Massachusetts Weddings

Can I get real with everyone for a quick second? This wedding from Alexandra Roberts is rocking my world right now. It has the perfect amount of gorgeous and then a whole lot of personality thrown in for good measure. I love that. Couldn’t love it more actually. Add images so pretty I could cry from Alexandra Roberts and flowers from the super talented Sayles Livingston, and ladies and gents, consider me a happy camper. See it all here.

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From Alexandra Roberts… love this gorgeous modern wedding of Liz & Jeremy. They were married at the Stone House in Rhode Island last summer and it was such a perfect day.

From Liz about the dinosaur elements: We wanted some non-traditional elements in our wedding. Dinosaurs are nerdy and fun, two qualities we love in each other, so we went for it. They also provided an excellent challenge for the caterer when making our cake!

Photographer: Alexandra Roberts | Videographer: Matt Caputo | Florist: Sayles Livingston Design | Stationery: Designed by the Bride | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Venue: Stone House | Bride's Dress: Sarah Seven | Cake and Catering: Russell Morin Fine Catering | Groom's Tux: Hugo Boss | Hair/Makeup: Demiche Beaute | Music: Beat Train Productions | Rentals: Newport Tent Company

Backyard weddings are nothing short of wonderful. There is something so warm, so intimate about a wedding hosted at a family home, and when it’s all captured by Shane Godfrey Photography, it just gets that much better. This wedding is the perfect example. It’s a beautiful celebration of these two lovely folks, and there is even more to love right here.

From Shane Godfrey Photography…Katy emailed me to talk more about her wedding, and we found a time that worked for her in the UK and me here. After a short conversation about my background, she told me to send over the contract and we were on for her wedding day. Katy had met Simon while abroad for work and decided to stay to be with him there. My second photographer got ready with the guys up at Katy’s parent’s house in Manchester, New Hampshire, and the girls got ready at the reception location. Everyone walked over to the church which was right down the street from where they had a ceremony filled with laughter and tears and ending to a church bell pulled by one of the ushers. We took the majority of the family photos and bride and groom photos in front of the church as it made for a great location for photographs. We headed back over to the house and finished up with bridal party photos as well as a few more of the bride and groom. As cocktail hour ended and the bridal party was heading into the tent, the humidity broke and the sky opened up for the rest of the night. Because the top of their tent was clear plastic, it made for a cool sight to look up and see the rain coming down as the sun set. They had an emotional speech from the maid of honor, and two hilarious ones by both the groom’s father and best man. We got out during dinner for a few minutes to get a couple of night shots with the house, tent, and twinkle lights during twilight after the bride changed into some gold sequin Tom’s shoes.

Photography: Shane Godfrey Photography | Wedding Planner: Kit Reno (Bride's Mother) | Florist: Nancy Walton (Bride's Aunt) | Ceremony Location: The Dover Church | Reception Venue: Private Residence | Caterer: East Meets West Catering | Makeup Artist: 26th on Hanover | DJ: DJ Maloof | Officiant: The Dover Church | Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier

From the Bride… Spending my summers on Martha’s Vineyard since I was a child, I always felt a sense of peacefulness and happiness on the island. Something about the ocean, the fishing piers, the laid back island vibe, and most importantly my family’s long history there always made this a special place. My father’s family had grown up summering on the island, making their home in a small community known as West Chop, and by the time I was born his parents had become year-round islanders and more than a handful of my aunts, uncles and cousins had become deep rooted in this West Chop community. West Chop became a place where I would spend many of my summers visiting as a child and when my now husband, and I started dating years ago this was one of the first places I wanted to show him and have him experience. When he proposed in November of 2011, this became a no-brainer for where we wanted to have our wedding. The community feel of the property really exuded the atmosphere that we wanted to provide our guests with. We wanted everyone to feel like they were on “island-time” hiding away in this small and isolated community.

For my wedding style I wanted to convey the same natural and effortless look that I loved about West Chop. I ended up choosing an Amsale wedding dress that I immediately fell in love with that made me feel both bridal and relaxed at the same time (it even had pockets!). To make the dress my own, I added a sash to it that my seamstress sewed in for me. For bridesmaid dresses, I went with very simple (and non-bridal looking) silk, elastic waist dresses from Joie. My goal was to have all of the girls feel as comfortable as I did in my dress. For the boys, my husband chose basic khakis, white shirts and navy blazers that were accompanied with Vineyard Vines ties.

