Elizabeth and Brian’s wedding was a lovely affair, uniting their family in a heartwarming ceremony …

photography courtesy of Zev Fisher

When Elizabeth and Brian walked into Willowdale, they fell in love with it immediately. They wanted to be able to create a warm homey feel for their event. “It is something we try to create in our own home with our 4 children” – said Elizabeth. “The staff was very warm and accommodating as well,” she added later.

It was important for the couple to be able to personalize the wedding with the pictures of their families and their pets, including the pictures of their chickens! Elizabeth, Brian and their family did 100% of the planning.

Our congratulations to Elizabeth, Brian and family!

You can see more of their beautiful wedding on the  Zev Fisher Photography blog.

Site and Catering: Willowdale Estate / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Officiant: Robin Zucker / Cake: Konditor Meister / Florist: Michael & Co. / Photographer: Zev Fisher Photography / Music: Good Time String Band (bluegrass) / Make-Up: Makeover by Ligia

As we noted earlier, Willowdale is an ideal wedding venue any time of year. The mansion has a perfect layout for indoor or outdoor events and the Great Room makes a spectacular ceremony location! The proof is in their Winter Wedding Gallery {here}.

Willowdale hosts Open Houses throughout the year ~ the next one is coming up soon {October 12}!  Be sure and check out the schedule to take a tour of this amazing wedding venue!

Weddings at Willowdale

Spring Weddings

Summer Weddings

Fall Weddings

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Post tags: Good Time String Band, Konditor Meister, Makeover by Ligia, Massachusetts Weddings, Michael and Company, North Shore, Rentals Unlimited, Topsfield, Wedding Venue, Willowdale Estate, Zev Fisher
Post categories: Boston Weddings, Little Black Book Blog, Massachusetts Weddings, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

photos courtesy of Emily Sterne Photography

The West Mountain Inn is one of those “off the beaten path” places that takes you by surprise and immediately infuses you with the slow, peaceful beauty of Vermont. New England is full of casual, rustic wedding venues, but what just takes your breath away at West Mountain Inn is the total quiet, complete seclusion and the absolutely gorgeous natural environment. Having a wedding at the inn is like bringing all your guests to your own private country estate for a mini-vacation. You can literally rent the entire 20 guest rooms of the converted farmhouse and 2 cottages, the garden filled grounds, tavern, dining room and their beautiful 100 year old historic Vermont Barn. No cookie cutter weddings or multiple events in a day here – you have the whole weekend completely to yourselves. Local, organic wedding menus, onsite wedding planner, miles of private woodland hiking trails, canoeing and fly fishing on the famous Battenkill River, lodging for up to 60 guests, alpacas, lily pond and mountain views are all part of the package. But most of all, it’s being in a place that’s so easy to feel at home that makes all the difference; a place so beautiful it slows your pulse and lets you celebrate each moment you’re there together.

West Mountain Inn from Corinna Raznikov …

Corinna Raznikov Photography

Think about it. “It slows your pulse.” A quiet Vermont inn ~ to invite 60 of your nearest and dearest ~ can you imagine anything more special? More romantic? Rustic wedding elegance at it’s finest!

Please check out West Mountain Inn’s website and blog for the full flavor of the venue. It’s amazing!

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Post tags: Barn, Corinna Raznikov, Emily Sterne Photography, Rustic Elegance, Vermont, Wedding Venue, West Mountain Inn
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog

photography courtesy of Melissa Jill

This beautiful space was built in 2004 specifically for weddings and other special events. The staff is well-experienced to handle anything that might pop up … and has a list of vendors that they work with often ~ we’re thrilled to recommend Villa Siena to you in our Little Black Book {SMP portfolio}!

Vanessa, a school teacher, and Josh, a police officer, had narrowed their search for a wedding venue down to two places. Vanessa said, “We went with Villa Siena because we loved the detail and authenticity of the Italian villa style. Everything down to the minutest detail is perfect, and if you find it to be otherwise, Sabrina and her staff will fix it! We also loved the privacy of being the only people in the venue, rather than in the hotel where there may have been onlookers, etc.”

Vanessa’s stunning wedding gown was designed by Heather Butler.

