Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Theresa of Theresa Scarbrough Photography… I wanted to share with you Beata and Charles’ Chicago urban chic wedding from the fall of 2011. They are such a fun and sweet couple and I hope you enjoy looking over their images! Beata had her dress embellished with jewels on one side of the waist and matched it with the same jewels in her earrings and necklace matching with the glitter heels from Kate Spade. Charles wore his Army uniform. They were married on October 29th, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois, at St. Hyacinth Basilica. Portraits were taken around downtown and the reception was at the quaint Fulton’s on the River.

Wedding Photography: Theresa Scarbrough Photography / Ceremony: St. Hyacinth Basilica in Chicago, Illinois / Reception: Fulton’s on the River / Flowers: New Six Corners Flowers in Chicago, Illinois / Officiant: Rev. Francis Róg CR / Wedding Cinematography: Jeff Manimbo / DJ: Corey Sanford of Music Masters Entertainment, Inc. / Cake Topper: Milk Tea / Wedding Cake + Mini Pastries: Rolf’s Patisserie (Now Closed) / Red Velvet Cake Balls: The Bleeding Heart Bakery / Wedding Programs: Shine Invitations / Menus + Seat Assignments: DIY by Bride / Photobooth: Smilebooth / Makeup: Kelly Letto of Bobbi Brown / Getting Ready Location: dana Hotel and Spa / Bridal Party Gifts: Anthropologie / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Dress Applique + Hair Piece: Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Various Amsale Dresses in Eggplant / Sketch Pin Design + Save-the-Dates: Kelly Murray / Sketch Pins: Pure Buttons

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Post tags: Amsale, Anthropologie, Belle Vie Bridal Couture, Bobbi Brown, Chicago, Corey Sanford, dana Hotel and Spa, Fulton's on the River, Illinois, Inc., Jeff Manimbo, Kate Spade, Kelly Letto, Kelly Murray, Milk Tea, Music Masters Entertainment, New Six Corners Flowers, Pure Buttons, Purple, Rev. Francis Rog CR, Rolf's Patisserie, Shine Invitations, Smilebooth, St. Hyacinth Basilica, The Bleeding Heart Bakery, Theresa Scarbrough Photography, Vera Wang
Post categories: Chicago Weddings, Illinois Weddings, Traditional Elegance

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

Meg & Dan | A Wedding at Elkhart Lake from I Do Films

Dan and I got married on the most perfect summer day in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – the same location where we had met six years earlier before my freshman year at Cornell.

I had always dreamed of having a tent wedding, so it was easy to settle on the beautifully-trimmed lawn at Victorian Village as the location for our reception. Using the warm, friendly, and vintage aesthetics of this family-run and family-fun resort as the foundation for our inspiration, my mom and I infused a little “Father of the Bride” and a few homemade touches to create a romantic and unforgettable Midwestern bash.

We started the day at my family’s home on Elkhart Lake, where Dan and I had a “first look,” but a very different kind. We were surrounded by my whole family while I came down the stairs and my brothers, dad, and Dan saw me for the first time. It was so special to have my whole family with us for such an important moment. The ceremony took place at Holy Name of Jesus in Sheboygan, where Dan had grown up and gone to church as a child. Our priest, who flew in from my family’s home parish in Los Angeles, stole the show with an incredibly touching homily that made reference to our “path” around Elkhart Lake. After the ceremony Dan and I took photos at a friend’s barn while our guests sipped homemade vodka lemonades and munched on Wisconsin cheese and meatballs.

Our 242 guests found their seating assignments on frames hung from vintage glass door knobs that Dan helped me power-drill onto a salvaged barn door found at my favorite antique shop, The Red Rooster in Plymouth. Dinner proceeded in a 60’ x 100’ century tent that glowed with warm rosy uplighting, ivory rice paper lanterns, and string lights. The tables were adorned with fresh roses, hydrangeas, and plenty of candles found at a local craft store by our florist Silvana Cassia of Twig Flowers. An oversize slate found at an antique shop and framed chalkboards found on HerMajestysPug’s shop on Etsy served as the menus for dinner and cocktails. To finish the look, we invested in a black-and-white checkered dance floor that exuded a snappy, jazzy feel.