To extend this same style into our venue and decor, I wanted to keep my flower arrangements very simple. We chose to go with whites, light pinks and peach and then add a pop of hot pinks and other brights to help add some warmth. We also wanted to incorporate some personal touches and share our love for Martha’s Vineyard with our guests, so I tried to do so by using rocks that I had collected along the beach (with some help from my fiance, friends and family) as the place cards and table numbers. I thought this helped bring a unique and natural feeling to the reception (and it also was a great way to save money).

Other DIY projects that we did included things like the wedding programs, menu board, custom paper straws and mason jar wedding gifts and their hang tags. Although I had been cursing at myself leading up to the wedding taking on too many DIY projects, I must admit that on my wedding day it was so fun to see all of these projects come to life. Not only did it give the reception a personal touch, but it also was a fun reminder to be able to look around and think back on the hours spent with my husband, friends and family putting these all together. I definitely would recommend this to future brides; not only do these projects help save you money, but also allowed for some special memories with friends and loved ones shared over a bottle of wine to create those irreplaceable personal touches on your wedding day.

The day ended up coming together perfectly and it truly could not have been a better day, or representation for that matter, of my husband and me. Everything from the trolley ride to and from the church to the warmth of the small West Tisbury Congregational Church to the perfect fall crisp weather during the cocktail hour where guests sipped dark and stormies out of mason jars to the insanely talented (and fun!) band we had that kept every single guest on their feet all night, helped make this the effortlessly perfect day that we were longing for.

Photography: Jennifer Langdon Photography | Floral Design: Flowers On The Vineyard | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Invitations: Rugg Road Paper Company | Bridesmaids' Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Bridesmaids' Shoes: J.Crew | Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joie | Catering: Tea Lane Caterers Inc. | Hair: Maggie's Salon | Band: Mike Benjamin Band | Groom's Attire: Brooks Brothers | Wedding Venue: West Chop Club | Bridal Boutique: The White Dress by the shore | Bride's Jewelry: J.Crew | Bridesmaids' Jewelry: Monelle Boutique | Cake + Cupcakes: Black Dog Bakery | Cardigan: J.Crew | Flower Girl Shoes: Toms | Groom's Tie: Vineyard Vines | Guest Book Map: Designs by Tenisha | Mason Jars: Discount Mugs | Rentals + Tent: Big Sky Tent & Party Rentals | Sash: Modern Trousseau | Save the Dates: Minted

Ever since my sister’s engagement last May, I’ve been spending every last second of spare time helping to plan her rustic barn wedding.  A task that is made decidedly easier given that my “non-spare time” is spent perusing beautiful details and drop-dead gorgeous weddings.  And on days like today, when I get to bask in a pretty little Gedney Farm affair from Shane Godfrey Photography, I don’t have to do one ounce of planning… because it’s all sitting right here, perfectly executed, in the full gallery.

From Shane Godfrey… In the winter of 2010 I shot a wedding out in the Berkshires at Gedney Farms. Ever since then, I had always wanted to go back during the warmer months to really see what this venue had to offer. Anne and Whitney found my work online and once we met up, we both instantly knew we would be a good fit for their wedding last May.

We started the day out at the Salon, followed by a beautiful ceremony, officiated by Scott and Louise Walker, up in the fields at the farm. We then walked around the grounds for a bit and took some amazing photographs in front of a few of the barns as well as in front of the on-site orange old school Chevy truck, which made for an amazing picture. Anne’s mother did all the flowers for the wedding (Orchids, Etc.) and Gedney Farms was the caterer for the event, it was a very DIY style wedding. During the reception there was a sing along with both of their families getting on the mic towards the end of the night, which was a lot of fun, followed by some crazy dancing! It’s been a little over a year now, but this wedding still sticks out in my memory as one of the most fun and beautiful weddings I have ever photographed.

From the Bride… Michael and I are an incredibly low key couple and wanted to keep our wedding as stress-free and intimate as possible. We thought Napa would be the perfect local for a destination wedding because it offers a little something for everyone – not to mention it’s a great place to travel back to for anniversaries!

Planning a Napa wedding from Texas can have its challenges, but Michael and I really shared in the entire process together from start to finish. We made one trip out to Napa to scout vineyards and immediately fell in love with the grounds at V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena. With its lush stone courtyard and stunning barrel room, we knew that it would provide the ideal backdrop for our big day.

