Boy oh boy, do we have a treat for y’all today. Not only is this inspiration shoot from Lauren Fair and Always Yours Events at Glen Manor House insanely gorgeous (hello that Monique Lhuillier floral gown), it also serves as a guide to help you host the European destination wedding you’ve always dreamed of, all while staying safe here in the States. Their advice and tips will allow to provide the same immersive experience for your guests just as you would if abroad. No seriously… it’s possible! Keep on reading for the inside scoop and head on over to the full gallery after to get all the design inspiration you’ll need, complete with floral magic by The Wild Dahlia.
From Always Yours Events… Over the last year we have seen remarkable intimate weddings take center stage here in the US, filled with small guest lists yet remarkable impact and awe-inspiring designs that have taken the internet and social media by storm. Yet in actuality, in recent years the intimate wedding was already slowly on the rise, with couples opting to create an experiential wedding weekend for their guests in exciting destinations including tropical locales such as Bora Bora to every corner of Europe from the coasts of the Mediterranean to the countryside of Italy, France, United Kingdom and more. However with the recent challenge of travel being temporarily suspended, we have seen couples opt to change their dates for their destination weddings, or worse, indefinitely put their celebrations on hold.
With this editorial design, Lauren Fair and I wanted to encourage couples to look at an exciting alternative option for their international destination weddings. We wanted to inspire couples to bring their intimate destination weddings back to the beautiful locales found here throughout the country, and host the same immersive experience just as you would if abroad. Experiential long weekends of celebration for intimate guest counts can still be had here in places you may not even know exist, such as one of the waterfront mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, a Tuscan-inspired villa and venue in the mountains of the South or the Hudson Valley of New York, a light and airy French-inspired chateau hidden up in Vermont, a tiny charming inn found on a private island of the coast of Florida… just to name a few.
For this design we chose the stunning backdrop of the coasts of Rhode Island at the Glen Manor House. What drew us to this particular location is the fact that it is very much reminiscent of the French Riviera. Newport and Portsmouth, Rhode Island are known for their stunning mansions that once served as Summer homes of the wealthiest families in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and these gilded homes were often inspired by chateaus and manors found throughout the coasts and countryside of Europe. The setting was one conducive to that of a French Riviera wedding weekend, including an immersive experience of a coastal ceremony, an intimate dinner for amongst the architecture of the chateau’s terrace and an antique yacht send off.
Inspiring the design from start to finish was the exquisite Tuileries gown from Monique Lhuillier, styled by Lorella of La Jolie Bride and completed with canary diamond earrings and fine jewelry by Verstolo. The gown has such a breathtaking and romantic pattern (reminiscent of the Tuileries gardens of France) that we used it to anchor the aesthetic, and subtly wove it in and out of the fine details, and used the color palette and textures to guide the overall vision.
Since stationery is an imperative element and tool for a destination wedding, we worked with the talented Diane of My Lady Dye to create a full and multi-piece custom suite of handmade paper with printing methods including blind letterpress, satin gold foil, hand-painted venue illustrations and floral patterns with accents of blue butterflies found within the Tuileries dress pattern. The stationery design branded the entire guest experience, including welcome notes and personalized ribbon tied tags on french market welcome bags filled with splits of Veuve Clicquot, luxurious soaps, the couple’s favorite French candle paired with black matches and local sweets.
To evoke the European feeling within the fine details and the “getting ready” part of the weekend, we styled the stationery details on Old-World inspired styling surfaces by Chasing Stone, and incorporated a custom textured backdrop by JD Artshop within the bridal suite. Both of these textural backdrops created a cohesive European look and feel within the gallery, even when it came to the fine details.
We felt it was imperative that Carly and Jon exchange their vows with the water surrounding them and the venue in the background, creating a breathtaking view and backdrop for their sentimental ceremony. Surrounded by a deconstructed arch filled with garden roses, ranunculus, jasmine vine and delicate greenery by the talented Shawna and team of the Wild Dahlia, the couple was a vision with the Glen Manor House behind them and guests in Louis chairs in front for an intimate late afternoon ceremony. Carly’s beauty look was created by a talented duo of women, with hair pulled back in a soft and romantic chignon with a twist by renowned hairstylist Jennifer Tawa, completed with a natural yet glamorous makeup look by the beloved Amanda McCarthy. To finish her bridal look, Carly held a bouquet filled with delicate garden roses and butterfly ranunculus by the Wild Dahlia. Jon wore a smart black and white tuxedo by the Black Tux with black bowtie fitting for the black tie celebration.
When it comes to a coastal European-inspired wedding, it would not be complete without a boating excursion. Post ceremony our couple hopped on the Antique Yacht (named Temma) and tooled around the harbor and inlets of Newport for a little time together prior to the reception. Giving guests the opportunity to freshen up and head to the evening reception, the bride and groom took golden hour photos around the coast and then head back to the Glen Manor House in time for the bride to change into a second look.
With an intimate wedding, a second look allows for another fashionable moment, approachability and comfort. Carly changed into a stunning deep v-neck gown (called Celine) from Monique Lhuillier completed with soft, glamorous waves, a smoldering eye look, and a pearl and crystal hairpiece. This look was a perfect way to transition from day to night, from ceremony to reception, from part one of the celebration to part two.
With an intimate guest count, receptions can take place in locations not always offered to celebrations with larger guest lists. For this reception, we chose the terrace overlooking the ocean and gardens of Glen Manor House. To bring statement lighting and ambience to the space, the team at Ryan Designs installed mixed beaded chandeliers over the dining table and soft pale champagne draping to frame the table within the terrace. The table was covered in champagne velvet linen and set with fine china, crystal and gold flatware, and surrounded by tufted gray Louis chairs from PEAK Event Services. Down the center of the table was an undulating set of shell colored compotes and vessels filled with overflowing florals and framed with soft peachy-blush candles in wooden taper holders by the Wild Dahlia. Each place setting featured a menu card with blue tassel and a tiny and intricately decorated cake made of artisan cookies by the talented Andrea of Andrea Reno Calligraphy and Cakes. The wedding cake by Andrea was an absolute work of art utilizing old world European piping techniques, and it impeccably fit in within the reception design.
With a little creativity, vision and a vendor team alongside, we encourage couples to take a second look at their destination celebrations and bring them to a stunning locale within reach now. This editorial is proof that dream weddings can and will take place wherever you are, and that experience, aesthetic and ambience do not need to be sacrificed even if the destination must change. And in the eyes of your nearest and dearest guests, the most exquisite destination is wherever you invite them to be a part of this exquisite celebration.
Photography: Lauren Fair Photography | Wedding Planning + Design: Always Yours Events | Floral Design: The Wild Dahlia | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Karen Holdsambeck/ My Lady Dye | Reception Venue: Glen Manor House | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Antique Boat: Antique Yacht | Bridal Stylist: La Jolie Bride | Bride: Carly Michelle Photography | Cake Design and Cookies: Andrea Reno | Custom Backdrop: JRD Artshop | Fine Jewelry: Verstolo | Hairstyling: Jennifer Tawa | Lighting and Draping: Ryan Designs | Makeup Artistry: Amanda McCarthy Beauty | Rentals: Peak Event Services | Styling Surfaces: Chasing Stone | Veil: Aleksa Karina Couture