From Francie …

As a planner, I go to a LOT of weddings. In some ways this made planning my own wedding a little bit harder (so many choices! so many wonderful vendors! so MANY color combos), but in some ways it was just really, really fun. I felt so lucky on wedding day to have not only my family and friends around us, but also to have lots of my work friends there too, busily buzzing around behind the scenes making sure everything was running perfectly.

We had the most amazing weather. Choosing April 30th for a wedding in New England was always a little nerve wracking. I kept telling myself and anyone who would listen that it would probably snow. It didn’t! It was a perfectly beautiful 75 degree day – just right for our outdoor ceremony, and a couple cocktails and rounds of croquet on the back lawn of The Crane Estate.

Being a bride gave me a whole new appreciation for weddings. It really is a day that really can’t be described – so fun, so emotional… a little exhausting… but in the end, it should just be a really warm, exciting day for you, your fiance and your family. The biggest thing I found out was that I really haven’t been making it up all these years when I’ve been telling my brides that the most important thing you can do is hire vendors that you love! If you love your vendors for their work, and really, truly like them as people, it makes the whole process, and the day of your wedding just that much more fabulous.

From beginning to end, the day was just so much better than I ever imagined it – Joanne and Lena, our super makeup and hair artists were such a calm in the storm of Getting Ready; our florist, Lyndsey Loring executed my vision of fluffy flowers and fluttery feathers to perfection; the seriously talented team at Vinwood Catering created a perfect party menu for us (mini hamburgers, lobster rolls, fried clams, make your own mashed potato bar….), and we created little chalkboard menus to guide guests through the choices. Kahootz Band rocked it all night, and our Photographer, Will Tangorra and Cinematographers from Boston Wedding Films were right there with us through out the day capturing everything perfectly… and of course my Tangorra Wedding Planning girls were there to make sure that I never found out about anything I didn’t plan for!

Since I do go to weddings on most weekends, we knew from the beginning that we wouldn’t plan a traditional wedding (I would feel like I was at work!), so we went ahead and planned a party! We decided to see each other before the ceremony, so we wouldn’t miss a minute of the post ceremony part of the day, and I’m so glad we did. It was really the only time that we spent alone together all day!

I couldn’t have asked for anything more amazing from every single one of my vendors, or for a more perfect wedding day to spend with my husband, and our friends and family. xo Francie M. Dorman (Bride! and Senior Associate Planner, Tangorra Wedding Planning)

Please share a little more of the party from the terrific filmmakers at Boston Wedding Films …

Francie + Greg: A Boston Wedding Films Highlight Film from Boston Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Planner: Tangorra Wedding Planning / Photographer: William Tangorra / Cinematographer: Boston Wedding Films / Caterer: Vinwood Catering / Florist: Lyndsey Loring Design / Cake: Jenny’s Wedding Cakes / Entertainment: Kahootz Band / Venue: The Crane Estate on Castle Hill / Hair: Hair That Moves / Makeup: Joya beauty / Transportation: MBT / Invites: Twin Ravens Press/ Earrings: J Crew / Shoes: L.A.M.B. / Dress (Bride & Bridesmaids): Melissa Sweet

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Boston Uplights, Boston Wedding Films, Castle Hill, Hair That Moves, Joya Beauty, Kahootz Band, L.A.M.B., Lyndsey Loring Design, MBT, Melissa Sweet, Tangorra Wedding Planning, The Crane Estate, Twin Ravens Press, Vinwood Catering, William Tangorra
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Planners & Designers

Our LBB cinematographers have been sorely under-represented on the LBB blog … something we really hope to change in 2010. And so, during the next couple of weeks, we are going to bombard you with wedding highlights and same day edits from MANY of our fabulous cinematographers. All of the films will be under (or around) 5 minutes, so you KNOW you have time to watch! Just remember that when watching video playbacks, it works best if you first press play, then press pause and allow the video to load in the background. You’ll enjoy a much smoother playback experience:)

We also encourage you to leave comments for these fine folks that provide wedding memories in amazing styles and forever cherished detail!

And so … our first flick for your viewing pleasure is from Jason at Boston Wedding Films …

Jim & Kelley August 22nd 2009-A Boston Wedding Film Review from Jason Falchuk on Vimeo.

from Jason …

We had the pleasure of being introduced to this incredible couple through Francie and Linnea of Tangorra Wedding Planning. Like many of our clients, Kelley & Jim’s initial thoughts were that video was not a priority. They had also shared common concerns about obtrusiveness i.e. cameras, microphones and lights. Shortly into our conversations Kelley recognized that Boston Wedding Films cinematography is all about working in and maintaining “a natural space,” ensuring everyone around us is comfortable. We filmed at several locations including the hotel, church and of course a visit to the beach.

