This wedding reminds of the oh-so-many reasons why I love New England. I’m totally transfixed by this wedding’s natural and rustic beauty captured to perfection by Anna Sawin Photography and designed beautifully by Ruffles & Tweed. The pretty plum hues and Ikat pillows totally had me at hello as did the simple and sweet programs, the amazing invites, (did you see those envelope liners?!) and the myraid of textures throughout the design…I could go on and on, but I’m sure you really just want to see the entire day unfold right here in the gallery, and frankly, I don’t blame you!
And be sure to check out the amazing video from Buzz Media Company:
[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/39540228?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 599 337]
Click here for the FULL wedding!
From the Bride… I don’t know how Tim and I got so lucky to stumble upon Elihu Island, but the second we did, we knew it was the place. There is a magic and energy and a natural, wild beauty to the Island that makes it unlike anywhere else. It was also perfectly suited what we wanted our wedding to be: relaxed and rustic but still elegant, full of warmth and personal touches, and truly reflective of both Tim and me. Luckily for us, the island brought with it a bonus: Adrienne O’Connor of Ruffles & Tweed, and Lucinda Wesson of Chocolate Creative Design. They are both brilliantly creative, know the island inside and out, and were experts at helping to translate the vague adjectives we kept repeating (“Indian summer” and “breezy” were two of my go-to’s!) into a tangible vision. They also steered us toward our all-star vendors: Hana Floral Design, Gourmet Galley Catering and Anna Sawin, photographer extraordinaire, who is not only masterful with her camera but brought a special warmth and calm to a sometimes crazy experience. Before the wedding, working with Lucinda on our paper really helped get things off the ground. Her creativity is in a league of its own, she has exceptional taste, and without fail produces unique, custom creations that totally eclipse your expectations. Lucinda and Adrienne had me post images on Tumblr—of everything from pillows to jewelry, dresses to fonts and invitations—to get a sense of what kind of aesthetic I was after. It was through this process that we nailed down ikat prints as a theme that carried through the whole event. I really think the save-the-dates not only helped set the tone for the wedding, but it was the first real visual I had to connect to and build off of.
All of my favorite aspects of the wedding were tiny details. There were moments where I worried that I was too caught up in the details, but those touches were all the things that I loved the most. A few examples: On a whim, Lucinda sprinkled lavender from her garden into the envelopes with our invitations; our flower girls carried their flowers in adorable vintage pails; we had a Pickle Bar!; hand-painted wooden signs pointed people to Beers on the Beach, Dinner & Dancing, etc.; for our escort cards I made Polaroids of each guest, mostly with Tim or I from throughout the years, which Adrienne brilliantly thought to hang on clothesline wrapped around a giant tree; we wrote little bios of each member of the wedding party for the program; and for favors, we included a pouch of saffron along with a card featuring a paella recipe from my grandma and a drawing by my grandpa. There was a lot of thought and love put into all those little details, and they still make me happy to think about.
Lastly, the truck! There’s a vintage pick-up truck on the island that I had hoped to use somehow, and a month or so before the wedding we found out that we could, although Adrienne told me that exactly how would be a surprise. Sure enough, she and Lucinda created a free-standing little world of Anthropologie up there — with lighting and ikat pillows, a rug, bright parasols, beers on ice, you name it. And we had wooden steps built so people could climb up. It had tons of antique-y charm and was totally extraordinary. The best part was that people actually used it! They took pictures up there, smoked cigars — it was hopping all night. At the end of the day, I could not have been happier to see all the little details and ideas come to life, and the best part was sharing it with the people we love the most in the world. It was everything we could have hoped for, with a little Elihu magic sprinkled in.
Wedding Photography: Anna Sawin + Nicki Pardo for Anna Sawin Photography / Wedding Venue: Elihu Island, A Private Island Off the Coast of Stonington, Connecticut / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / Event Design: Chocolate Creative Design + Ruffles & Tweed / Event Planning, Ikat Pillows + Table Toppers: Ruffles & Tweed / Wedding Invitations, Map, Programs, Cupcake Tags + Favor Bags: Chocolate Creative Design / Wedding Cinematography: Buzz Media Company / Catering + Cupcakes: Gourmet Galley / Band: New York City Swing / Tent: Sperry Tents / Wedding Dress: Saks Fifth Avenue / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Hair: W Salon / Makeup: Jennie Fresa