This gorgeous Connecticut wedding sent to us by Gourmet Galley is not only filled with beautiful flowers and sweet little details, but is likely to induce some serious stomach growling…

Plus, if you’re feeling at all unsure about what to cook on Thanksgiving, Chelsea and Matt’s menu may be just the delicious inspiration you’ve been looking for…

“meat and potatoes” ~ aged dry rubbed new york strip steaks with caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and house made steak sauce, horseradish mashed potatoes, sautéed zucchini and summer squash.

“roast and toast” ~ provence roasted split chickens with toasted israeli couscous, roasted vegetables with fresh herbs, sautéed green beans with cherry tomatoes, slivered almonds, and garlic.

“soup” ~ tomato and asparagus bisque, served cool ~or~ roasted corn and crab chowder with basil oil.

“salad” ~ organic field greens with crumbled feta, black olives, cucumbers and a honey balsamic vinaigrette or spinach salad with mushrooms, red onion, slivered almonds and a warm bacon cider vinaigrette.

Stunning flowers, sweet little bird details and a completely drool-worthy cake. Yep, I’m in heaven.

This couple really thought about the whole feel of the day, from beginning to end… everything from the bride’s fabulous bouquet and the sweet place cards to the luscious tabletops and happy bellies of all of their guests. Gourmet Galley created a spread to ensure everyone’s total satisfaction…and yes, now I’m hungry.

Photography by Maggie Conley.

Thanks you to the very talented Gourmet Galley for sharing this gorgeous day with us… everything is elegant, lovely and totally delicious. Congratulations to Chelsea and Matt!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Birds, Catering, Connecticut, Gourmet Galley, Maggie Conley Photography, Quaker Hill, Wedding Favors, Wedding Menu
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance

Here’s Janet and Ethan’s menu …

Greenhouse Greens and Herbs ~ With this morning’s farm egg
Asparagus Soup ~ American sturgeon caviar, mushrooms
Alaskan Halibut ~ Pistou of spring vegetables
Loin of Lamb ~ Quinoa, cracked wheat, spring parsnips

Is this not incredible??

On his blog, Paul said that he was walking around the exterior of the buildings to catch some evening shots of the property when he came across one of the chefs kneeling in the garden. Paul asked him what he was doing. The chef replied that he was “working on the asparagus soup going on for the wedding meal inside!”

This is such a gorgeous site for a wedding! Gourmet … Green … Simple charm …

Congratulations Janet and Ethan!

Paul Rich and Holly Andres are a husband and wife team based in Portland, Oregon. They work with their brides and grooms to capture the moments that are unique to each wedding. As you can see from the images above, they are story-tellers! Their personalities and talents award them with the highest praise from one and all!

{to see the full gallery, click here!}

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Blue Hill At Stone Barns, New York Weddings, Paul Rich Studio, Pocantico Hills, Wedding Menu
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Photography

from Tammy …

When dear friends of ours offered to host a garden wedding for us in their newly redesigned gardens at their home in Norwalk, CT we were so excited. Gilles and I were married in July at the Mairie in Paris at a small ceremony. With many of our friends and family absent from our ceremony in Paris, we were so happy that our friends offered to host our US reception with close friends and family. We decided to hold our reception on my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. It was a perfect day.

Our reception was planned in four months mostly from Paris.  SMP was a great help for inspiration, resources and ideas that really helped me plan the reception …such as the color palette: french blue and white with antique red accents, casual elegance look and feel, stylish details and floral arrangements. The inspiration boards were especially helpful.  Details of the wedding were very important to me. I included small touches of French flair to honor my husband’s heritage.

Tammy’s chignon is so classic and so perfectly paired with the lace gown!

The buffet menu was incredible. Our caterer really understood our vision to combine American and European cuisine. The charcuterie table was a great success. Details included: a menu board, kir royals, french wine, french bisquits with chocolate from Paris at each place setting, matchbooks given to us by my best friend was such a lovely surprise, an appetizer of home made pate from Gilles’s grandmother, lanterns with ribbon tails with blue lights, stamped cocktail napkins with a stamp from etsy, french-english flashcards placed at the cocktail hour for conversation bought on etsy, french blue ribbons tied on napkins, handmade guest book, elegant clean floral arrangements for tables to compliment the gardens, handmade ring pillow in french blue toile.

The best part of the day was being with all of the family and friends we love. We had symbols of our loved ones everywhere all throughout the day. Chris and Joe offered their beautiful home, our friend, Michael married us in the garden, my best friend Deb assisted me with every aspect of the wedding a few days before the ceremony (hanging all lanterns to wrapping napkins) and was my coordinator the day of the wedding (I am blessed to have her in my life).

What a charming, intimate celebration!

Advice to other brides. It is possible to plan a perfect wedding day in a short amount of time. Come up with a budget and figure out what is really important to you. Ask friends for referrals for catering companies, music and rental companies. Be upfront with your vendors about timing and budget. When they know what they are working with, it makes for a more pleasant experience.

To our hosts Chris and Joe, thank you very much for hosting our wedding and for all your help and effort in making the day just perfect. We are so lucky to have friends like you in our lives.

Perfect!!  A backyard garden wedding full of charm, elegance, and wonderful food & drink. You can tell that this was a very heart-warming day…filled with family and friends, love, laughter and a touch of attitude!

On a slightly different note … congratulations to Krystal and Paul, masterminds of Studio Foto … on their own engagement!! To see more of their fabulous fotography, and read a great marriage proposal story, check out their blog and website.

krystal’s engagement ring shot

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 29 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: August Wedding, Backyard Wedding, Color Palette Blue, Connecticut, DIY Inspired, Lace Wedding Dress, Luminaries, Norwalk, Studio Foto, Wedding Menu
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Little Black Book Blog