A Beatles cover band called The Cavern Beat played four sets and kept the dance floor packed with guests of all ages. My mom always told me, “Meg, all you need for a great party are the two B’s: booze and a band.” She was so right!

Dessert included chocolate ganache cake from the bakery at the local Piggly Wiggly adorned with hydrangeas, an ice cream bar, and my mom’s molasses, snickerdoodle, and chocolate-chip cookies served on a three-tier cookie tower created with the help of a local carpenter.

We absolutely loved working with Anna and Jonathan Wheeler of Anna Page Photography, as well as Matt Buckman and Élan Villamor of I Do Films. Their ability to go with the flow, their attention to detail, and their cat-like reflexes certainly did not go unnoticed! Dan and I are so grateful to both of them for documenting our memories in such a beautiful and unique way!

Photography:  Anna Page Photography / Cinematography: I Do Films / Tent: Canopies Events / Band: The Cavern Beat / Event Coordination: Laura Cooper, Cooper Consulting / Floral Design: Twig Flowers / Ceremony Location: Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church / Caterer & Reception Location: Victorian Village Resort / Invitations: Bella Figura / Bride’s Dress: Amsale via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang / Bride’s Heels: Vince Camuto / Bride’s Flats: Aldo / Bride’s & Bridesmaid’s Earrings: Anthropologie / Bride’s Bracelet: J.Crew / Engagement Ring and Groom’s Ring: Steve Quick Jeweler / Floral Hair Clip: Sara Gabriel / Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Groom’s Bowtie and Groomsmen’s Ties: Brooks Brothers / Hair & Makeup: Aspira Spa, The Osthoff Resort / Guest Transportation: Discovery Coach / Wedding Party Transportation: Stargazer Limousine / DJ: Matt’s DJ Service/ String Quartet: Jubilate String Quartet, kayesara@hotmail.com (Sarah Oftedahl ) / Guest Photo Station: Beyond the Booth Photography / Candle Holders & Flower Bases: Hobby Lobby & Pier 1 Imports / Framed Blackboard Cocktail Signs: HerMajestysPug / Ice Cream Sign: The Back Porch Shoppe / Cake: Natalie’s Pastries, natalieblattner@hotmail.com / Ice Cream: Scoops Ice Cream Parlor

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Post tags: Aldo, Amsale, Anna Page Photography, Anthropologie, Aspira Spa, Bella Figura, Beyond the Booth Photography, Black Tie, Bowties, Brooks Brothers, Canopies Events, Chinese Lanterns, Cooper Consulting, Discover Coach, Elkhart Lake, Etsy, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Inspired, HerMajestysPug, Hobby Lobby, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, I Do Films, Ice Cream, Invitations, J. Crew, Jubilate String Quartet, Matt's DJ Service, Men's Wearhouse, Natalie's Pastries, Neutral Color Palette, Outdoor Weddings, Pier 1 Imports, Piggly Wiggly, Rustic Chic, Sara Gabriel, Scoops Ice Cream Parlor, Sheboygen, Stargazer Limousine, Steve Quick Jeweler, Tented Reception, The Back Porch Shoppe, The Beatles, The Cavern Beat, The Osthoff Resort, Traditional Elegance, Twig Flowers, Vera Wang, Victorian Village Resort, Vince Camuto, Vintage, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Stationery, White Color Palette, Wisconsin
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Cinematography

