Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Mark and I are originally from half a world apart from each other (Mark is from Nevada and I am from Hong Kong), so from the beginning of our wedding planning we knew that most of our guests would be out of town, and even out of the country! The priority for us was to have our guests feel that they are an important part of the wedding. Having lived hectic lives in New York City, we wanted a wedding that wasn’t exactly in Manhattan. Our vision was inspired by a late summer night in the garden, picnic with old books under large trees, and rustic country elements. Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Westchester NY, a 40 minute drive from Manhattan, couldn’t make a better choice for us. Ultimately, we just wanted a small celebration with 72 guests, eating the most amazing farm fresh food and enjoying an intimate night with everyone. The goal for us was to create one-of-a-kind wedding elements that our guests could take home as keepsakes and treasure after the wedding.

Instead of hiring a wedding planner, I did my own planning and utilized Etsy as a source for most of my wedding vendors (I have 30+ etsy transactions as proof!). With this, not only was I able to create keepsake items by hand (save-the-date, ceremony programs, menu envelopes), but our wedding budget opened up for a few splurges that we would cherish forever, such as our one of a kind vintage hanky invitations, an old time jazz band, my Monique Lhuillier gown, and an amazing floral and decor designer to help realize our vision of a rustic style wedding.

On the day of our wedding, window panes in the atrium were filled with rows of hanging single bud flowers in vintage medicine bottles. The outdoor seating aisle was lined with flower filled garden lanterns. Vintage lace decorated gates led to a pathway of vintage picnic blankets with books and flowers heaped on atop. We said our vows under a vintage reclaimed chuppa. The escort card area that separated the ceremony and cocktail spaces was created with reclaimed wooden containers, bottles and jars with wedding favors (egglings) wrapped in drawstring hemp bags, adorned with hand-sewn lace. Pig and sheep figurines, sourced from ebay, were spray painted in cream and used as place cards, placed on top of home-made kraft menu envelopes. The pig and the sheep theme also appeared on the wrapping envelopes of our wedding invitations. They are actually our Chinese zodiac signs, understood by only those who would have known!

Wedding Photography: Erik Ekroth / Floral & Decor Design: Hatch Creative Studio / Wedding Venue: Blue Hill at Stone Barns / Wedding Invitations: Bird & Banner / Wedding Band: John Ragusa Music / Wedding Cinematography: Barnaby Draper Studios / Makeup: Maral Balian of Warren Tricomi Salon / Hair: Stacy Pitt / Wedding Cupcakes: Billy’s Bakery / Calligraphy: Heather Burns of Perch Papiers / Vintage Postage Stamps: Verde Studio / Wooden Table Numbers: Liz Artistry / Wooden Guest Book: Bragging Bags / Wedding Program Design & Assemby: The Bride / Wedding Program Printing: Baumbirdy / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bride’s Hair Piece: Jenny Packham / Bridesmaid Dresses: Sarah Seven + CLF by Claire La Faye / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Custom / Groom’s Cufflinks & Stud Set: David Yurman / Groom’s Bow Tie: Brioni / Groomsmen Ties: The Hill-Side / Pocket Square: Vintage / Wedding Favors: Eggling

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Barn, Barnaby Draper Studios, Baumbirdy, Billy's Bakery, Bird and Banner, Blue Hill At Stone Barns, Bragging Bags, Brioni, Christian Louboutin, CLF by Claire La Faye, David Yurman, Eggling, Erik Ekroth Photography, Hanky Invitations, Hatch Creative Studio, Jenny Packham, John Ragusa Music, Lanterns, Liz Artistry, Monique Lhuillier, New York Weddings, NY, Outdoor Ceremony, Perch Papiers, Pocantico Hills, Rustic Elements, Sarah Seven, Soft Color Palette, Stacy Pitt, The Hill-Side, Verde Studio, Vintage Touches, Warren Tricomi Salon, Westchester, Window Panes
Post categories: New York Weddings, Whimsical

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the bride… We wanted to create an intimate gathering with an elegant, understated theme, a slice of vintage glamour and full of precious, sentimental details. Details that highlighted past and present and the blending of two families. With my roots in Pennsylvania and Michael’s in Michigan, it was about entertaining in “one of the greatest cities on earth” and as we subtly stated in handmade wedding itineraries from Etsy vendor, Little Ladybug Press, we wanted our friends and family to “fall in love with Brooklyn.”

We were fortunate to have an amazing natural color palette around us. The brilliance of autumn and its magnificent foliage was in full swing. We couldn’t have asked for a better backdrop. The River Café, Brooklyn NY was beyond spectacular. The entrance alone instantly places you in the midst of a lush oasis with arrangement upon arrangement of fresh fall inspired flowers. Enclosed in our own conservatory, we were delighted with 180-degree views of the Manhattan skyline across the Hudson River and a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty to boot.  We wanted the inside of the Terrace Room to feel just as radiant as the surrounding area. Guests were greeted with cream-colored pumpkin and leaf cardstock escort cards from Etsy vendor Sugar Papers that had been calligraphed. Our talented florist Denise Fasanello created the tablescapes with elegant floral arrangements. Rustic and lush in appearance with full Dahlias, orange roses, local hydrangeas, bittersweet, and calendula. The mini pumpkins selected from an Amish Farm in Pennsylvania provided us with a signature fall touch as Denise positioned them cascading from the arrangement. Additionally pumpkins and varied gourds were used to highlight our curly willow wishing tree as friends and families were asked to “leave us a well wish for the future” on multicolored mini leaves.  A single acorn collected from my grandfathers’ 60 year old Red Oak tree dotted each of the place settings. A precious sentiment as he is no longer with us, but could be there in spirit.

