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Alice and Ben met on Martha’s Vineyard in August 2001, on the eve of Ben’s 21st birthday, at a concert performed by Alice’s college singing group. Both were undergraduates at Yale (he a senior, she a sophomore), and they began dating the following school year. Martha’s Vineyard carries additional meaning for both of them, as their families have spent time on the island over the years. Alice’s mother’s home is perched on a hill in Chilmark with splendid English gardens throughout, as well a 180-degree view of the lush New England greenery below and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. When Ben proposed almost nine years later, there was no question where the wedding would be held.

With the indispensable help of wedding coordinator Julie Hatt, the couple set about organizing a ceremony and reception that combined simple elegance with the natural beauty and intimacy of the property. The bride chose a color palette of vivid purples, magentas, and blues, which went beautifully with the lush greenery and bright colors of the gardens. Stone walls are ubiquitous in Chilmark, and the stone wall that runs parallel to the ocean in the backyard of the house became a motif of the exquisitely designed and elegantly produced paper goods by Bryn Chernoff of Paperfinger. Alice and Ben recognized the risk they took in planning a summer wedding on an island in the Northeast, but as it turned out, the weather was absolutely perfect the entire weekend. The incredible team of photographers, led by Shawn Connell of Christian Oth Studio and supported by second photographer Glen Allsop, captured every detail and moment of the day to perfection.

As guests arrived for the ceremony, they were greeted with lemonade in mason jars and were provided shade under parasols that had been used previously at the weddings of two of Alice’s close friends. The simple ceremony celebrated the warmth and familiarity of the occasion. After the ceremony, guests milled about the grounds for an extended cocktail period before heading to the dinner tent where they were served a delicious meal of summer gazpacho (Alice’s mom’s recipe), local striped bass with island vegetables and corn pudding, and individual servings of mixed berry shortcake. The escort card table displayed wedding photographs of the couple’s parents and grandparents. Instead of a guest book, guests were invited to write personal message on simple cards, which the couple plans to incorporate into a scrapbook. As the sun went down, many guests sat perched along the stone wall chatting and enjoying the striking Vineyard sunset over the Atlantic. Ben and Alice departed through a path lined by sparklers waved by all of their friends and family who were given little boxes of chocolate for the journey home. 

Wedding Photography: Shawn Connell of Christian Oth Studio / Second Photographer: Glen Allsop / Wedding Venue: Home of Bride’s Mother in Chilmark, Massachusetts / Wedding Coordination: Julie Hatt / Wedding Flowers: Lynda Dandeneau / Wedding Officiant: Cantor Theodore Aronson / Wedding Calligraphy, Save-the-Dates, Menus, “Guest Book” Cards, Escort Cards + Programs: Bryn Chernoff of Paperfinger / Wedding Invitations: Dempsey & Carroll / Catering: V. Jaime Hamlin & Sons / Desserts: Val Cakes (508-274-0396) / Entertainment: The Sultans of Swing / Tents: Big Sky Tent & Party Rentals / Event Rentals: Big Sky Tent & Party Rentals + Be Our Guest / Wedding Dress: Carolina Herrera / Wedding Dress Steaming: Elinor Corfield / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Jewelry: Jamie Wolf / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: Maysoon Faraj / Bridesmaids’ Hair + Makeup: Mary and Gretchen of Boucle / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Men’s Suits: J.Crew / Men’s Ties: Paul Stuart / Transportation: Stagecoach Taxi / Wedding Favors: Chilmark Chocolates (508-645-3013)

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Post tags: Backyard Wedding, Badgley Mischka, Be Our Guest, Big Sky Tent & Party Rentals, Blue, Boucle, Bryn Chernoff, Cantor Theodore Aronson, Carolina Herrera, Chilmark, Chilmark Chocolates, Christian Oth Studio, Dempsey & Carroll, Elinor Corfield, Glen Allsop, J. Crew, Jamie Wolf, Jenny Yoo, Julie Hatt, Lynda Dandeneau, Magenta, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Maysoon Faraj, Paperfinger, Paul Stuart, Purple, Shawn Connell, Stagecoach Taxi, The Sultans of Swing, V. Jaime Hamlin & Sons, Val Cakes
Post categories: The Blog, Traditional Elegance

