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From the bride… The fabulous Ashley O’Dell photographed our September 3rd wedding in Waltham, Massachusetts, which is a small town near Boston. We were married at Gore Place, a Federal-era mansion, and we picked the location primarily because of the gorgeous secret garden on the grounds — it has high hedges all around and a Federal-style knot garden just outside. Our palette was vintage rose, gold, ivory and leafy green. I love the Edwardian era and tried to play up the natural garden environment as much as possible.

Working with our florist, Darcy Hammer from Le Reve Floral Designs, was one of the highlights of my planning experience — she created exquisite bouquets that were artistic and yet natural. She used a lot of ferns, fiddleheads, gorgeous peach dahlias, pale pink roses, and other beauties to reflect the natural environment, the colors of the bridesmaids’ dresses, and the colors of late summer. She also created ivy wreaths for my smallest nieces to wear as crowns, and they looked like little fairies out of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I was really into the idea of small hanging lanterns (or glowing balls of awesome, as one of my bridesmaids likes to call them), so we gathered dozens of small mason jars and created little lights to hang in the trees around the reception tent. It was a pretty sight as the late afternoon sun went down and dusk turned into night.

We stayed with the garden theme for the favors, which were wildflower seed bombs. During cocktail hour, we served peach rose bellinis, and during dinner we served a gin and St. Germain cocktail that we nicknamed the Nick and Nora, after the couple in The Thin Man movies. We both loved everything about our day, and are so glad that we took a few minutes alone right after the ceremony … it gave us a chance to drink in the feeling that we had just skydived into an amazing new phase in our lives.

Photographer: Ashley O’Dell Photography / Venue: Gore Place / Florist: Darcy Hammer of Le Reve Floral Design / Catering + Wedding Cake: Cuisine Chez Vous / Wedding Dress: Watters / Veil: BHLDN / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Jewelry: Sorrelli / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Stationery: Hello! Lucky / Makeup: Kirsten Brusse of Joli Visage / Hair: Jennifer Fusco / Officiant: Rev. Marc Fredette / Coordinator: Jonathan Wood (based in Washington, D.C. — ameaningfuldaycoordinator@gmail.com) / DJ: D’Hana Perry / Band: Billy Novick + Guy Van Duser

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Post tags: Ashley O'Dell Photography, Badgley Mischka, BHLDN, Billy Novick, Cuisine Chez Vous, D'Hana Perry, Darcy Hammer, Gore Place, Guy Van Duser, Hello! Lucky, J. Crew, Jennifer Fusco, Joli Visage, Jonathan Wood, Kirsten Brusse, Le Reve Floral Design, Massachusetts, Rev. Marc Fredette, Sorrelli, Waltham, Watters
Post categories: Boston Weddings, Massachusetts Weddings, Traditional Elegance

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From the Bride… Ben and I knew we wanted a San Francisco city wedding, with an incredibly personal ceremony and a dance party reception. We envisioned photos along the streets of Nob Hill, near our first apartment together, and throughout the Financial District where we both worked for many years. The moment we saw The Merchants Exchange and the Julia Morgan Ballroom, we knew it was the right space to bring our vision to life… A classic venue where we could incorporate a modern twist, with clean and simple lines, a balance of neutrals and warm blush tones.

We were living across the country while planning the wedding, and as someone who deals with details for a living, it was a challenge for me feeling like I could not be in control every step of the way. The biggest piece of advice I can offer any bride, but particularly those who are long-distance planning and/or serving as their own planner, is to put in the time up front to thoroughly research your vendors. Read wedding blogs and reviews, ask your venue for recommendations, talk to friends who have been married in the area – and keep in close touch with them through email, phone calls and Skype. If you do all this, you can then trust that they will contribute to something truly amazing when your big day comes around. I personally found my amazing photographer and hair/makeup stylists on Style Me Pretty; my incredible florist did one of my bridesmaid’s weddings; our rocking DJ came highly recommended by our venue, but it was a video showcase we watched that sold us on him.  And THE Dress? I came across the perfect designer for me on Yelp – Her overall aesthetic is structured, simple and chic, with a little flair.

Our wedding weekend was absolutely perfect – from a good friend serving as our officiant, to my mother reciting a poem she wrote for us in Chinese, to the dance party that lasted well into the night. While my many Excel grids and lists may have laid the foundation, I really trusted that I had picked the best vendors to be our team. On our wedding day, we did not worry about one thing. We savored every moment with our friends and family, laughing, crying and dancing, and every detail was even more beautiful than I could have imagined. The best feeling is that there is not one thing I would change.