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Jake is from Cocoa Beach, Florida. He came out here with a friend for a 3 week vacation almost 4 years ago, got a job as a landscaper and never went back. I was born and raised here in Lahaina. I left for a bit for some school and some traveling, but came back in January 2010. When I got back, my little sister, Bridget, insisted that I meet one of her youth group/Young Life leaders, but I didn’t jump at the chance. I did finally meet him a couple of times in April at church events, and he got my phone number from Bridget. For 2.5 months, he called or texted me a couple times each week asking me out, but I never agreed. Finally, Bridget sort of embarrassingly forced a date upon us, and we’ve been together ever since. By September, after two requests and a camping trip with my family to Lanai, we were “official.” By Christmas, we were deeply in love and knee deep in planning a 4-day hike through the Haleakala Crater. By February everything was wonderful, and while I was getting excited for Valentines Day, Jake was busy. He met with my mom & stepfather to ask them permission to marry me. He got ahold of my father in Thailand, who I rarely speak with, to ask his permission and very secretly designed a ring with a tiny jeweler in Wailuku. Valentines Day came, and Jake came over to my apartment to make me breakfast before we went to work. When I got home, he had purchased 140 potted orchids (one of my favorite flowers) and decorated my 400-square-foot home! It was incredible. He pickled me up later & took me to Merrimans for dinner. Then he asked if I wanted to look at the stars, I of course agreed. We drove down to Slaughterhouse. When we got to the beach, there were tiki torches set up with a blanket, champagne, candles and rose petals. I thought someone had paid to have that set up and that we better move away quickly. Jake gave me a hug, said it was for me and got down on his knee. It was so amazing, romantic & more than anything I had ever dreamed of.    Our favors, the stemless wine glasses, had “Eat, Drink & be Married — Rachael & Jake — September 9th 2011″ printed on them in my own personal handwriting. My “old” was a bracelet and hair pin I got from my favorite vintage shop, Hula Gypsy; my “new” was my dress; “borrowed” was a beautiful necklace with a cross on it from my godmother; and my “blue” was my shoes! Our cake was made by a friend of our, Lindsay Hunt. She offered to help us with that, and it was wonderful! It was a Blue Velvet cake with buttercream icing and a great paisley design. We had jugs of margaritas & mojitos, which I made little medallions for. Along with that, the food and drink reflected our tastes: my favorite red wine, mini pizzas and spinach salad, along with Jake’s favorite beer and sliders. I love hydrangeas, so when I contacted Maui Floral to order flowers in bulk, they were great with helping me figure out an array of flowers to compliment them. (Lisianthus, Matsumoto Asters, Spray Roses, Dendrobium Orchids and Delphinum) Our style is very relaxed, so going with the usual structured, ornate, perfected florals wasn’t an option. We got quite a few quotes from florists on the island but in the end, what Jake and I had in mind was so simple and sleek we realized it made no sense to pay someone to do them. So a couple friends and I put them all together. Our ‘theme’ was sort of vintage chic, and I love the look of variation so I started collecting vases and jars from thrift stores in March. Everyone made fun of me for have dozens of them all over my house, but it worked out perfectly! Wedding Photography: Wendy Laurel / Second Shooter: Alisa Greig / Flowers + Program Fans: DIY / Bulk Flower Supplier: Maui Floral / Wedding Venue: Kapalua Resort (The Bride’s Step-Father is the Property Manager) / Earrings: Hale Zen (808-661-4802) / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Shoes: Anthropologie / Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal / Hair: Bride’s Godmother / Makeup: Bride’s Best Friend / Stemless Wine Glass Favors: Kim Williams of Williams & Associates

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Post tags: Alisa Greig, Anthropologie, Blue, David's Bridal, Hale Zen, Hawaii, Kapalua Resort, Lahaina, Maui, Maui Floral, Vera Wang, Wendy Laurel, White, Williams & Associates
Post categories: Destination Weddings, Hawaii Weddings

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Heather of Events by Heather Ham… It was a beautiful day in Pasadena, and the love in the air was infectious. Stephanie and Oji are such a fun and classic couple and some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. They chose the picturesque Boddy House at Descanso Gardens to have their Great Gatsby-inspired wedding. They chose a classic color scheme of white and silver. Picotte Weddings took breathtaking photos. I especially love the romantics. She truly captured the essence and atmosphere of a classic and elegant affair.