The actual weekend of our wedding was perfect – crisp November weather, gorgeous fall foliage, and all of our dearest friends and family. We hosted a welcome celebration at a private residence in St. Helena on the eve of our wedding. This was a great way to relax with all of our guests and kick-off the weekend festivities. The following evening was truly more amazing than we could have ever imagined. Michael and I had our “big reveal” before the wedding at the Old Rutherford Train Station, and then enjoyed a pre-wedding libation with our best friends and siblings. Our ceremony took place in a romantic candlelit courtyard as the sun began to set, with a reception that followed in the winery’s barrel room.

Megan and Michael Gratch live in Fort Worth, Texas. Megan works at an art museum and Michael is in healthcare.

Photographer: Shane Godfrey Photography | Caterer: Gedney Farm | Band: The Pulse of Boston | Wedding Venue: Gedney Farm

We think of all you pretties out there as friends. We may or may not feel like your virtual bridesmaids. So when we hear of an event right in your backyard that would be a crime to miss, we make sure you know about it. It’s part of our virtual bridesmaid duty. That’s why we are pulling out the stops to make sure Project Fashion hosted by the lovelies at Boston Weddings is marked on your calendar in pen. Because, really, what’s better than coveting couture from talented folks like Daniel Faucher, Luke Aaron, Firas Yousif, and Marie Galvin? We can’t think of much.

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And you know what’s even better? They are giving away 2 free tickets to 2 lucky SMP readers – just leave a comment below on why you can’t wait to attend below to enter the giveaway. If you aren’t one of the lucky ladies or gents to win, simply enter projectfashionsmp when you register (do so right here: http://projectfashion.eventbrite.com) to get 20% off the ticket price!

It’s a one of a kind event in Boston, and it’s all at your finger tips! Plus proceeds benefit students attending the School of Fashion Design, so it’s a total win, win. Alright pretties – ready, set, comment! We’ll announce the winners on Friday! See all the details here.

New England barn weddings are special. They are cozy and charming, elegant and casual all in the same breath. This pretty at The Barn At Gibbet Hill is the perfect example of why such a soiree will never grown old. Every image from Julie Surette Photography makes me fall in love with barn weddings all over again, and you can see why right here.

From the Bride… Norm and I happened upon our wedding venue by total accident! We were traveling around Massachusetts one Saturday, hopping from venue to venue when we passed by The Barn at Gibbet Hill. I was first to notice the actual Barn, Norm was focused on the restaurant (Gibbet Hill Grill) that sits a few feet away. As soon as we entered into the barn we were in love. The cathedral ceilings with exposed beams and hanging iron chandeliers took our breath away. This was where we were going to become husband and wife. Also, The Barns farm to fork method of service was a perfect match to our love of good eats.

The Barn was rustic, warm, relaxed and gave us a clear vision of how we wanted the day to look, feel, and flow. Not wanting to distract from our surroundings, much of the color palette was soft with a vintage/chic feel. The exception being my bridesmaid dresses which were a poppy red. The color red signifies good luck in Chinese culture and was an important piece to include. Red was also incorporated into the bouquets and boutonnieres for an extra pop of color.

Being a big fan of DIY projects, and admittedly being a bit OCD, most of the wedding was created in house. The centerpieces were the first DIY project to tackle. I am extremely lucky that my sister, and amazing MOH, loves to collect glass. Over the past few years she has collected an amazing assortment of vintage glass mason jars, vases, milk containers, bowls, and decanters that we used to create eclectic centerpieces. I placed burlap circles underneath and wrapped the glass in lace, burlap, ribbon, and cloth flower accents. Dried split peas were a last minute addition to give some color and texture.

Other DIY projects included the invitations, programs, card/gift box, guest book, donation cards, and ceremony decorations. There is something really special about putting in your own design on such an important day. Everything was much more meaningful knowing the love, sweat, and tears (only a few!) that had gone into making our day absolutely perfect.

The entire wedding, from ceremony to reception, was laid back, full of laughs, and filled with our most cherished family and friends. It was important for Norm and I to honor both of our families so our ceremony was officiated by an Episcopal priest (a nod to my religion) and was followed by a private Tea Ceremony with Norm’s family, something very special in the Chinese culture.

