On a beautiful August morning in the Old Church of Portland, Oregon, Lindsay Reichardt married her high school sweetheart, James Buckles. With a long-stemmed, gardenia studded, bouquet of pink roses in one hand, Lindsay’s other hand clung tightly to her new hubby for balance all day, as her Vera Wang ball gown of swirled tulle could barely squeeze down the isle.

A vintage Bentley drove Mr. & Mrs. Buckles away to a private photo shoot while guests made their way to the Heritage ballroom in the Governor Hotel for the reception. Guests were greeted by the passing of savory hors d’ouveres: Jake’s famous crab cakes, cucumber tea sandwiches, salmon lox bruschetta, quiche, brie en croute bites, and caviar deviled eggs as well as a Parisian-inspired Patisserie spread, which displayed sweet treats: a croquembouche of cream puffs, topiary trees of fresh strawberries, triple berry and lemon tarts, panna cotta parfaits, meringues, biscotti, madeline cakes, palmiers, macaroons, brioche, mini-muffins, cheesecake bites, éclairs and napoleons!

Perfectly pruned boxwoods, floating gardenias and lush arrangements of hydrangea, sugared apricots, raspberry vines and cascading jasmine transformed the reception into a French garden. Placecards and menus were lined to mimic the border of Laudree macaroon boxes, sugar cubes rested inside rose petals on china teacups and vintage botanical print reproductions by Pierre-Joseph Redoute (the official court painter of Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution) differentiated each tulle-layered table. The head table was overflowing with salal garlands, rustic candles, mercury glass votives, fresh fruit, cinched tulle and mossy, terrarium-encased arrangements.

When guests made their way to the bar, they had a number of specialty drink choices. There were five champagne cocktails options, all with fun names, for example, the “Blissful Bellini” featured peach puree, vanilla vodka, champagne and fresh mint, while the “Honeymooner” featured ginger syrup, lime juice, champagne and cucumber. Those still waking up also had 5 drink options at an Espresso station, for example, the “Crème Brulee Cappuccino” with cinnamon-infused espresso and raw cinnamon and sugar dusting, or an “Opposites Attract” caramel macchiato given sweet caramel drizzle and a dash of sea salt.

Crepes au citron, dulche de leche French toast and strawberry shortcake waffles were plated during brunch and Jake’s servers then circulated the ballroom offering hot sausage and bacon as well. Finally, as if guests weren’t already stuffed to the brim, Lindsay and James cut their cake: a five-tiered fresh strawberry and cream cheese masterpiece with diamond quilting, silver dragee detail, pink macaroons and a “B” cameo. After such an indulgent day, “favors” were simply notes letting the guests know that a donation had been made to the Portland Rescue Mission in their honor. 

Bridal Gown: Vera Wang / Bridal belt: Monique Lhullier / Bridal shoes: Valentino / Bridal headpiece & bracelet: Jenny Packham / Bridal earrings: J.Crew / Bridesmaids dresses: Monique Lhullier / Bridesmaids earrings: Anthropologie / Makeup & hair: Madeline Roosevelt / Stationery: French Lil Designs / Ceremony site: The Old Church / Reception site: The Governor Hotel, Heritage Ballroom / Reception catering: Jake’s Catering / Cake & Patisserie: Papa Haydn’s / Espresso Bar: Espresso Elegance / Specialty China: West Coast Events / Flowers: Geranium Lake / Transportation: Imperial Limousines / Photography: Altura Studio

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Post tags: Altura Studio, Anthropologie, Black and White, Bouquets, Breakfast, Brunch, Brunch Weddings, Centerpieces, Champagne, Champagne Bar, Chanel, Chiavari Chairs, Color Palette Black White Pink, Color Palette Pink, Croissants, Croquembouche, Dessert Bar, Espresso, Espresso Bar, French Lil Designs, Geranium Lake Imperial Limousines, Governor Hotel, J. Crew, Jake's Catering, Jenny Packham, Macrons, Madeline Roosevelt, Marie Antoinette, Monique Lhullier, Morning Weddings, Neutral Color Palette, Oregon, Papa Haydns' Espresso Elegance, Patisserie, Pink Champagne, Portland, Roses, Strawberries, Stripes, The Old Church, Traditional Elegance, Valentino, Vera Wang, Vintage Chic, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Photography, West Coast Events
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