The ceremony took place on the lawn with the bride and groom exchanging vows beneath an architectural arbor in front of their closest friends and family. Cocktail hour was in the front of the house around the outdoor fountain. Then the guests moved through the main foyer of the home to the backyard of the house where they were met by the soulful sounds of Barbara Morrison and her accompanying jazz band. BBJ provided fantastic linens in a slate grey with a little bit of shimmer for a sophisticated touch. And each table had silver vessels filled with soft white garden roses, lisianthus, spray roses and hydrangea to the mercury glass votives and tables named for the couple’s favorite wines. The Great Gatsby vision truly came to life with the floral decor by Peony & Plum. I love the touches of dusty miller to add a little gray to the cream-colored florals. One of the favorite elements of all the guests was the mixology bar set up in the formal living room, along with the extensive dessert buffet from Patina & Frosted Cupcakery. Every sense was satisfied. Patina served a scrumptious dinner with the choice of rib-eye or halibut. After the band left, guests danced the rest of the night away to the musical stylings of VOX DJs, who always do a fantastic job. As guests left the property to head home, they were each given individual boxes of See’s candies.

From the bride… When we described our ideal wedding to Heather, our terrific wedding planner, we said we wanted it to be fun, elegant and unique. Our wedding turned out even better than we could have imagined. We could not have been happier with all of the great vendors we were fortunate enough to work with. They went above and beyond what they had promised to make sure our wedding was perfect for us. When we look back at our beautiful wedding, we know that we could not have asked for anything more. It truly represented us and, more importantly, it was the perfect beginning to the next chapter of our life together.

Wedding Photography: Picotte Weddings / Wedding Planning: Events by Heather Ham / Floral Design: Peony & Plum / Wedding Venue: The Boddy House at Descanso Gardens / Catering: Patina Group / Lighting + Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Charger Rentals: Premiere Party Rents / Linens: BBJ Linens / Officiant: Rabbi Arthur Rosenburg / Cake: Frosted Cupcakery / Hair & Makeup: Lips & Locks / Ceremony Musician: Sergey Teranov (staranov4@yahoo.com) / Jazz Band: Barbara Morrison & Band (bmorrblues@aol.com) / DJ: VOX DJs/ Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Wedding Calligraphy: Calligraphy Katrina

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Post tags: Barbara Morrison & Band, BBJ Linens, California, Calligraphy Katrina, Classic Party Rentals, Descanso Gardens, Events by Heather Ham, Frosted Cupcakery, La Cañada Flintridge, Lips & Locks, Pasadena, Patina Group, Peony & Plum, Picotte Weddings, Premiere Party Rents, Rabbi Arthur Rosenburg, Sergey Teranov, silver, The Boddy House, The Great Gatsby, Vera Wang, Vox DJs, White
Post categories: The Blog, Traditional Elegance

And how about the film by the crazy talented Brian of Shark Pig to round out the festivities? That man knows how to work a videocamera and the proof is in this Irish pudding…

  Click here for the FULL submission!

From the bride… Paul and I had a wonderful wedding in Dublin at The Village at Lyons on July 11, 2011. I’m a fashion strategy student in Amsterdam, so I was quite concerned about my wedding style. Thank God that in Ireland we have so many good wedding retailers, but I selected some American vendors as well. The ceremony was in a very bright, open restaurant at The Village at Lyons. The French Touch made an arch with many beautiful peonies for the ceremony. I wore a Vera Wang dress with silver Roger Vivier shoes. Paul was wearing a Prada suit with a black agnes.b bow tie. We arranged for jazz music to be played by The Avoca String Quartet during cocktail time. We had a mushroom cake from Perfectionist Confectionist. One of the most lovely things was we had invitation cards and menus made by Rifle Paper Co. The wedding band was amazing. They played jazz and for the first song, which they had practiced especially for us, they played “Bad Things,” the theme song for the TV series True Blood. At midnight, we released colorful lanterns with the guests that had well-wishes for a happy future for us written on them. It felt so peaceful and complete. 