Wedding Photography: Meg Perotti / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: The Julia Morgan Ballroom in The Merchants Exchange / Floral Design: Chestnut & Vine / Wedding Dress: Vwidon / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Hair + Make-up: The Makeup Dolls / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: JoS. A Bank / Ties: Brooks Brothers / Wedding Cake: Beaux Gateaux Wedding Cakes, / Catering: Union Street Catering / Wedding Videography: On Bended Knee Films / DJ: Denon & Doyle / Programs, Place Cards + Invitations: Hello! Lucky / Save the Date + Table Numbers: Photographed by Jay Tsai Photography, Designed by The Groom / Styling + Planning: Bride and Groom

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Post tags: Beaux Gateaux, Brooks Brothers, California Weddings, Chestnut & Vine, Denon & Doyle, Hello! Lucky, Jay Tsai Photography, Jenny Yoo, Jimmy Choo, Jos A Bank, Meg Perotti, On Bended Knee Films, San Francisco, The Julia Morgan Ballrom, The Makeup Dolls, The Merchants Exchange, Union Street Catering, VWIDON
Post categories: California Weddings, San Francisco Weddings, Traditional Elegance

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From the Bride…Zach and I were high school sweethearts and on the day we wed, we had been together for over 6 years. As far as the wedding goes, I’m not even sure where to begin. I remember every thing, every detail as complete perfection. Almost the moment after Zach proposed I began my search for the perfect venue. I had a distinct vision in my head of “simplistic beauty”. I wanted to be married outdoors, I knew that detail was for sure! After a lot of searching my mom found this lovely place located in Prospect (about 15 minutes outside of Louisville) called Gingerwoods. It was a newer, mostly unheard of venue located on a windy road lined with trees and fantastic views of grazing horses every direction you looked. It had been a church at one time, and when the church moved elsewhere, someone bought Gingerwoods and “re-touched” a few details, but they were still sure to leave loads loads of charm.

As that detail was crossed off the list it was time to think about decor. I was so afraid my simplistic touch and small budget may be mistaken for unfinished, and that is when I remembered a distant friend of mine had just started a small design company. I asked if she would be willing and she dove right in! Believe me when I tell you, she did everything! I call her my fairy god mother because she made my dream a reality. She did complete design of the reception flowers, our bouquets and boutonnieres, she even did the arch we were married under (which she surprised me with on the day of). We were inspired by table numbers that we had seen on SMP months before and even did a DIY project of our own to re-create!

After all of these details were put together, the day finally arrived. I had never seen the sky so blue or so crisp, it was a perfect day for our wedding! One of the most special things about that day was getting ready at the salon I work at, surrounded by all my co-workers that I know and love. They surprised me with mimosas and took such great care of me, being with them for that portion of the day was truly special. Once 6 o’clock arrived it was time to marry my best friend, we were surrounded by only our closest friends and family. After our ceremony, guests were escorted up to a tented deck for cocktail hour while Zach and I took pictures. Right before it was time to head into the reception, a video played of Zach and I through the years, after that was played, we were announced in. This by far, was the best moment of the night. People stood and clapped, some even with happy tears, and welcomed us in. We had never felt so much love in one room!

Wedding Photography: Whitney Rae Photography / Event Design, Planning + Floral Design: Jaclyn Thomas Design / Ceremony + Reception Location: Gingerwoods / Invitations: Hello!Lucky / Bride’s Shoes: Ann Taylor / Wedding Dress: WTOO via Rebecca’s Wedding Boutique / Hair: Christy Young, Hair by Bennie and Friends / Make-up: Jamie Todd, Hair by Bennie and Friends

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Post tags: Ann Taylor, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Gingerwoods, Hair by Bennie and Friends, Hello! Lucky, Jaclyn Thomas Designs, Kentucky, Louisville, Rebecca's Wedding Boutique, Vintage Chic, Whitney Rae Photography, WToo
Post categories: Vintage Chic

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From the Bride… From the beginning we knew we wanted something intimate, simple yet sophisticated and not super-traditional.  The majority of our 50 guests were from out of town and it was important to us to plan a day that would not only allow us to spend time with people we rarely get to see, but to also showcase the city that we love so dearly.  San Francisco has so much to offer and we really wanted to leverage both the beauty and the urban feeling of the city.  As soon as we saw Shakespeare Garden we knew it was perfect for us – so beautiful and lush, with an air of romance.