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From the Bride…We met in July 2005 in a small ancient town called Lagos in Portugal. Darren was nearing the end of a 2 year working holiday in London and I was traveling Europe for 4 months. Darren had originally planned to have left Lagos to travel further through Portugal and Spain, but by chance had extended his stay as he loved the city so much. Otherwise we may never have met. There was an instant connection between us. We exchanged numbers and met up again during our travels in Munich and then in London. When we returned to Australia, we embarked upon a 14 month long distance relationship, Darren in Sydney and me in Melbourne while I completed my studies and secured a transfer to Sydney with work.

Our wedding day was a truly amazing day; a celebration of our good fortune in finding one another to care for, and shared with our most loyal and loving family, friends and supporters. Our wedding was full of personal touches which we had a lot of fun putting together – me as the designer and inspiration and Darren as the builder and project manager!!

Some projects include…We bought a vintage bicycle and restored it for a feature at the entrance of our ceremony and the reception. We found some vintage movie theatre chairs and constructed a red velvet curtain backdrop for use as a photo booth. I also collected dozens of props and dress ups for people to have fun with at the photo booth. The groom hand carved our initials D and V underneath the movie chairs. I collected vintage silver and milk glass platters and stands from all over the world for the dessert buffet. The groom and his family also made all the desserts served at the dessert buffet (except the cake). We also restored some old sewing cabinet draws which were used on the dessert buffet and to hold the wishing cards our guests use to leave us messages. All the vases and jars at the ceremony I had accumulated over the 12 months before the wedding, together with the lanterns, bird cage and vintage signing table. The lanterns and small umbrellas adorning the roof of the reception were specially shipped from the US as they couldn’t be sourced in Australia. I hand made all of the chalkboard signage and framed them with decorative vintage picture frames I collected. I also designed the wedding invitations and guest maps and sourced a graphic designer to create them.

Our reception venue at Nielsen Park was a perfect choice for us. They were very accommodating and friendly when we were planning the wedding. On the night the staff were professional and helpful and the atmosphere relaxed and understated. The view over-looking the harbour and the gorgeous national park gardens was a perfect backdrop for our many interstate guests who had never seen that side of Sydney.

Our photographers were excellent. They knew both the ceremony and reception venues well and where to get pictures at the best times of the day for light and shadows. They were also great at making sure we made the most of our photo time. There are some special moments captured from the wedding where we didn’t even realize the photographers were there. We are incredibly pleased with our photos, as are our families, and have loved reliving the memories from our special day.

A special note to my make-up artist Elissa Walker of Silver Lilli. Elissa and I went to high school together and shared a locker at school and performed in music dance concerts together. A couple of days before the wedding I developed dermatitis around my eyes. Elissa was fantastic in the lead up to the wedding, advising me on how to treat my skin to ensure it was at its best for the wedding day and then on the actual wedding day did an incredible job covering the dermatitis and not aggravating my sensitive skin. The make-up was natural and beautifully tailored to each of the bridal party. Elissa is a true professional and a gifted artist with a gentle manner which puts you at ease immediately.

All the planning came together on the day and looked exactly as we had pictured it; but it was the enormous amount of love and support we felt from our family and friends that made the day exceed our expectations. The little things that didn’t go as expected (such, the grooms button hole breaking as soon as he put it on) were overcome and soon forgotten.

Wedding Photography: Follan Photography / Ceremony Venue: Green Point Reserve, Watsons Bay / Reception Venue: Nielsen Park Beach House / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Zu / Jewels: Jenny Packham / Make-up + Hair: Elissa Walker for Silver Lilli / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung via Bridesmaids Only / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Roger David / Flowers: Abracadabra Magical Flowers / Cake: Scrumptious / Entertainment: Hard Rockin Amigos / Stationery: Etsy

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Post tags: Abracadabra Magical Flowers, Alfred Sung, Australia, Bridesmaids Only, Elissa Walker, Etsy, Follan Photography, Green Point Reserve, Hard Rock Amigos, Jenny Packham, Nielsen Park Beach House, Pronovias, Roger David, Scrumptious, Silver Lilli, Sydney, Zu
Post categories: Australia Weddings, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

From the Bride…Planning our wedding was a huge challenge for me. With my husband-to-be busy building our future home, working from the crack of dawn until late into the night every day, it was only fair that I take on the entire organization of our wedding myself. My mother once told me that “work is love made visible” and with this in mind I knew from the very start that I wanted our wedding to show him just how much I loved him. I knew I had to ‘create’ it with my own hands.