Photography: Moments & Memories by Magda Lukas / Cinematography: Brian of Shark Pig / Flowers: The French Touch / Venue: The Village at Lyons / Event Design: The Bride / Event Planning: The Bridal Lounge / Invitations: Rifle Paper Co. / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Roger Vivier / Groom’s Suit: Prada / Groom’s Bow Tie: agnes.b / Bridal Party Dresses: Ivy & Aster + ACNE / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Prada / Wedding Cake: Perfectionist Confectionist / Cocktail Hour Music: The Avoca String Quartet / Band: Connor McKeon

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Post tags: Acne, agnes.b, Connor McKeon, Dublin, Gray, Green, Ireland, Ivy & Aster, Magda Lukas, Orange, Perfectionist Confectionist, Pink, Prada, Rifle Paper Co., Riger Vivier, Shark Pig, The Avoca String Quartet, The Bridal Lounge, The French Touch, The Village at Lyon, Vera Wang
Post categories: Destination, Destination Weddings

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Steve and I were married at the beautiful Palm House at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on the evening of the 23rd of September. Originally, we planned for an outdoor ceremony under a willow tree in the gardens, but torrential rain was pouring down the entire day and evening just did not seem to want to let up. Fortunately, I could not have chosen a better venue because a not-so-ideal weather situation turned out to be such a magical moment. Walking down the aisle while the rain fell onto the magnificent glass house was something that I’ll never forget. It’s quite hard to even describe the day and the feeling you get when looking around and seeing those that you love all gathered together to support and celebrate in your love. There were plenty of moments throughout the evening when I took a step back, watched everyone and really took it all in. It was important to me that I was present and could remember as many moments as possible and looking back, I can say that I do.

Our wedding was truly wonderful. I could not imagine anything better. We wanted a fun and romantic wedding, and I think we achieved just that. The dance floor was packed from the second our DJ started spinning up until the last song. One of the most incredible parts of the day was feeling all the love around us. We were truly humbled by our guests who traveled from all parts of the world to share this special day with us. As my lovely maid of honor toasted, “Here’s to love, laughter and happily ever after.”

From Brookelyn Photography… One detail I wanted to point out is that Steve’s last name is Choo… So I thought it particularly adorable that she added a “Mrs.” to the bottom of her Jimmy Choo shoes!

Wedding Photography: Brookelyn Photography / Wedding Planning: The Bride / Wedding Venue: The Palm House at Brooklyn Botanic Garden / Wedding Flowers: Blondie’s Treehouse / Ceremony Music: Claremont Strings and Ensembles / Reception Music: DJ Torbit, Friend of the Groom / Officiant: Niels Koizumi, Friend of Bride and Groom / Wedding Gown, Veil + Sash: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Groom’s Tuxedo: Paul Smith / Bridesmaid Dresses: Various Designers / Wedding Invitations: The Bride + Lauren Hickey, Friend of the Bride / Hair: Theresa Adams and Deborah Novick from Dop Dop Salon / Makeup: Michael Earley from Bobbi Brown at Barneys / Photo Booth: Classic Photo Booth / Photo Booth Props: Little Retreats

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Post tags: Barneys, Blondie's Treehouse, Blush, Bobbi Brown, Brookelyn Photography, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Claremont Strings and Ensembles, Classic Photo Booth, Cream, Deborah Novick, DJ Torbit, Dop Dop Salon, Gray, Jimmy Choo, Lauren Hickey, Little Retreats, Mihchael Earley, Niels Koizumi, Paul Smith, Peach, The Palm House, Theresa Adams, Vera Wang, White
Post categories: Brooklyn Weddings, New York Weddings

Thanks to my orange shoes, a beautiful love story, the support family and friends, and a whole lot of luck, we were the 2011 grand prize winners of the Crate & Barrel Ultimate Wedding Contest. The contest enabled us to have our dream wedding in New Orleans, Louisiana. In mid-2011, we relocated to Beijing, China and our guest list spanned 41 states and seven countries. We wanted to give our guests a destination wedding in America that had a unique local flavor, worthy of at least a weekend visit. There is no better place to host a celebration than the French Quarter in the Big Easy, and our wedding mantra was “laissez bon temps rouler” (let the good times roll). Julie Gibson, founder of Studio Grace, designed our save the date and passport like-invitations that reflected both NOLA and our ever-traveling careers.