It was really important that the entire day felt very personal and we started by writing the ceremony ourselves, and creating programs that focused on our journey and the things we hold most dear to our relationship.  My favorite part of the day was when the groom had to call a “timeout” during the ceremony because he didn’t have the rings.  It was so classically “us” to have something like that happen and I can’t remember the last time we laughed that hard – it just made everything that much more personal and real.

We decided on a dinner party reception with the focus on excellent food, wine and company.  By choosing a restaurant we knew we were guaranteed fantastic food and excellent service, plus we didn’t have to think about caterers or rentals!  Cocktail hour and dinner featured a stunning view of the Bay Bridge which provided a beautiful backdrop to a night filled with love.  Tables were labeled with names of places that were significant during our relationship over our eight years of dating.  The food was all local, and we even skipped the traditional cake in lieu of creme brulee (my all-time favorite dessert). Looking back our day was perfect for us.  It’s ok to not be cookie cutter – stick with what you really want, prioritize the most important things, and focus on the love.

Wedding Photography: Gladys Jem Photography / Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel / Bride’s Shoes: Vince Camuto / Hairpiece: Twigs & Honey / Groom’s Suit: Kenneth Cole / Wedding Invitations: Hello!Lucky / Programs, Table Names, Placecards, Favors: The Bride / Floral Design: Church Street Flowers / Hair + Make-up: The Glamourist / Wedding Ceremony Location: Shakespeare Garden / Officiant: Cynthia Gregory / Wedding Reception Location: Epic Roasthouse

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Post tags: Amy Kuschel, California Weddings, Church Street Flowers, Cynthia Gregory, Epic Roasthouse, Garden Ceremony, Gladys Jem, Hello! Lucky, Intimate, Kenneth Cole, Outdoor Wedding, Red, Restaurant Reception, San Francisco, Shakespeare Garden, The Glamourist, Twigs & Honey, Vince Camuto
Post categories: California Weddings, Casual Elegance, San Francisco Weddings

After spending several weekends driving all over LA County looking at potential venues, we finally arrived at a private club in downtown LA and it was love at first sight! The place was elegant and gorgeous!  I do love funky weddings but I’m from Connecticut and am a traditionalist at heart and this place had a traditional East Coast vibe that felt right to me. The place is also a significant historical California landmark.

One of the greatest parts of the wedding ceremony was Patrick’s nephew Tucker who was our ring bearer. His cuteness stole the show.  The day before at the rehearsal, he threw tantrums, kicked his legs, and flopped on the floor until his face turned red and we thought “Well, OK, that’s fine. We won’t have a ring bearer.”   But, on the day of the wedding, he was in good spirits.  He walked very carefully and solemnly down the long aisle and after he handed the ring pillow to his father, the best man, he raised his arms and screamed “I DID IT!”  The guests all laughed and cheered and it was a good ice breaker for conversations during the cocktail hour.

We wanted something a little different and not so predictable so we used a crayon drawing of us done by our good friends’ 7 year old daughter for the cover of the program.  The rest of the day was perfect and all ran smoothly.  Great food, great band and we were so happy and thankful to have all our relatives and great friends (two coming all the way from Europe!) to share this amazing day.  Special thanks to my sister and brother-in-law who sponsored us at this gorgeous venue.

Photography: Jennifer Rau Photography / Flowers: The Enchanted Florist / Wedding Coordinator: Kristeen LaBrot Events / Ceremony Location:  Private location in downtown Los Angeles / Invitations: Candi Stern Stationers / Save the Dates: Hello Lucky / Shoes: Grazia / Dress: Justin Alexander / String Quartet: Fiddlestix / Band: Masta / Makeup: LCW Beauty Design / Cake: Porto’s / Cake Pops: Sweet & Saucy / Cake Pops Tag Design: Kristeen LaBrot Events

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Post tags: Ballroom Wedding, Cake Pops, California, Candi Stern Stationers, Color Palette Black White, Fiddlestix, Grazia, Hello! Lucky, Jennifer Rau Photography, Justin Alexander, Kristeen LaBrot Events, LCW Beauty Design, Los Angeles, Masta, Outdoor Ceremony, Porto's Sweet & Saucy, Ring Bearers, The Enchanted Florist, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Planners & Designers
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

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From Merrily Wed…Mutual friends tried to set Alison and Jeremy up but Alison wouldn’t have anything to do with it for two years. Then they actually started talking and a bi-coastal relationship began. Fast forward to living as a couple in San Francisco when Jeremy proposed to Alison on a San Francisco rooftop surrounded by 10,000 lights – literally, and the lighted Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop. They didn’t have a dream of how to finish their fairytale love story… Little did they know it would end up on a magnificent sprawling lawn on the shores of Lake Tahoe with the help of Merrily Wed.

