{Click here for the full wedding gallery}

We didn’t have a style in mind at the beginning. All we knew was that we wanted every inch of the day to represent us. For that reason we decided to do almost everything ourselves. We were living in a small, woodsy cottage on an old farm when we got engaged. It was springtime and we were surrounded by green moss, trees and birds, particularly sparrows, flitting after each other. Those things ended up becoming the central themes of our wedding.

We wanted two things. The first was to have an outdoor ceremony and reception. The second was to have a place that could not only accommodate the wedding and reception, but also our guests for the whole weekend. When we arrived at Belvedere Mansion, it took us approximately three minutes to decide to put down a deposit. The grounds were beautiful with rolling green hills; tall, wise trees; peace full pond and views of the Hudson. The architecture and decor was representative of what we like, traditional yet homey and full of personality. It was a perfect fit.

We did many things ourselves. My husband is an Art Director and paper-lover so he designed the save-the-dates, invitations, place cards, table cards, ceremony programs, thank you notes, welcome notes and a matching website. He worked with his favorite printing company, Symmetry Lithographers, to custom print everything on our hand-picked paper. We worked closely with our priest, Father Dave, on the ceremony and vows. We hand picked every song that was played. We designed the centerpieces and floral arrangements. My mom and I hand made the welcome gifts out of jute fabric, white satin ribbon and sprigs of baby’s breath accented with Brad’s welcome cards. My mom and my aunts hung large pieces of tulle and ferns from the inside of the reception tent to create a magical feeling when the wind blew. The morning of I did my make-up while my mom did my hair. It was surprisingly relaxing to do everything ourselves because, come time for the wedding, we were happy knowing everything would be a part of us, perfect or not.

Photographer: Dave Robbins / Venue and Caterer: Jeff at Belvedere Mansion, Rhinebeck, New York / Wedding Dress: Reem Acra / Groom’s Suite: Brooks Brothers / Bridesmaids: J Crew / Music: JTD Productions

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Post tags: Belvedere Mansion, Brooks Brothers, Dave Robbins, J. Crew, JTD Productions, New York Weddings, Reem Acra, Rhinebeck
Post categories: All Real Weddings, Casual Elegance, Hudson Valley Weddings, New York Weddings, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

Abby and Matt’s reception was equally charming … simple elegance! Classic style.

But some of our favorite photographs from the day are the candid people shots captured throughout the day … those unrehearsed , often unnoticed expressions of love of friends and family …

And then perhaps the most exquisite shot of all …

We are going to hold off on showing you the rest of our favorites until tomorrow because Abby & Matt are going to be joining us to fill us in on all the details. In the meantime, to see more of Dave Robbins‘ work, take a look at his portfolio of fabulous wedding photographs. Dave is based in New York, but travels extensively!  More of Abby and Matt’s wedding … tomorrow!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Dave Robbins, Richmond, Stratford Hall, Virginia
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography

There is something so lush and romantic about this wedding. The deep purple linens, the approachable but incredibly chic floral design, the contemporary chargers. Every detail just lends itself to beauty. And I love that!

We have TONS more to come today, so stay tuned!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Artfool, Dave Robbins, Derek and Carianne, Purple
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

A couple of fun tidbits…the couple was all about luxury and a touch of whimsy. They opted for a “cheese” cake, stacked with gourmet cheeses from around the world. And, to take things one step further, they had Joan Jett serenade them!

More to come from the fabulous Dave Robbins!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Artfool, Dave Robbins, Derek and Carianne, Joan Jett, Mathew Robbins, Purple
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

Shot by the amazingly talented Dave Robbins, the affair is all about romance and pure beauty. The flowers were crafted by one of our all time favorite designers, Matthew Robins of Artfool and as usual, his work is flawless. We have a lot more to come from this affair, so stay tuned!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Artfool, Dave Robbins, Derek and Carianne, Mathew Robbins, Purple
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Wedding Flowers