Watching our two families intertwine so seamlessly was an amazing experience, and one we will never forget. That night, we danced, drank, ate (and ate, and ate) and celebrated the start to our biggest adventure yet!

Photography: Julie Surette Photography | Floral Design: Floral Notes | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jasmine Collection | Makeup: Amber Roma of Amage Beauty Studio, LLC | Hair: LiShay Hair Design | DJ: TSG Weddings | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Wedding Venue: The Barn At Gibbet Hill

You know what makes me happy?  This sweet duo.  This sweet duo with their contagious smiles, love-filled faces and downright adorability.  They rock… and so does their drop-dead gorgeous wedding, a laid-back meets elegant affair literally brimming with pretty.  I’m talking beautiful blooms from Bella Floral Design, a stunning Codman Estate setting and moment after moment of pure amazing captured by Shane Godfrey Photography.  See them all in the full gallery.

From Shane Godfrey… One of my most laid-back couples over the years has to have been Heidi & Jimmy. I shot their engagement session a few months before their wedding at their home, close to the Codman Estate in Lincoln, MA. Their first date was in Jimmy’s backyard, where Heidi came over to garden with him and they got ready the morning of their wedding day. They had a small bridal party of three each, all close friends or siblings that were there with them and drove over to the Codman Estate early to get all the photos done. They were extremely in love, always goofing around with each other and were not shy to kiss in front of the camera. We sneaked into the farm next door to get some shots shooting around the cows and actual farm part of the estate. The ceremony was in the back of the Codman Estate mansion where there is one of the most beautiful settings for a ceremony in New England. Heidi came down the aisle on one side, and they came back 20 minutes later on the opposite side, hand in hand, married. We took a few more photos with the family and then headed back to the other side of the property for dinner and dancing.

Photographer: Shane Godfrey Photography | Florist: Bella Floral Design | Caterer: Tastings Caterers | Officiant: Kezia Bacon-Bernstein | Wedding Location: Codman Estate

We love a good barn wedding around these parts, but when that barn wedding is sprinkled with a whole lot of glam? Well that’s when you hit our wedding sweet spot. Think rolling country fields mixed with layers of Vera Wang ruffles. It’s a stunning barn setting with a chandelier  thrown in for good measure. It’s all around lovely, and it’s all waiting for you right here.

From Lexi… Katie & Sean were married on a beautiful June day at the lovely Barn at Gibbet Hill in Groton, Massachusetts. They kept to a vintage and elegant theme, with a nod to nesting, and all the details helped to bring this vision to life. Although the day called for thunderstorms Katie and Sean rocked their photos, despite the wind, and the bright but overcast skies added to a feeling of nostalgia. It was a perfect day for these two and I was honored to share in their day and capture their love.

Katie’s attention to detail was incredible with paper goods ranging from mad lib cards to keep her guests occupied to paper fan programs to keep them cool during the ceremony. The escort cards were antique keys with hangtags presented in frames. Keeping to her elegant vintage style Katie wore a beautiful Vera Wang gown complete with a 1920s style headpiece and carried a bouquet of perfect white peonies and garden ranunculus. Sean wore a three-piece grey and white striped J. Crew suit and his guys all wore vests and pants with black and white polka dot ties. The girls were in pale pink Monique Lhuillier dresses and carried garden inspired bouquets with pops of bright pink and coral. To bring in their nesting theme the guys had birds nest boutonnieres, the favors on the table were nests with chocolate eggs, and on top of their beautiful ruffled ombre cake were porcelain lovebirds. Katie and Sean beamed all day in their relaxed, elegant, vintage inspired day with a side of wayfarer fun!

Photography: Lexi Photography | Floral Design: Dogwood Floral Design | Wedding Gown: Vera Wang | Cake: Konditor Meister | Invitations: Gus & Ruby Letterpress | Bridesmaid Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Makeup: Tricia Utley | Hair: Axle Color Studio | Men's Attire: J.Crew | Venue: The Barn At Gibbet Hill | Headpiece: Doloris Petunia

While a lot of the SMP ladies’ roots are planted firmly in New England soil, mine are not, meaning weddings like this, filled with beautiful Massachusetts foliage, are my only shot at the gorgeous colors. They are so good for my soul. Love, laughter, and a beautiful fall wedding captured by Shane Godfrey Photography are my kryptonite.