While the weather was a moving target, Kelley and Jim were determined to stay the course and just enjoy this amazing moment. We had the pleasure of filming with photographer Eric Barry for the first time. Suzanne Lowell and crew worked their magic to set the mood, and accent the wonderful floral design from Spruce Floral. The day was picture perfect in every sense. Kelley & Jim seemed to have all the people that really mattered to them. The love, stories, toasts and celebrations were wonderfully overwhelming. This was the first wedding we have filmed where a RUSH song was played. The night ended to a heartfelt slow dance to “Georgia”, the location of their new home. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room (yes even me…).

While I enjoy the film, it isn’t the images that put a smile on my face. It’s the wonderful relationship we have with Kelley & Jim, their family, and the importance they placed on having us produce their wedding film. What more can a Wedding Filmmaker ask for…

Boston Wedding Films

Kelley & Jim ~ Wentworth by the Sea NH ~ August 22nd 2009

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Post tags: Boston Wedding Films, Eric Barry Photography, New Hamshire, Spruce Floral, Suzanne Lowell, Tangorra Wedding Planning, Wedding Film, Wentworth By The Sea
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Cinematography

THESE lovely ladies celebrated Linnea & Dave’s wedding this past August in Maine. SO PRETTY!

Francie at Tangorra Wedding Planning is sharing a bit of their story with us … and Alexandra Daley-Clark is responsible for all of the awesome images …

from Francie …

These two were so fun to work with, they had such great style and we were able to really showcase their personalities in their wedding weekend, which we love! They both LOVE food and wine – Dave owns a wine consulting company, and has worked in some of New York’s best foodie destinations, so we obviously had to incorporate that everywhere! The weekend started off with a super fun boat tour aboard the “Island Romance” and a welcome lobster bake for all of their guests on Peak’s Island, a tiny little island right off the coast of Portland.

On the wedding day, which was a truly beautiful day – the kind that only exists in Maine – Dave prepped with a professional shave, while the girls primped in a cute little salon in the Old Port. The ceremony and reception were held on the grounds of the Southern Maine Community College, on a spot where Linnea’s Grandfather’s house used to stand (before the college was built), overlooking the beach where her mother grew up taking swimming lessons!

After the ceremony, they had an amazing 5 course tasting meal that revolved around Maine’s finest offerings – mini lobster rolls, seared duck with blueberry sauce, mint ravioli – yum! And of course, every dish was paired with a fabulous glass of wine. The attention to detail didn’t end with the meal, though. This wedding was gorgeous. From their ceremony (which included a wine ceremony!) overlooking the Spring Point lighthouse to the reception in a glowing Sperry tent right on the coast, everything was the perfect blend of New York chic and rustic Maine goodness.

Farm tables and Victoria ghost chairs …. hmmmmm…. doesn’t get ANY better than that!

(invitations by the fabulous Bella Figura!)

And as promised earlier, the details from the lovely bride, Linnea …

Dave and I worked with Francie to create a relaxed, intimate celebration that felt very ‘us’. We really wanted our guests to experience the natural beauty of the Maine coast, so we chose a gorgeous ocean-side site at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. My mother grew up in Maine and my grandfather’s childhood home (until it was turned into a WWII shipyard!) was literally steps away from our site, so there was lots of family significance on my side!

During our ceremony, guests had views of sailboats, scenic Casco Bay islands, abandoned Civil War forts, wildflowers, and not one but TWO lighthouses! We really wanted the focus to be on the natural coastal beauty, so we limited our ceremony decor to galvanized pails of hydrangea lining the aisle.

I took tons of photos when we initially chose our location, which really helped us choose attire for our wedding party later on – I literally cut and pasted photos of dresses onto a background showing where our ceremony would be held! That’s partly why I knew I would love the white dresses we chose for my bridesmaids – they really seemed to pop against the deep blue ocean and bright green grass! I had nine bridesmaids (with a 20-year age span), so I really liked the idea of having the girls coordinate without matching exactly. Thread’s white seersucker dresses were perfect for this – each of the girls chose her favorite style, but the resulting combination still looked very pulled together. The groomsmen’s blue and white seersucker suits were from Jos A. Bank.