The decor of the day included Vanessa’s love of color ~ in this case a purple, cobalt and lime green color palette with the whimsical touch of peacock feathers. The guest tables included samples of Josh’s home brewed beer, “Barutha Brew,” tied with lime green and purple ribbons.

You can see more shots of the beautiful property on the Villa Siena website and blog …

Vanessa and Josh

After deciding they were tired of sifting through all the available bachelors and bachelorettes Arizona had to offer, they both signed up for Match.com. As Vanessa was perusing through the profiles, she was struck by the oddity of one quote, “I love the Discovery Channel!” and decided she HAD to check out this man that loves educational television. After deciding he had the best teeth she had ever seen paired with the dorkiest pictures, Vanessa sent him a virtual “wink”. They emailed each other for awhile before finally meeting for coffee one Thursday morning (that turned into a day long event).

The Proposal
Josh wanted to combine something that Vanessa loves (him) with something that she wants (horses). He arranged for the two of them to go horseback riding in the Superstition Mountains. After blindfolding Vanessa, driving around in circles to throw off her sense of direction, and making her stay in the car at all stops, Josh pulled up to the O.K. Corral in Apache Junction. Their guide, Lee, the 100lb cowboy, led them on a two hour ride into the mountains. At the top of the ridge while admiring the beauty, Josh got down on one knee and asked Vanessa to be his wife. Of course, she said “Yes!” Lee, the cowboy, cried.

The Planning
From Vanessa …  Once we decided on the package offered by Villa Siena, we were elated. This was one of the best choices we could have made! It is so much easier to have our vendor choices recommended, guaranteed and limited. Every vendor was spectacular, efficient and flexible. The vendors contributed to our beautiful experience at Villa.

Venue: Villa Siena
Coordinator: Amy Weide with Villa Siena
Photographer: Melissa Jill
Wedding Gown: Heather Butler, Arizona’s Bridal Warehouse
Hair: Joe with Le Studio Salon
Make-up: Stephanie with Kensington Make Up
Florist: Blume Events
Officiant: Frank Villegas
Invitations: Taylor Herr
Caterer: Bon Cuisine
DJ: Ray the DJ
Cake: Piece of Cake Desserts

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Post tags: Aisle Decor, Arizona, Arizona's Bridal Warehouse, Blume Events, Bon Cuisine, Bridesmaids Dresses, Color Palette Purple Green, Heather Butler, Kensington Makeup, Le Studio Salon, Melissa Jill, Peacock Feathers, Phoenix, Piece of Cake Desserts, Ray the DJ, Villa Siena, Wedding Venue
Post categories: Bouquets, Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Favors & Gifts

The French Lick Resort in West Baden, Indiana include two historic hotels, casino, a famous mineral springs spa, a championship golf course, a winerey … it is an unbelievably fabulous venue for a destination wedding!

The night before the wedding, Jeri and Joshua enjoyed a train ride with all their guests along the Indiana countryside with appetizers and French Lick wine served.

They were married in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana, about 40 minutes from West Baden.

LOVE the gauntlet-style gloves Jeri wore!

Jennifer sent so many sensational photos of their celebration …

Really, really, really love this venue! It has a totally interesting history associated with it.

Thanks so much to Jeri & Joshua and Jennifer Driscoll for sharing! For more of her fantastic photography, take a look at her website, it’s really cool { … you have to make a wish to enter}! And if you LOVE birds … take a look at Jennifer’s blog from Friday, March 13. So cute!

Congratulations, Jeri & Joshua!

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Post tags: French Lick Resort, Gauntlet, Indiana, Jennifer Driscoll Photography, Wedding Venue, West Baden
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography, Wedding Style

Carol and Ahad’s wedding took place at the remarkable Cá d’Zan Mansion in Sarasota, Florida.

Just a real quick history lesson … The Cá d’Zan Mansion was the home of John & Mable Ringling. John Ringling, one of the five original circus kings of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus was quite the entrepreneur! The Florentine-style mansion, art collection and estate were bequeathed to the people of the state of Florida. Now, part of the Florida State University system, the Ringling estate has been restored to it’s original, magnificent condition. What an amazing wedding venue.

Photography by Michael

Art … at it’s best.

{to see the full gallery, click here!}

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Post tags: Ca d'Zan Mansion, Florida, Photography By Michael, Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Wedding Venue
Post categories: Florida Weddings, Gainesville, Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Photography