You’ll be totally spoiled with champagne and sweet treats by Christopher Garren’s Let Them Eat Cake while being the first to lay your eyes on their super pretty and versatile convertible chiffon bridesmaid dresses that can be worn, get this, ten different ways! Not to mention all the gorgeous gowns you’ll be drooling over…

And that’s not all, they’ll be hosting a seriously sweet giveaway and two lucky winners will receive a $300 credit towards a bridal or bridesmaid dress order. This trunk show is by appointment only so be sure to contact them at 323-951-0521 or by email at lainfo@jennyyoo.com to secure your time. Trust us, this is one totally unique and fabulous bridal experience that you don’t want to miss out on!

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Post tags: Jenny Yoo
Post categories: California Weddings, Sponsored Posts

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From the Bride… When my husband and I were first engaged, we spent a lot of time thinking about what we wanted. We didn’t want to book anything that didn’t represent us. Despite feeling like we weren’t moving fast enough, we were happy we took our time because our choices represented us. In the end, we settled on a two day affair (to accommodate two ceremonies), and a restaurant reception that could offer great food. Both of us are from immigrant families (my parents are from India and Jon’s parents are from Portugal). We wanted to incorporate some of the traditional touches, but we also wanted the wedding to have a modern personality (which definitely represented us). So, the Sikh ceremony became the traditional aspect of our wedding (as well as our official wedding date). The following day, we held a non-denominational ceremony in which we wrote our own vows. We also had one of our closest friends “un-officially” officiate this ceremony. Having our friend Kevin officiate, made this moment really special.

As for the design of the wedding, the traditional/modern aspect really influenced us. Our clothing for the Sikh ceremony was very traditional, with heavy beading and design. We wanted that to contrast a more modern approach to the decor of our venue. So, we chose simple, clean lines for the backdrop and the mandap. For the lunch to follow, we kept round tables with a simple centerpiece of white and greens. On the second day, we went with a more modern styling. Our contemporary styling included long tables and a colorful flower palette. Some DIY projects included the seating chart. It was simple! We bought a piece of plywood from our local hardware store, spray painted it black and used chalk to write everyone’s names on it. My sister-in-law helped with the piggy bow-tie. We bought gingham material, cut out the size we wanted and stitched it all together. We didn’t follow a pattern- we just eyeballed it!

My husband loves wine so we wanted to find a way to incorporate wine into the wedding. We liked the idea of using wine boxes to display our “creative RSVP’s.”  Instead of guests responding with “Attending” or “Not Attending,” we had our guests find a creative way to tell us their answers. It was amazing how creative some guests were! Some sent images, others sent poems, our niece and nephew created a comic strip and we even received two video responses! We thought these would be a great to display during our cocktail reception. And so, those wine boxes (picked up at the local liquor store for a minimal donation) became very handy. Our florist was FANTASTIC and really made our vision a reality. He took care of implementing all our touches at both venues. He was a huge help!

Wedding Photography: Chris Bodnar Photography / Cinematography: Chris Wardle / Flowers: Fresh Florals / Wedding Venues: Intercontinental Toronto (Friday) + Mildred’s Temple Kitchen (Saturday) / Bride’s Sikh Ceremony Outfit: Delhi, India / White Wedding Dress: Jenny Yoo via White Toronto / Birdcage Veil: Hefter Collection via Hazelton Lanes / Groom’s Suit: Harry Rosen / Directional Signs: Our Hobby To Your Home / Straws: Hey Yo Yo / Mr + Mrs Signs: Pertyfultings / DJ: DJ Maestro of Mixt Relatations (905-601-0888) / Sikh Ceremony Earrings: Indiva / All Other Jewelry: Borrowed from Family / Wedding Invitations: DIY, Friend to the Bride & Groom

