I’m going to try my hardest to not be Miss Bossy, but really, you simply must save some time today for the rest of this absolutely stunning wedding (right here in the gallery). Julie Morawski of Carla Ten Eyck has brought me to goosebumps with her beautiful images of this perfect day. The bride could not be more stunning (thank you Dana Bartone & Company), the groom’s happiness level is obviously at it’s peak, and the soiree seems to have been tied together with the prettiest of black and white striped bows.
From the lovely bride… So much of what made our wedding special was in the details. From the quintessential New England ambiance that reflected our upbringings (I’m from Connecticut; Ryan grew up on Cape Cod) to the level of color coordination, I spent much of our year-long engagement obsessing over all the little things. With the help of my parents, my husband, and many friends for the prep work, and then of course our amazing vendors, all of my ideas came together to truly bring the vision to life. Looking back, I am so thankful for all the details and for our fantastic photographer Julie who made sure none of it will be forgotten!
When looking for venues, we knew we wanted something a bit untraditional that could be a blank canvas for all of my colorful ideas. The Barns at Wesleyan Hills ended up being the perfect venue for us – minutes from my childhood home, surrounded by beautiful grounds, and full of potential. Despite the reception being held in a barn, I did not want the event to feel overly rustic. No mason jars, no twine, and certainly no burlap. Instead, I opted for bold black-and-white accents that helped strengthen and modernize the otherwise vintage space. I think the juxtaposition of elegant with rustic turned out so beautiful and also reflected our personal styles well. The peachy sunset colors offset by the stark contrast of blacks and whites made for a palate that was sophisticated, fun, and full of whimsy.
Since I spend my free time putting together a baking blog, I knew all of our guests were expecting fantastic desserts and creative touches throughout the night. Although I left most of the baking up to the professionals, I actually did make the 100 escort card cookies myself. My Dad helped me build the wire frame to hang them for display, and all together it made for an extremely personal and delicious element to our guests’ experience. The dessert table itself – thoughtfully assembled in our colors and favorite flavors – was titled “Ryan and Erica’s Sweet Tooth” as a fun reference to my blog’s name.
Some people may question why brides put so much effort into an event that only lasts several hours, but I learned that the planning, especially when it involves family and friends, is almost just as special as the wedding itself. My husband and I are planners at our core, so we definitely were in our element the past year making our massive wedding to-do list and slowly but surely crossing off every item. But my favorite part of the wedding ended up being the ceremony, which actually involved the least amount of planning. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t have planned Ryan’s eyes tearing up as he read his vows. The stripes, flowers, and touches of gold were beautiful, but in the end, it was the immense amount of love and emotion surrounding us that day that I’ll remember the most. Thank you Style Me Pretty for inspiring me to create the wedding of my dreams and for letting me share mine with you today!
Photography: Carla Ten Eyck | Flowers: Just For You Floral Design Studio | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Hair and Makeup: Dana Bartone & Company | DJ: Powerstation Events | Dessert Table: Truffles Bakery | Linen Rentals: General Eclectic | Music: Powerstation Events | Paper Products: Catherine Ray | Photobooth: Photobooth Planet | String Musicians: Suite Occasions Music | The Barns at Wesleyan Hills: The Barns at Wesleyan Hills