I’m Scottish and my husband is French, we met just over four years ago when I moved to France to learn the language. I chose Provence for its lovely weather and beautifully romantic countryside, the stone farmhouses, the fields of lavender, the windmills… I wanted to all these things that had first drawn me to the region, and ultimately to him, to be part of our wedding day.

The Mas de la Rose, a beautifully restored 17th century farm hamlet, was the first potential venue that we visited….and the last! It felt so perfect for us that and even though it meant we had to rewrite our whole budget, we were sold! It felt like our own little paradise in Provence. We booked our dates and I immediately bought a sewing machine…

I knew we had to have bunting everywhere and elephants, my middle name is ‘Oliphant’, its my clan and tartan, and I have loved elephants for as long as I can remember. So, with the help of Skype and Photoshop, my sister in Northern Ireland designed the elephant bunting logo which we used on the invitations, RSVP cards, favor labels, seating plan and menus.

Without really focusing on any particular color scheme, I chose some beautiful colorful fabrics to use for the bunting, seating plan and corresponding table numbers, and the ring cushion. And with the help of my mother over on a pre-wedding visit from Scotland, made little elephant pincushion toys for the children.

We used pots of honey, provided by one of my husband’s witnesses who keeps bees, as combined favor and place names, and covered these with little circles of the same fabrics tied with raffia. There were parasols for the ladies to protect that pale Scottish flesh (!) and our photobooth planned all along yet thrown together at the last minute, was so much fun.

I couldn’t have been happier with the amazing Laetitia C, who did our flowers. I knew from the moment we first met that I could trust her completely, her work is wonderful. She also speaks perfect English and I can’t recommend her enough to anyone planning a wedding in Provence. The same goes for our photographer David Bornais, who’s beautiful images I think speak for themselves. Our vendors outdid themselves, and all come highly recommended.

All my ideas were stolen from the exquisite pages of your blog, I became a complete SMP addict in awe of each and every beautiful wedding featured! There were so many projects that I wanted to achieve but didn’t due to time constraints and the odd disaster, for example my hairdresser canceling a week before the wedding (!), but these things just didn’t matter. The day was made incredibly special by the friends and family that travelled from as far as California to be there with us, and marrying my perfect match, with these amazing friends by my side, how could it not be perfect?!

Wedding Photography: David Bornais Photography / Floral Design: Laetitia C / Event Planning: The Bride / Ceremony Location: La Mairie, La Motte d’Aigues / Reception Location: Le Mas de la Rose / Caterer: La Truffe Noire / Wedding Cupcakes: Bride’s Sister / Invitations: Bride + Bride’s Sister / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin /  Headpiece: Jenny Packham (bracelet transformed by the bride) / Hair: Anne at Eric Zemmour, Avignon / Groom’s Suit: The Kooples / Groom’s Tie + Shoes: Paul Smith / Bridesmaid Dresses: Dessy / Rings: Ron Hami / Cake Toppers: Dandelionland

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Post tags: Avignon, Christian Louboutin, Dandelionland, David Bornais Photography, Dessy, Destination Wedding, Eric Zemmour, France, Jenny Packham, La Truffe Noire, Laetitia C., Le Mas de la Rose, Paul Smith, Provence, Ron Hami, The Kooples
Post categories: Destination Weddings, France Weddings

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From the Bride…Our wedding was a family production from start to finish.We were married at my husband’s parents’ home in Ojai, California, where they operate a private vineyard and small farm.  Despite being busy doctors, they love to cook and prepared most of wedding dishes for our 100 guests.  Imagine having a home cooked meal at your wedding!  My husband and I come from multi-cultural families, so we created a menu to reflect our many heritages.  This included cuisines from Italian, Mexican, African American, Jewish and Californian traditions.  All of the wine served at the wedding was grown, prepared and bottled on the land.