The ceremony was held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church (seen in the Godfather II) and the reception site was kept a well hidden secret from their 165 guests. Upon arriving at the palatial, luminous lakefront estate, guests were treated to a champagne cocktail and twinkling music by a string quartet. Wine barrels doubled as cocktail tables and this look was carried over to the majestic main bar overflowing with soft, white flowers.

Alison wanted a vintage, romantic look but with a twist of sophistication. The color palette was neutral with ivories, creams and natural tones but with a fresh punch of color from the flowers. To add a bit of glamour to her wedding day, we wove touches of gold throughout: from Alison’s couture French Chantilly lace dress with gold metallic accents, to her intricately detailed place setting to the gold-rimmed glassware to the gold lace on the hanging mason jar lanterns. Her place card table was an old farm table with layers of antique lace wrapped around it. The place cards were woven into the lace. Two giant floral arrangements on wine barrels framed the entrance into her dreamy summer night tent – a clear top canopy with sheer ivory swagging which allowed the just right amount of light, towering trees and twinkling stars to peek through. The antique rustic chandeliers created a dramatic focal point at each end of the tent and a natural spot to gather the draped swagging.

Napa French-slotted wooden chairs complimented the natural style of the eggshell Tuscany linen on the dining tables. Alison used colorful gold-rimmed china reminiscent of her Grandma’s on top of a rustic embossed charger. The details were in the rich patterns of each. Gold-rimmed glassware picked up the gold in the ornate floral band of the Diana china. Tables were named after locations that had sentimental meaning to Alison & Jeremy as well as the guests matched at each. These were attached to twigs and incorporated in the loosely arranged centerpieces. The wedding cake cannot go unmentioned – it was a very special family recipe by Aunt Allie. Served in her memory, Aunt Allie is Alison’s namesake and July 31st is not only their wedding date but Aunt Allie’s birthday. Pride & Joy, a 10 piece band, kicked off the dancing under the summer night’s dream of a reception tent. Their energy and costume changes kept the guests dancing.

Event Design + Planning: Merrily Wed / Wedding Photography: Kate Webber Photography / Caterer: As You Wish / Flowers: Stems by Diana / String Music: The String Beings / Band: Pride & Joy / Ceremony Venue: Corpus Christi Catholic Church / Reception Venue: Private West Shore Lakefront Estate / Invitation Designer: Hello!Lucky / Wedding Dress: Atelier des Modistes / Wedding Videography: Stanislav Basovich / Cake Designer: Sugar Pine Cakery / Equipment Rentals: Celebrations Party Rentals + Classic Party Rentals / Linen Rental: La Tavola Linen / Make-up Artist: Yvette Beebe / Hair Stylist: Jarr Von Samuel

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Post tags: As You Wish, Atelier des Modistes, Celebrations Party Rentals, Classic Party Rentals, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Hello! Lucky, Jarr Von Samuel, Kate Webber Photography, La Tavola Linen, Lake Tahoe, Merrily Wed, Pride & Joy, Stanislav Basovich, Stems by Diana, Sugar Pine Cakery, The Strings Beings, Yvette Beebe
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

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From the Bride…Seth & I met in Tucson, AZ and after a year of long distance, we found ourselves together in San Francisco. Our proposal was as low-key as the wedding planning process was: just the two of us in our apartment.We initially wanted a barn wedding, but without the Bay Area barn wedding price. Being a full-time student with little free time and a moderate budget, I knew I needed to find a venue that was outstanding on its own without needing too many added elements. We found that in Barndiva, about an hour and a half north of San Francisco in the heart of Sonoma County’s wine county. The charming, modern-yet-vintage restaurant stole our hearts during our first visit, but it was the back garden and dining area that really sealed the deal. Little details like an old library card catalog on the back porch, wrought iron weather vanes, and strings of twinkling white lights made the venue seem as if it were made just for us! Not only is it a “barn”, but it’s a modern take on the old barn wedding.

Because we met in the desert, I knew that succulents and other arid-weather plants were going to be an important component that allowed me to keep my color focus on neutral, natural colors such as grey, green, ivory, and dusty yellow. DIY was the name of the game when it came to decorations and details. In lieu of table cards, I painted individual names on 3 large, old window panes that we found at the Alameda Flea Market. I was inspired by a few “mad lib”cards on Etsy and fashioned my own. I printed out copies for everyone on my home computer and used them instead of a traditional guest book (great way to save money!). From making the moss-covered monogram and ampersand to cutting old maps of the Bay Area for seating cards,my best piece of advice is to start projects MUCH earlier than you’d think! Even the small project of covering our initials with decorative paper took hours longer than originally expected-not to mention the time it takes to shop around for good deals on paper, glue, etc.- it’s a time-consuming process.