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Post tags: Canada, Chris Bodnar Photography, Chris Wardle, Fresh Florals, Harry Rosen, Hazelton Lanes, Hefter Collection, Hey Yo Yo, Indiva, Intercontinental Toronto, Jenny Yoo, Maestro, Mildred's Temple Kitchen, Ontario, Our Hobby to Your Home, Pertyfulthings, Toronto, White Toronto
Post categories: Canada Weddings, Contemporary, Cultural Beauty, Ontario Weddings

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From Amanda Auer of In The Now Weddings & Events…

Invitations: The invitation was one of my first inspirations to the design of this shoot. Ever since I saw the neon plexiglass in this cool blue hue I knew it was a MUST for something In The Now. Since it’s a subtle neon, it can be carried off as a very elegant piece of stationary — but the fun is brought in when you realize the edges of that plexi glow like wildfire! Receiving a tiny “package” in the mail is exciting for any guest, and wedding invitations are the gateway to the look and feel of your event! Inside the box was a handmade green washi [Japanese] paper to wrap the invitation along with a velvet blue ribbon tied into a bow. And, of course, we couldn’t resist throwing in some of that custom confetti either!

Custom Clear Confetti: Since nearly everything in the shoot was monogrammed, I knew that my little “aisle poppers” had to be no exception. I printed full sheet, full color transparencies at my local Staples. When I printed, I had already created a full sheet of just our little plus-sign monogram. From there, I used my 1″ round circle hole punch to create custom confetti that could easily be mixed in with our cardstock/solid color circles. I love the contrast, and this was such a FUN, EASY project with a lot of bang for the buck!! I mean — custom confetti?? Come on!!

Centerpiece: The centerpiece was going to be constructed of pegboard. I found a metal pegboard online and from there on, it was destiny. Since it all had to be done same-day, on-site, it was quite the time-consuming feat. But, really, the effect was so gorgeously modern, subtle, and classy — it was worth every second. The idea was these sunken flowers with their dangling stems, nearly floating above the table. The legs of the pegboard are made from metal brackets that we found and screwed in through the holes.

And a Utensil Dipping DIY: We started with purchasing a kit of Plasti-Dip, one that you could custom-tint to whatever color you chose. From there, I knew I wanted to achieve an ombre effect for each place setting, dipping each utensil with a shade just barely different from the last. I chose to use the lightest shade for the largest utensils, closest to the plate, and have them graduate darker accordingly. Plasti-Dip is EASY to use and fun to tint to whatever color you’d like to achieve. To make it easy on myself, I started with the darkest shade of green and worked my way lighter by adding a touch more white to each round of dipping. And the best part? It’s completely easy to remove if/as desired, and peeled off like a charm when I was done with it. Though, if I hadn’t peeled it off, who knows how long it could have lasted! It did not feel cheap or temporary at all!

Voila…gorgeous, dipped beauties for your eating pleasure

Photography: Jasmine Star / Event Planning + Design: In The Now Weddings & Events / Flowers + Invitations: In The Now Weddings & Events / Ceremony Location: Vibiana / Catering: Jay’s Catering / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Specialty Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals / Multimedia Projects: Creative Media Print / Linens: La Tavola / Hair + Makeup: 1011 Makeup / Dress: Jenny Yoo / Veil: The Dresser / Accessories: H&M + Nordstrom / Plasti-Dip: Plasti-Dip

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Post tags: 1011 Makeup, California, Classic Party Rentals, Creative Media Print, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Found Vintage Rentals, H&M, In the Now Weddings & Events, Jasmine Star, Jay's Catering, Jenny Yoo, Los Angeles, Modern, Nordstrom, Plasti-Dip, The Dresser, Vibiana
Post categories: DIY - Other, DIY Projects, Photo Shoot, The Blog, Wedding Style