Contributions from family and friends did not stop at the wedding dinner: my sister/maid-of-honor is a pastry chef and she baked all of our amazing wedding desserts; my stepmother styled my hair; the nurses from my mother-in-law’s hospital volunteered to be our servers; our cousin acted as DJ;  my brother-in-law played acoustic guitar during the procession; and our siblings and friends helped us do everything from hand paint decor pieces to shovel cow remnants from the pasture where we were married! It truly was a family affair.  And while the week leading up to the event likely resembled a circus coming to town, the end product was an inclusive celebration in which everyone involved felt a small piece of ownership.  It was the best wedding gift that we could have hoped for.

Tables + Lights: Events Rents / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham / Flowers: Yamaguchi Florists / Wedding Photography: Paige Lowe Photography / Wedding Day Coordinator: Veronica Johnson / Desserts: Sister of the Bride / Dinner: Groom’s Parents / Decor: The Bride + Friends / DJ: DJ Ton Sol

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Post tags: California Weddings, DJ Ton Sol, Events Rents, Garden Wedding, Jenny Packham, Ojai, Paige Lowe Photography, Veronica Johnson, Yamaguchi Florists
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired

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From the Bride…I had no idea where to begin when it came to planning a wedding.  We knew we wanted something different than the norm, something small and intimate, something very special with lots of attention to detail.  We loved the idea of an elegant dinner party…with my family coming all the way from Texas, and my husbands family in California, we wanted a very relaxed yet very memorable experience for all.  I wanted the focus mainly on the food, but I also wanted a beautiful, natural setting.  I have always loved the Santa Barbara area for its small town feel and romantic appeal.  As soon as we checked in to the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California for a romantic getaway, the signs were everywhere…the lush gardens, the green mountain tops and ocean air…the antiques in every room, the old Hollywood mystique.. you can’t help but be relaxed as soon as you arrive!  This was the place for a perfect wedding.

Kelly Clark Leonard  of the Event of the Season was the first and ONLY wedding coordinator I considered.  As soon as we spoke on the phone six months before our August 20th wedding date, I knew she was perfect person to guide us along the wedding planning journey.  She just makes everything SO easy.  I have no idea how she does it, but I would never have done it without her!  She helped create the elegance I wanted, with a touch of whimsy and lots of glamour.  The colors we used were gold and ivory, and Laura Sangas of Cody Floral Design added to the whimsy with some blush touches in the amazing table florals and rose petal carpet.

The next important detail for our wedding was the gown.  I had been eyeing the Jenny Packham 2011 Collection and just knew that her sexy yet ethereal approach to design was right for me.  Getting my hands on the Persephone gown was no easy feat!  My husband, Zach, embarked on a mission to get it for me!!  He wrote an email after we were told that the gown was stuck at customs,  which got forwarded to Jenny and company and without his amazing words, I wouldn’t have seen my dreamy Persephone gown at all. I was absolutely thrilled and felt so lucky to have that exact gown!  It meant everything to me.

With the help of Sharyl Smith of  Presence Studio City, we were able to set the tone for the day with beautiful letter pressed invitations, and used calligraphy on everything from the invitations to the butterfly place cards to the escort cards.  Our guests seemed to really appreciate that personalized touch. I am so glad we did it.  We kept the romance going with beautiful Spanish guitar by Anthony Ybarra during the dinner.  Because my name is Joy, Kelly came up with the very cute idea to have “Enjoy” in calligraphy on our favor boxes, which were placed at each guest’s seat at the table.  Inside, our guests found delicious mini- bread puddings in dulce de leche and white chocolate blueberry  from Sweet Arleen’s Bakery.  It was an homage to my Southern upbringing.  Those were a definite hit!

Jessica Lewis Photography captured the magical feeling of the day so beautifully!  Her photos expressed exactly what we felt.  There was love and beauty everywhere we looked!  I got so emotional just seeing her photos for the first time..it was exactly the way I felt that day..in addition to all of the fun we had!!! On the day of the wedding, I felt very at ease and surrounded by love from every direction.  It was important to us that our guests enjoyed amazing cuisine, a gorgeous environment, and the feeling of a family style dinner party.  We even had family style macaroni and cheese!  The entire event was pure magic.