The space embraced our less than 50 person affair. Lending itself to the perfect level of intimacy, we were able to share our own taste in music without a band or even a deejay. Michael carefully crafted our own cocktail, dinner and dance mix. It captured all of our musical interests with far from the traditional sounds…a real crowd pleaser. The menu was an array of palate pleasing courses from gnocchi to veal.  In lieu of wedding cake, we opted for individual apple tarte tatins for our guests and a signature Brooklyn Bridge dessert in decadent chocolate for Michael and I to seal the deal.

The desire for vintage glam was idealized in my dress and accessories.  A chance encounter at a Birnbaum and Bullock sample sale, alone and on a whim it was one of the few dresses I tried. But as they say “when you know you know.”  With minimal alterations needed, the dress fit like a glove. It was meant to be. My something borrowed and standout accessory was the art deco belt buckle I fashioned as a hair brooch. My shoes, once plain silver strappy shoes were glammed with hand made shoe clips from Etsy vendor Sofisicata. Bold in theory for me, but perfect in sentiment, I wore vintage costume ruby and diamond earrings that my mother and I found among some of my grandmother’s jewelry. Unbeknownst to her, they were exactly what I wanted and were the combined birthstone of Michael and myself.  Luxurious in so many ways, but more endearing was the fur coat I wore during the day for pictures. A 50 year old coat that carries a lot of history and pleasure for many special women in my life was given some center stage moments.  My bridesmaids were regal in eggplant by designer Enzoani. My intention was to have a color that most exemplified fall. The color complimented each of the ladies features and made for a fun cocktail dress for an afternoon wedding. Each of us were highlighted with beautiful bouquets wrapped in hand selected vintage hankies and brooches to meet the girls personalities. I carried a traditional Irish lace hankie with shamrocks to honor my Poppi pinned by an art deco brooch with three crystals, as I am one of three girls in my family.  Michael sported a Hugo Boss suit. His groomsmen were likewise outfitted in suits with purple ties in various shades to complement the bridesmaids.

After ten months of preparation and thoughtful execution of details with respect to so many special people in our lives we felt as though we succeeded in creating a day that embodied us as a couple. WE are so grateful to the many talented people that brought their creative spirits to fruition. Our photographer Erik Ekroth has a gift for imagery and captured the day effortlessly. Many Etsy.com vendors were utilized and were a dream to work with offering much care and delight in being apart of our day. The hours spent enjoying the day and blissfully relaying all the special touches and sentiments was and still is the most enjoyable. We were overjoyed and almost in awe that the day could truly unfold far better than we could have ever imagined. In one word, we felt blessed.

Wedding Photographer: Erik Ekroth Photography / Reception Venue: The River Café / Wedding Gown: Birnbaum & Bullock / Bride’s Shoes: Ralph Lauren / Shoe Clips: Sofisticata / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Bridesmaid Dresses: Love by Enzoani / Escort Cards: Sugar Papers / Photobooth Accessories: Maro Designs / Florist: Denise Fasanello Floral Design / Calligrapher: Maryann Goodhue of Goodhue Designs / Wedding Itineraries: Little Ladybug Press

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 24 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Birnbaum & Bullock, Brooklyn, Casual Elegance, Denise Fasanello Floral Design, Erik Ekroth Photography, Etsy, Fall Inspired Wedding, Goodhue Designs, Hugo Boss, intimate wedding, Love by Enzoani, Maro Designs, New York Weddings, Ralph Lauren, Sofisticata, Sugar Papers, The River Cafe, Vintage Glamour
Post categories: Brooklyn Weddings, Casual Elegance

We are in LOVE with SMP’s new site design and are so eager to bring you lots and lots and lots {!} of new galleries of stunning weddings from the best of the best … Style Me Pretty’s fabulous Little Black Book Vendors!!!

I’m also really intrigued by Rochelle and David’s wedding venue! It’s amazing … like being encased in a fairytale come true.

So I had to do a little digging … Here’s what I read, “The Angel Orensanz Center itself is a neo-gothic building which was designed as a synagogue in 1849 by Berlin architect Alexander Seltzer. He drew inspiration for his design from the cathedral of Cologne and the German romantic movement of Heinrich Heine and Beethoven. This structure witnessed the birth of the Jewish reform movement in America, but after the decay of the Yiddish Lower East Side – after World War II – dozens of synagogues and other significant structures disappeared. Angel Orensanz bought this venerable structure in 1986, first for his own studio, and then to make it again a beacon of education and culture in the city of New York. The Foundation produces every year several cultural events such the Heinrich Heine Festival, the West Belfast-New York City Festival, Berlin Transfer (a symposium of philosophers and scientists with the Senate of Berlin), the Installation Art Award and publishes Artscape, a quarterly of the arts.”

David & Rochelle certainly found a stunning site for their wedding and celebration!

Catering by Simply Divine … Superb Event Coordination by In Any Event ~ Eyal Tessler and Leslie Price. The wonderful floral decor was byMichael Thomas Platos. And as we’ve been telling you … one of our newest Little Black Book Photographers, Erik Ekroth is responsible for the fun and festive fotos documenting a truly glorious celebration of love, life and family!

Erik’s blog is filled with so many gorgeous weddings! And just in case you missed it on our earlier post, he has a couple of NY bridal fashion runway shoots on his blog too … from April {Oscar, Christos, Ramona, etc.} and from last October {Vera!}.

Thanks SO much, Erik for joining us in our illustrious Little Black Book and for sharing Rochelle and David’s wedding with us!

Congratulations Rochelle & David from all of us at Style Me Pretty!!!!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Angel Orensanz Foundation, Erik Ekroth Photography, In Any Event, Jewish, Michael Thomas Platos, New York Weddings, Simply Divine, Vera Wang, Winter Wedding
Post categories: Cultural Beauty, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography, Wedding Style