Romantic, old New Orleans was brought to life thanks to Yifat Oren & Associates, our wedding planner, courtesy of Crate & Barrel. Stefanie Cove, Managing Partner, was with us every step of the way to choose the best local vendors (neither Michael or I are from NOLA) that would bring the vision of Southern charm, cajun comfort, and French elegance to life. Laura Kleinhenz of Docuvitae, our photographers, captured each moment in their authentic photojournalist style. They produced images that were more than just photographs – they were art! Welliver productions shot our wedding video and stayed with us throughout the entire evening.

The day began at the Aveda Paris Parker Salon where the bridesmaids, mothers of the bride and groom, and me had our hair and makeup done. The stylists and artists treated us like old friends, did beautiful work, and gave us a relaxing morning. We returned to our hotel to change; the bridesmaids wore long, ivory Two Birds Convertible Dresses (purchased from Bella Bridesmaid DC), which gave them fifteen different ways to wear their dress. The thick, high-quality jersey fabric was comfortable to wear all day and photographed beautifully. I wore two dresses: for the ceremony, a Pronovias lace gown and for the dinner and at the reception a silk with tulle overlay gown by Vera Wang. I purchased the Vera Wang dress from the most lovely Bridal Boutique I had ever been to: Mimi NOLA. Gail and Mimi, two of NOLA’s finest ladies assisted me and theirs is the only VW bridal boutique in New Orleans. They gave us the most personal attention, service, and advice for hosting a spectacular local wedding. They are the place to go bridal shopping if in New Orleans, hands down. As a nod to how we met, I wore orange pumps and my bridesmaids and flower girl did too. The groomsmen changed into a Calvin Klein classic tuxedo from Men’s Wearhouse and my handsome groom wore his own tuxedo by J.Crew. To give the groom distinction, we had him be the only one in a white bow tie and the rest of his men in black.

We wanted to maximize time with our guests, so we decided to take pictures before the ceremony at one of the most iconic parks in New Orleans, Jackson Square. It sits before St. Louis Cathedral, which provided a stunning backdrop for the portraits. Next, we asked our guests to meet at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, which tucked in the 140 friends and family for an intimate and cozy view of our ceremony. Pastor Stephen Aguillard gave what my Grandfather called, “the best wedding ceremony I’ve ever seen” as he preached about men’s and women’s needs in marriage. We wrote our own vows; Michael read his from a neatly folded piece of paper, me from my iPhone, which caused a few chuckles. It added to the interesting quirk of our young Pastor reading from his iPad, too. Our florals for the ceremony were by Ambiance Flowers and added to our mostly white with a few pops of orange in our bouquets. Harry Hardin’s string trio played Air on the G String for the family procession, Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley for the bridal party procession, and then my father and I entered with Mascagni’s Intermezzo. After a tearful vow exchange, we recessed to the traditional Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.

Joyfully marching out of the church as husband and wife, we were greeted by the brass instruments of the Storyville Stompers, one of the most decorated second line bands in New Orleans. Orange handkerchiefs and white feather boas were handed out to the guests and to their surprise, we began marching down the French Quarter. Michael and I briefly followed the parade in a horse and carriage, but we soon joined the crowd, not ones to miss out on any fun. Locals took pictures from their balconies and some even threw beads! We marched and danced with the brass band about eight blocks to the reception site, Galvez Restaurant, located in the French Quarter on the bank of the Mississippi river.

As the sun was setting, the second line band played for our cocktail hour outdoors in the Dutch Alley next the French Market. White lights streamed the alley, and specialty New-Orleans-inspired drinks and delicious Spanish-Cajun hors d’oeuvres were passed around. When it was time, guests were invited to walk up the votive lined stair case, up to the dining hall where five long king’s tables were set. I remember hearing my mother gasp, “Wow!” Each of the tables had no fewer than 100 candles illuminating the room; some in candelabras, some in candlesticks, and small votives. The room needed no other lighting, and the hundreds of candles were my favorite signature touch. The tables also were decorated by Ambiance Flowers vases with white flowers and baby’s breath. Each place setting contained a hand-written note to each guest, from either Michael or me, thanking them for coming.