Wedding Photography: Jessica Lewis / Wedding Coordinator: Kelly of Event of the Season / Floral Design: Cody Floral Design / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham (One of a Kind) / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Venue: San Ysidro Ranch / Music: Tony Ybarra / Make-up: Avril Lipsky / Groom’s Attire: Gucci / Officiant: Nancy Little Moon / Hair: Page Berse of About Face Makeup Artistry / Invitations: Crane & Co. via Presence Studio City

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Post tags: About Face Makeup Artistry, Avril Lipsky, California Weddings, Cody Floral Design, Crane, Event of the Season, Gucci, Jenny Packham, Jessica Lewis Photography, Jimmy Choo, Montecito, Nancy Little Moon, Presence Studio City, San Ysidro Ranch, Tony Ybarra
Post categories: The Blog

After being able to travel extensively over the years, I slowly began to realize my hometown Charlotte is very unique. It still has the appeal of Southern charm, but with a lot of the perks of a bigger city, including great venues for weddings.  My husband and I knew we wanted an outdoor wedding, and after browsing online for possibilities, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden seemed like the perfect place. As soon as we saw it in person, we knew that this was the venue for us. The White Garden was large enough for all of our guests, but the fact it was enclosed gave the space a very intimate air.

Most of the inspiration came from the venue itself. Being designers, my mother and I found great joy throughout the planning process, setting out to create that perfect balance of décor- giving a subtle nod to times past, without over-doing it and forcing a theme. Images of 19th century English conservatories, vintage botanical illustrations, and apothecary label typographies constantly drove our decisions.

For the ceremony, we used mainly white hydrangeas and lilies. The whole garden was white and green- and we introduced color through the bridesmaids’ dresses, the men’s suits, and the bouquets. When it came to wedding gowns, I was originally interested in Jenny Packham’s signature sheath dresses, reminiscent of bygone eras with her intricate beading. After trying some on, I felt they were more fit for the red carpet than the aisle. My mother-in-law suggested I try on Jenny Packham’s Minerva gown, which had layer upon layer of ivory silk tulle- so light and comfortable! It was perfect for the garden, and I finally felt like a bride.

For the centerpieces we bought large apothecary glass jars and planted silk lady slipper and cymbidium orchids with moss. We chose a navy blue satin for the table linens, and placed the jars on a moss mats in the center of each table. We ordered Jaguar Pink Mokara Orchids from Thailand, and floated each stem in glass cylinders to add some color to the centerpieces. We also decided to give our guests a taste of the South with spiked Arnold Palmers for cocktail hour, and Deep Fried Peanuts for favors.

My favorite part of the planning process though, was collaborating with my husband to design our invitations and programs. We looked to old pharmacy and apothecary labels for guidance, and a friend letterpressed them with his old Vandercook Press.

It is so satisfying to look back and consider how each detail combined to perfectly reflect our desires for this special day. I only wish it could have lasted longer!

Venue: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden / Wedding Website: Designed by the bride & groom, Courtney and Kyle / Reception Flowers & Centerpieces: Jeannie Heth, mother of the bride / Ceremony Flowers & Bouquets: Place for Flowers / Decor: Creative Solutions / Photography: The Beautiful Mess / Cake: For Goodness Cakes / Hair & Make-up: Lindsey Regan Thorne / Gown and Headpiece Designer: Jenny Packham / Shoes: Jessica Simpson / Caterers: Best Impressions / Mens Suits: Banana Republic / Ties: Indochino / Officiant: Didi Wong, Church of the Good Shepherd / Wedding Coordinator: Connie Miller, friend of bride’s family / Invitations & Stationery: Designed by the bride & groom, Printed by Ryan Cook of Something Pressed / Favors: Mr. B’s Fun Foods Deep Fried Peanuts / DJ: Brian Keelan, Z Brothers DJs / String Quartet: Carolina Classic Strings

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Post tags: Banana Republic, Best Impressions, Carolina Classic Strings, Charlotte, Church of the Good Shepherd, Clean, Color Palette Green White Blue, Connie Miller, contemporary, Creative Solutions, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Didi Wong, DIY Centerpieces, DIY Flowers, DIY Invitations, DIY Stationery, For Goodness Cakes, Indochino, Jenny Packham, Jessica Simpson, Lindsey Regan Thorne, Modern, Mr. B's Fun Foods Deep Fried Peanuts, North Carolina, Outdoor Ceremony, Place For Flowers, Something Pressed, The Beautiful Mess, Traditional Elegance, Z Brothers DJs
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

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From the Bride… Our wedding in August 2011 at La Amada, Playa Mujeres, Mexico was all about sun, sand and sky.  Luxurious beach chic…and so much fun.  We chose La Amada for its clean lines and simple luxury — we love the white-washed look and the boutique feel of the property. From my flowing beachy gown to his laid-back white and gray, every moment of our wedding day was relaxed.

We married right at the shore line on a gorgeous blue sky day. We had no wedding party — just us two.  My sisters were close by at all times, my ordained Aunt from Bermuda married us, and unconventionally, my two teenage nephews walked me down the aisle.  Acting as ushers, my nephews wore white linen pants with pale yellow linen tops — very “Vicery Palm Springs” looking.  All the flowers were white — mostly lisianthus, which are beautiful and easy.  For our guests, we offered white parasols during the ceremony.

Straight from the beach-side ceremony, guests walked over to the main open-air restaurant for the reception.  The ceremony program doubled as a seating chart with table numbers listed on the back for guests to easily find their place.  Our signature yellow cocktail was the Sand Dune — named for the beautiful sandy beaches in Playa Mujeres.  The reception was a continuation of our beach chic theme — with yellow and orange chair pillows and white lisianthus centerpieces. We chose to use the existing white wicker furniture in the restaurant and kept the place-settings minimal.  Mini boxes of citrus jelly beans were set for each guest, along with a custom printed menu.  And we can’t forget the dark chocolate cup cakes with lemon frosting — delicious.  The reception setup also included the use of the pool sofas that we had brought into the restaurant to create a post-dinner lounge area over-looking the ocean.  Our table numbers in white and yellow were part of our custom made printed collection.  It was the most beautiful day and these pictures tell that story.

Wedding Photography: Juan Navarro / Wedding Cinematography: J&S AV / Wedding Location, Event Design, Planning + Flowers: La Amada Hotel / Wedding Invitations: Groom’s Design / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham

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Post tags: Beachside Wedding, Destination Wedding, J&S AV, Jenny Packham, Juan Navarro Photography, La Amada Hotel, Mexico Destination Wedding, Playa Mujeres, Stuart Weitzman
Post categories: Destination, Destination Weddings, Mexico Weddings

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From the Bride…The venue in itself was exquisite.  I had seen weddings at this venue on SMP and knew I needed to visit.  Let me tell you, the outside building at first glance scared me a little, but when I climbed up the rustic wooden stairs and into the main room with the antique crystal chandeliers, into all the secret rooms, the hallway of antique lampshades and mirrors, and was surrounded by the beautiful muted blue/gray walls… I was taken to another place in time.  I wanted the wedding to feel like Great Gatsby, meets Midsummer Nights Dream all in the middle of old Paris in the 1930s, without it being too themey. Not to mention, the owner of the venue also has a huge collection of antique furniture that she lets you use!

I went back and forth about getting a videographer because we wanted to cut costs.  In the end, I am so delighted by how beautifully Kiss the Bride captured the essence of the wedding. I was very skeptical about hiring a florist because I wanted to do everything myself!  My florist, Eunice, did such an amazing job with all the flowers! Most of all, my bouquet brought me over the moon ecstatic. I fell in love with my bouquet and she did over and beyond my expectations, and that’s really hard to do! It was filled with so much romance and I had it wrapped with the left over fabric from my wedding dress!

The three most important decisions I made for this wedding were food, photographer, and my dress (of course!)  Daniel and I LOVE FOOD. Upon doing my research from wedding blogs, Naturally Delicious came highly recommended. I loved the idea that they used fresh ingredients, even straight from their garden.  The food was amazing and our coordinator, Tyler, was over the top amazing.  He made sure every single detail of the wedding was on point.We wanted to start the wedding off with drinks before the ceremony to send out the vibe that this was going to be a really good, good night.  For the cocktail hour, the chefs created foods to mimic foods from our favorite date spots- pork belly buns from Ippudo, tacos from Cascabel, the shroom burger from Shake Shack, and french fries (because we love french fries)!  My mouth is watering just thinking back on the food. They even let us create an ice cream sandwich bar station for our guests. The food was very personal to us and told the story of our relationship through food. We named the specialty drink after my dog, Pickle (the other love of my life). We also had an amazing experience with the liquor store that Naturally Delicious has a relationship with- Heights Chateau.  The owner not only paired the wine to the food but to our personality.  The wine tasting soon became a dinner filled with delicious food, new friends, and great tasting wine!

Looking for a photographer was not easy because NY is filled with so many talented people. I even looked into photographers that were not local.  I had come across an engagement photo shoot on SMP by Amanda K and completely fell in love.  The dress, the scenery, the light, the essence… everything about it was what I wanted my wedding to look like and feel like.  Once I got in contact with the photographer, Amanda, I knew that I had made the right choice.  She was more than accommodating (flew all the way from Oregon) and although the first time we ever met was two days before the wedding… I knew it was meant to be. She has a heart that is beyond this world and I was so blessed and honored that she wanted to capture my wedding.

Now to my dress.  I went to so many different stores and tried on so many dresses.  I started to grow frustrated by the search and thought that maybe I would never find one.  I didn’t want to settle, if I didn’t settle with finding Daniel why would I settle with my dress?! I came across a designer that was debuting her dress for 2011. There is only one vendor in NYC that carries Jenny Packham and I made an appointment the next morning.  It so happened they were having a Jenny Packham trunk show and so her newest collection would be in store the weekend of my appointment.  EVERYTHING was beautiful.  When I came out in the Giralda, the whole shop became quiet and everyone was looking at me.  I felt the magic in my fingers and I knew that I had found the one.

Everything was threading together so perfectly… I’m a perfectionist and a control freak, so I had planned everything way in advance. God had other things in mind. On the day of my wedding arrived Hurricane Irene!!! All of my guests and I were worried about the danger we would be in because the venue was in a mandatory evacuation zone and estimated to have the most damage. People told me that when it rains on your wedding it’s suppose to be good luck, well I’m hoping that with a hurricane my marriage is going to be flooded with love/grace/joy unending… and so far it is. All of the vendors were willing to bump up the time to accommodate for a 4 hour time change to avoid the hurricane.  ALL of them came on time and ready to work to make my wedding happen.  No matter what, plans no plans, I was getting married. Even the guests who lived in mandatory evacuation zones made it!  The day was perfectly overcast for the hundreds of candles to light the whole room. In the end, even though everything seemed like it was falling apart… to have a room filled with overflowing love, all our family, and close friends and to finally end a chapter in my single life to be called someone’s Wife (Daniel’s wife), it was Heaven on Earth.  I hope that in 40 years from now, with my grand-babies in my lap, I will tell them about this magical day filled with mystery, horror, and love.

Wedding Photography: Amanda K Photography / Venue: The Metropolitan Building / Caterer: Naturally Delicious / Liquor: Heights Chateau / Wedding Videographer: Kiss The Bride Films / Day-of Event Design: Rock Paper Scissors / DJ: Menyu / Invitations: Angel B Lee / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham via Designer Loft / Reception Dress: Alice and Olivia via Net A Porter / Veil: Etsy, The Bride / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Make-up: vickyC5 / Flowers: Eutopia NYC

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Post tags: Alice and Olivia, Amanda K Photography, Angel B Lee, Designer Loft, Eutopia NYC, Heights Chateau, J. Crew, Jenny Packham, Kiss the Bride Films, Menyu, Naturally Delicious, Net-A-Porter, New York Weddings, Rock Paper Scissors, The Metropolitan Building, vickyC5
Post categories: The Blog, Traditional Elegance