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From Shang of Shang Chen Photography: Nicole and Jonathan planned their wedding from New York City where they met. Nicole wanted to have the wedding in Boston as she grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts. Jonathan grew up in England – and moved to the U.S. after college. Nicole moved to New York after college as well. They both hoped to find and build their careers in the big city, and that they did. Little did they know that they would meet each other at work and fall in love. Things began a little shy – but there were sparks from the start. They admired one another from afar for a year. After one particular round of tennis matches with their co-workers, Nicole had beat Jonathan. Jonathan asked for a rematch, which led to drinks, dinner, and the rest is history.

Nicole’s mother knew of Longwood Events and the State Room for a long time. They loved the simplicity of the space, how it is a blank canvas, and the people at Longwood Events were great to work with. Nicole had also used Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book guide to find some of her wedding vendors. Nicole and Jonathan used a silhouette of the Boston skyline on their invitations, which also worked its way onto the programs. They were married in a very personal and touching ceremony with a skyline view of Boston’s North End. We began the day with an emotional first look where Jonathan could not get over how beautiful his bride was in her Priscilla of Boston dress and veil. The ceremony included a recounting of their love story. Jonathan’s sisters were readers, and Nicole’s brother played a Beatles song that brought the entire room to tears.

The bride and groom also worked in Jonathan’s British background – one of their signature cocktails during cocktail hour was called the “Cheeky Brit” while another one was called the “Blushing American”. Their cocktail hour playlist featured music inspired by concerts that they’d attended together, including Arcade Fire, Coldplay, Keane, MGMT, Smashing Pumpkins, The Killers, just to name a few. Tables were named after locations of importance in their lives. Gorgeous, soft, and romantic roses were in the bouquets and centerpieces. The gift table featured wedding photographs from Nicole’s and Jonathan’s families. Late night snacks featured British favorites including pretzels with mustard. The favors were small British cake lollipops. All the guests danced their hearts out into the late night.

Photography: Shang Chen Photography / Venue + Catering: The State Room via Longwood Events / Rings: Deena Jewelers, LLC / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Tuxedo: Theory / Florist: John LaRoche for blueGuava / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Makeup: Faces Boston by Louise Martino / Hair: Priscilla Collins of Avanti / DJ: Beat Train Productions / Invitations + Paper: Goosefish Press / Officiant: Elly Jackson

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Post tags: Beat Train Productions, Boston, Faces Boston by Louise Martino, Goosefish Press, Jenny Yoo, Jimmy Choo, John LaRoche for blueGuava, Longwood Events, Massachusetts, Priscilla of Boston, Shang Cheng Photography, The State Room, Theory
Post categories: Boston Weddings, Massachusetts Weddings

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From Studio SMC Photography: This stylized shoot took place on June 26, 2011 in western Massachusetts on the campus of Mount Holyoke College and at a private residence, both located in South Hadley. The couple, who are married, were selected for their great chemistry and gorgeousness:) All of the vendors who were chosen to be a part of this shoot are very community-minded and provide extraordinary customer service. The jewelry, in particular, is very unique and was part of the inspiration for the look and feel of our shoot.

The couple who own the house and barn (not the models) take incredible care of their home and love antiques. The red barn was rebuilt a number of years ago to complement their sweet farm house. The farm house was originally built in 1764 and has since been updated. The pergola was built with beams from the old barn before it was rebuilt. The couple love birds and have built bird houses for the property, including a replica of their barn.

This stylized shoot was coordinated by myself, Sandra Costello, the owner of Studio SMC Photography. Love fueled this project and lots of wonderful ideas. The bike, luggage and a number of other props were provided my me to add a bit of whimsy to this love fest.