Dinner was led by Chef Laura, of Galvez. Even though our event was black tie, we served our five courses family style to make for a more personal meal. Our guests passed around their incredible spanish, american, and french inspired dishes: ensaladas, crab cakes, grilled rack of lamb, paella valenciana, and shrimp and grits. It was cooked to perfection, thank you Chef! Our toasts broke up the courses, and our best man and maid of honor gave memorable and touching speeches. My father went last, and after his invited the guests to the dance floor, in the neighboring room.

The dance floor at Galvez is surrounded by French windows and doors that lead to a wrap around balcony. It’s one of the most romantic views in New Orleans, and our guests could watch steamboats chugging along the river as they sipped cocktails on the Crate and Barrel designed lounges outdoors. Or, inside they could get footloose with us to the incredibly talented, seven piece band, Taboo. They were a show stopper and played everything we asked, plus the favorites that even kept my Grandparents dancing way past their usual bed time.

We served two cakes: our wedding cake was by a local favorite sweet shop: Sucré, and they did a buttercream, three tiered wedding cake and our Groom’s cake (we’re in the South, after all!) was by Courtney Schmidig, a family friend and pastry chef at the French Laundry. I insisted on taste before appearance, so there was no fondant, only delicious butter cream and natural ingredients, they both were outstanding, but Courtney’s took the cake to another level!

We danced until midnight with Taboo and their incredible band arrangement and ended the night with a stellar performance that had most guests ready to continue their evening onto Bourbon street. In the morning, we relived the night over beignets and chicory coffee at Cafe Du Monde and bid a final farewell to our guests. We’re still hearing stories about how amazing strolling down the French Quarter with a second line band was, and the awesome jazz ensemble during cocktail hour, and the candlelit views of the Mississippi at night. Thank you Crate & Barrel, and thank you New Orleans, you gave us all an event to remember.

Wedding Contest: Crate & Barrel / Wedding Planners: Yifat Oren & Associates / Church: St. Mark’s United Methodist / Pastor: Stephen Aguillard / Reception, Catering & Bar: Galvez Restaurant / Invitations: Studio Grace / Photographer: Docuvitae /  Videographer: Welliver Productions / Flowers: Ambiance Flower Shop / Second Line Band: Storyville Stompers / Reception Band: Taboo / Bridal Gown (Ceremony): Pronovias, from Designer Loft, New York / Bridal Gown (Reception): Mimi NOLA / Rings: Blue Nile / Tableware, Lounge, and Decor: Crate & Barrel / Rentals: Your Event Delivered / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Two Birds, from Bella Bridesmaid / Hair & Makeup: Aveda Paris Parker Salon New Orleans / Groom’s Tuxedo: J.Crew / Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Wedding Cake: Sucre / Groom’s Cake: Chef Courtney Schmidig / Farewell Breakfast: Cafe Du Monde

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Post tags: Ambiance Flower Shop, Aveda Paris Parker Salon New Orleans, Baby's Breath, Bass Brand, Bella Bridesmaid, Big Bands, Blue Nile, Cafe du Monde, Candles, Chef Courtney Schmidig, Classic, Color Palette White Orange, Crate & Barrel, Designer Loft, Docuvitae, French Quarter, Galvez Restaurant, J. Crew, Louisiana, Men's Wearhouse, Mimi NOLA, Mississippi River, New Orleans, NOLA, NOLA Weddings, Pastor Stephen Aguillard, Pronovias, Silhouettes, St. Mark's United Methodist, Storyville Stompers, Studio Grace, Sucre, Taboo, Traditional, Traditional Elegance, Two Birds, Vera Wang, Wedding Photography, Welliver Productions, Yifat Oren & Associates, Your Event Delivered
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance