As You Wish Events… Allison and Wes Swank’s goal was to astound their guests in every aspect of their wedding. They started by creating a special save-the-date that had a personal touch by incorporating a hand-drawn image of their beloved cocker spaniel, who played a part in Wes’ proposal. The two had been together for eight years before deciding to tie the knot so they wanted to celebrate BIG. Where better to do that than the big city of Dallas? The couple married at First United Methodist Church right downtown. Family and friends gathered in the beautiful sanctuary, which was decorated with large blooming dogwood branches. After the ceremony, the guests made their way to the historic Adolphus Hotel. The soft pinks and creamy vanilla floral with gold accents created a romantic entry and area for guests to mingle before dinner. After cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, guests found their escort cards, which were each calligraphed by hand, and made their way into an inviting room washed in blush lighting with soft, flowy fabric draped throughout. The table tops were drenched in low, creamy floral arrangements that allowed for easy dinner conversation among guests. The menus were carefully tucked into silk napkins that sat on top of gold chargers to add sparkle and depth to the tables.   After a fun night of dinner and dancing, guests grabbed individually wrapped boxes of Tagalong Girl Scout cookies as their favors. They then made their way out the Adolphus lobby doors to send the newlyweds off by waving hand-painted streamer wands. The Swanks spent the first night of their new life just the way they wanted to, in a beautiful place with great food and entertainment, but most importantly, surrounded by their loving friends and family. Wedding Photography: Stacy Reeves / DJ + Lighting: Marcus Rollins / Wedding Reception + Catering: Adolphus Hotel / Florist: Stacey Murdoch of The Wildflower / Wedding Coordination + Event Design:  Shari Johns of As You Wish Events / Wedding Cake: Lauren Kitchens of Fancy Cakes by Lauren / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier via Neiman Marcus / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Bridal Collections by Stella / Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren / Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher

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Post tags: Adolphus Hotel, Amsale, As You Wish Events, Bridal Collections by Stella, Dallas, Fancy Cakes by Laura, Gold, Lauren Kitchens, Marcus Rollins, Monique Lhuillier, Navy Blue, Neiman Marcus, Pink, Ralph Lauren, Shari Johns, Stacey Murdoch, Stacy Reeves, Texas, The Wildflower, White
Post categories: The Blog