Our short-and-sweet ceremony was performed in the back garden of Barndiva by owner Lukka and the sun peeked through the grey skies right after The Mighty Chiplings finished playing the processional song “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles. The cocktail hour moved next door to Studio Barndiva where guests were able to enjoy eclectic art pieces (another money saver-no need to decorate this space!) before everyone was whisked to the back garden dining space. Magical arches lit up with tiny white lights as guests dined on filet mignon and pan-seared halibut. We chose not to have musicians during the dinner hour, instead enjoying the clinking of glasses and laughter from the guests to serve as background music. Bonnie at Dragonfly Floral used beautiful succulents and other local floral from her 6-acre flower farm less than a mile from the venue. Being able to utilize local vendors not only cut down on delivery and travel costs, but it made the event much more personal and special. The night finished with a bang as everyone danced the night away to the most amazing cover band HIP Service.

All of the time and effort spent on the many DIY projects definitely paid off and we are still getting compliments on all of the little details. The overall mood was completely relaxed and we can’t wait to go back to Barndiva for our one-year anniversary!

Wedding Photography: Matt Edge Wedding Photography / Venue: Barndiva / Wedding Dress: Lea Ann Belter via Clarissa Bridal / Hair + Make-up: The Traveling Stylist, Amy Perdigone / Bride’s Earrings: Nadri via Nordstrom / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Jewelry: Katie B. Design Shop / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: J.Crew / Groom + Groomsmen Ties: Brooks Brothers / Floral Design: Dragonfly Floral / Invitations: Hello! Lucky / Calligraphy: Beacon Lane / Custom Address Stamp: Emililies / Vintage Paper Straws: The Gray Goose / Wooden Clothespins: Honey Can Do / Additional Paper: Paper Source / Guest Book “Mad Libs”, Monogram, Table Number Window: DIY / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Barndiva / Cake Topper: Vintage (bride’s grandparents’) / Officiant: Lukka Feldman of Barndiva / Bride + Groom Rings: Cresalia Jewelers / Ceremony + Cocktail Music: The Mighty Chiplings / Reception Music: HIP Service

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Post tags: Barndiva, Beacon Lane, Brooks Brothers, California Weddings, Clarissa Bridal, Cresalia Jewelers, Dragonfly Floral, Emililies, Healdsburg, Hello! Lucky, Hip Service, Honey Can Do, J. Crew, Katie B. Design Shop, Lea-Ann Belter, Matt Edge Wedding Photography, Nadri, Paper Source, The Gray Goose, The Mighty Chiplings, The Traveling Stylist
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog

What is a Berkshire Barn Wedding Fiesta? Is it the Quaker-inspired service in which guests can share favorite memories, poems, stories, quotes, well-wishes, prayers, words of wisdom, music… anything under a minute, for brevity’s sake? (Don’t worry, there had been cocktails beforehand to loosen nervous tongues.) Is it the free-flowing margaritas, beer, wine, locally distilled spirits, and fresh apple cider from the orchard down the road? Is it jazz cuddling up to indie rock, New Wave, old school hip-hop, Motown, and Texas Swing? Is it Latin American fare crafted with mostly local and organic ingredients? Is it papel picado banners and twinkly lights? Is it a beautiful country barn filled with a bunch of raucous city folk? Is it 10.10.10 falling over Columbus Day weekend during peak fall foliage season? Yes.

To borrow the age-old expression, it’s a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll. And it’s a sampling of the things we love, with the people we love, in a great big celebration of love.

Photography: Eric Limon Photography / Flowers: Gillooly & Co Design / Event Design: Experience Events / Event Planning: Experience Events / Venue: Jacob’s Pillow / Linens: La Tavola Linens / Invitations: Hello Lucky / Hair: Sonya Heimann

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Barn Wedding, Eclectic, Eric Limon Photography, Experience Events, Fall Wedding, Flower girls, Gillooly & Co Design, Hello! Lucky, Jason's Pillow, La Tavola Linens, Massachusetts, Outdoor Ceremony, Papel Picado Banners, Ring Bearers, Sonya Heimann, Wedding Planners & Designers
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Planners & Designers