Photography: Studio SMC Photography / Hair: Andrea Clifford Salon 241 / Makeup: Liz Washer / Dresses: W Too, Mimi, Jenny Yoo / Bridal shop: Bridal Heirlooms / Shoes: Dollhouse Pedalz Sandal / Suit: Men’s Warehouse / Hat and bow tie: Jackson and Connor / Bow tie: Carrot & Gibbs, pink love birds / Hat: Bailey, Brooks / Jewelry: Rebekah Brooks / Flowers: Forget Me Not Florist / Bakery: Bakery Normand / Paper goods: Essentials / Props: Studio SMC Photography

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Post tags: Bakery Normand, Brida; Heirlooms, Essentials, Forget Me Not Florist, Jackson and Connor, Jenny Yoo, Liz Walker, Men's Wearhouse, Mimi, Rebekah Brooks, Salon 241, Studio SMC Photography, W Too
Post categories: Massachusetts Weddings, Photo Shoot

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From the Bride… Phil and I met during law school at DePaul in Chicago so when we became engaged, we knew immediately that we wanted to celebrate our wedding in the same city where we laugh, love and live together. We have attended St. Michael’s Parish in Old Town as a couple for the past five years and it is home to us. Originally built in 1852, St. Michael’s is an awe-inspiring Catholic Church with beautiful old-world architecture, a magnificent clock tower that captures the essence of the historical area, and a sense of warmth and community that makes everyone feel welcome. Finding a reception location was a bit more difficult because there are so many unique venues in Chicago that it is hard to choose! We found the Murphy Auditorium unexpectedly after I saw a photo of the venue in a Chicago Bridal Magazine. When we walked into the Murphy for the first time, we fell in love with the ornate details, stained-glass windows, and the feel of old-world European architecture.

The overall theme first began with my wedding dress. I found a beautiful silk Christos by Amsale gown with a rich champagne tone that really complimented the classic, old-world Chicago look that we wanted to create. We wanted to incorporate books into our day since we spent lots of time together in the library during law school and Phil’s mother is the Director of a library in their hometown so literature is near and dear to us. Over the next eighteen months, I collected and crafted items with the help of my amazing friends and family to pull together our theme. My favorite projects were creating escort card boxes out of my mother-in-law’s antique library catalog, and creating photo frames out of old books to showcase photos of our family members on their wedding day.

We feel so fortunate that we had the opportunity to work with amazing vendors, like our photographers Karen and Doug Mattson, who are creative and unique in their work, who made us feel like a priority, and who we got along with very well from the start. We were also very lucky to have our day of coordinator, Tiffany Munster, because she orchestrated the event and made it seamless- if anything went awry, I still do not know about it!

My favorite moment of the day was standing on the altar at St. Michael’s, reciting my personal vows to Phil. I had written my vows weeks in advance and said them over and over to myself but standing up there, and for the first time, saying my vows aloud to Phil, I felt a deep sense of overwhelming joy and love for him. Everything about our day was absolutely perfect and we were so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who love and care about us! Our day was truly a reflection of us as a couple and what we love.

Wedding Photography: Mattson Pictures / Wedding Gown: Amsale / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Hair + Make-up: Beauty on Call / Floral Design: Mark Weber of Kloeckner’s / Ceremony Location: St. Michael in Old Town / Officiant: Fr. Tom Donaldson / Reception Location: The Murphy Auditorium / Caterer: Jewell Events / Ceremony Musicians: St. Michael’s Choir / Day-Of Coordinator: Tiffany Munster of Soiree Events / Invitation + Save the Date: Friend of Couple, Kari Swenson / Wedding Cake: Bittersweet / Band: Out of Control / Wedding Videography: Jenny Tunberg Productions / Calligraphy: Tasha Holland of The Purple Squid

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Post tags: Amsale, Beauty on Call, Bittersweet, Chicago, Illinois, Jenny Tunberg Productions, Jenny Yoo, Jewell Events, Kloeckner's, Mattson Pictures, Out of Control, Soiree Events, St. Michael in Old Town, The Murphy Auditorium, The Purple Squid
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Chicago Weddings, Illinois Weddings

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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