Dave and I really wanted to play up the ‘dinner party’ aspect of our reception. We’re both food and wine people – in fact we met while working in the wine industry. We opted for a tasting-style menu – four mini-courses – that allowed us to pair wines with each course. We chose to emphasize fresh, local ingredients – the idea was to create a menu that would be similar to the style of food we would cook for a dinner party at home. Our caterer, Black Tie, was even able to create a version of ‘Mint Love Letters’ (a favorite dish at Babbo, where Dave previously worked as a sommelier) as one of the courses!

We decided to save the dancing portion of the evening until after dinner, and instead created a playlist of ‘songs about love’ (think more Magnetic Fields than Barry Manilow) to be played during the meal. Every bride says that her wedding flies by – but I actually think that saving the dancing for last somehow made the reception feel longer! I would describe the overall look of our reception as ‘French-country, with a modern twist’. The combination of the long, banquet-style, wooden tables and the clear Victoria Ghost chairs really formed the backbone of our vision. They created such a strong ‘look’ that we really didn’t have to add too many other decor components – and we were able to fit them into our budget by eliminating costly linens, chair cushions, and so on. I love the Ghost chairs – I splurged on a few to brighten up my otherwise Ikea-furnished flat in London during business school, and Dave and I have since moved them to New York. I really wanted to use them for our wedding, and was thrilled when Francie was able to source them for us! It was really helpful to have a strong central visual in order to explain the look we were going for during discussions with potential vendors. It was really obvious when someone “got it” – our florist, Laurie (of Minott’s Flowers in Portland), did an amazing job of creating a fresh, natural look. She even managed to incorporate our love of food and wine by planting old champagne cases with fresh herbs. They were absolutely beautiful, and a huge hit!

Linnea’s wore an amazing Rosa Clara gown …

This IS just a PRETTY, PRETTY, PRETTY wedding from start to finish! Thank you to Francie at Tangorra Wedding Planning for sending it our way!

photography by Alexandra Daley-Clark

And Congratulations to Linnea & Dave!!

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Post tags: Alexandra Daley-Clark Photography, Beachside Wedding, Bella Figura, Maine, South Portland, Southern Maine Community College, Tangorra Wedding Planning
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Planners & Designers

photos courtesy of Alexandra Daley-Clark

We’ll be back with lots of gorgeous images from Linnea & Dave’s August wedding in just a bit. You can take a peek at a few more photos on Tangorra Wedding Planning’s blog …

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Post tags: Alexandra Daley Clark, Maine, South Portland, Southern Maine Community College, Tangorra Wedding Planning
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Planners & Designers

From the amazing staff at Tangorra Wedding Planning…

The took place at the Crane Estate at Castle Hill…during a hurricane!! Luckily for all of us, the inside of the Estate is gorgeous, so even though we went to their “plan B”, no one was disappointed. The rain cleared for just a few minutes before dinner, when Erica and Don were able to sneak outside for some awesome, windy photos!

Erica chose a soft palette of pinks, cream and greens, which complimented the space so well. As it is with every wedding, it was the little touches that really tied everything together. Early on, Erica knew that she wanted to incorporate pears into the day. Guests found their seating cards, shaped as leaves pinned to green pears, which added a nice pop of color to the tables against the pink flowers and metallic cream linens. Their wonderful florist, J. Wrobel included pears into the centerpieces, and they had a pear inspired signature drink!

Here’s a list of the other vendors that were involved: Photography by Sarah Bastille / Video by Seaside Video / Flowers by JWrobel / Music by Hush Band / Menu by Vinwood Catering

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 19 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Boston, Indoors, Linnea Tangorra, New England, Tangorra Wedding Planning
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

Their wedding photos were sent to us by Little Black Book member, Linnea, of Tangorra Wedding Planning in Boston …

They were married on August 8th, 2008. Marisa & Jeremy took advantage of this special date by celebrating their wedding in beautiful  downtown Boston!

Marisa’s beautiful gown was designed by … the other Marisa!

Their big-city-chic wedding reception at the magnificent State Room was the epitome of sophisticated charm.

Floral design was by Little Black Book member, Jwrobel … simple, stylish and city-chic!

The magic of candles cannot be underestimated. Fill a room with the glow of a hundred candles and poof! Instant charm.

Linnea, Megan and Francie are serious about realizing your dream wedding. From hourly consultations to design & decor or full service planning … Tangorra Wedding Planning specializes in taking mere thoughts through to fruition on your most special day. A huge thank-you to Linnea and to Jessica at Jwrobel for sharing Marisa & Jeremy’s wedding with us!

All photographs courtesy of Sun Photographics.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Boston, Boston Images, Jwrobel, Longwood Events, Massachusetts Weddings, State Room, Sun Photographics, Tangorra Wedding Planning
Post categories: Centerpieces, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Photography