From Shane Godfrey… Bob and Virginia’s wedding at the Willowdale Estate in Topsfield was during the late fall which meant that we were going to get some great foliage pictures. Here in New England, it’s the most beautiful time of the year. The ceremony was at Our Lady of Grace Church in Everett, Massachusetts. They went from the church to the reception site in an amazing Rolls Royce followed by photos in the courtyard and hiking trails at the Willowdale Estate. We didn’t have to walk far to find the kind of setting we were looking for, foliage! The reception was beautifully decorated with signature table numbers, key’s for table cards, and pumpkins on all the tables(a Halloween season inspired idea). Cinnamon Margaritas were their signature drinks! [dotted] Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of Grace | Reception Venue: Willowdale Estate | Photographer: Shane Godfrey Photography | Officiant: Fr. James Barry | Floral Design: Joanne Winters | Caterer: Willowdale Estate | DJ: Vibeology

I’ve been told it’s a crime to live in New England and have never visited Cape Cod. And after poring through this nautical beauty from Trent Bailey, I fully understand why. Because when vendors like Desiree Spinner, Sayles Livingston and Laura Hooper add their touch to an already stunning locale, it’s MORE than enough reason for me to make a trip there, stat! Don’t call the East Coast home? No problem. Grab that coffee and experience all of the Cape’s magic for yourself right over here.

From Desiree Spinner…Stacy and Steven wanted an elegant (but not stuffy) Cape Cod wedding for their family and out of town guests to be dazzled. Incorporating navy and tiffany blue with a hint of silver was important to Stacy to give an understated nautical/East Coast prep feel to match the gorgeous Chatham location. Chatham Bars Inn was the perfect spot for this amazing couple because they could have their ceremony in the sand, a casual cocktail hour in the boat house and then a sit down dinner in the Beach House Grille.  But most importantly the guests, from all parts of the country and in Stacy and Stevens walk of life, could stay in one place and really get to know each other before the wedding.  

For the reception we made use of some of the Beach House’s decor of old ship replica’s and onion lanterns but brought in some silver lanterns for the cocktail tables.  For the table setting Sayles paired some traditional Cape Cod style white hydrangeas with some delicate orchids down the middle of the long dinner table that we dressed with custom pintucked organdy linens over a linen and cotton mix. We also paired silver chiavari chairs with silver chargers with a navy cotton hemstitched napkin and a Tiffany blue ribbon.  To bring in some seaside we placed the table numbers in custom made sailors knots and placed hurricane candles around the tables.  Outside the Beach House Grille is a great deck overlooking the ocean which is great for dancing, and so we had a clear top tent placed there so guests could see both the ocean and the stars in the sky once it got dark. This wedding brought old Cape Cod to life to many out of towners!

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Photography: Trent & Dara of Trent Bailey Photography | Planning + Design: Desiree Spinner | Floral Design: Sayles Livingston | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Chatham Bars Inn | Rentals: Be Our Guest | Linens: Custom, Settings by Mona | Signage: The Brides Father | Invitations: Sister of the Bride, Casey Flook | Day of Stationery: Laura Hooper | Entertainment: Beat Train Productions | Clear Top Tent: Chase Canopy

This wedding has amazing written all over it.  The kind of amazing you can only see in a sea-inspired shindig with bursts of vibrant poppy hues and one of the most adorable duos you will ever virtually meet. I’m talking a Jim and Pam-esque adorable with smiles for miles and one serious ability to throw a pretty party.  In other words, they are awesome, their wedding is breathtaking and the full gallery of beautiful images captured by Lynette Boyle is simply stunning.  Click here for all of the pretty.

From Lynette Boyle Photography… This wedding and couple is very near and dear to my heart. Kaity, Kevin, and I all met through work several years ago in Boston. I witnessed Kaity and Kevin’s romance blossom over lunch hours and coffee trips, like Pam and Jim’s on The Office. Eventually Kaity and Kevin started dating, and we all moved on to new places, Kaity and Kevin to San Diego, and I to San Francisco. In the Spring of 2012 while visiting San Diego, Kevin told me he bought a ring and was planning to propose. I was absolutely elated for them. A few weeks later he popped the question on a trip to Santa Barbara and the wedding planning and a cross-country move back to Boston began. 

They chose to host their wedding at Latitude 41 at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. They liked the casual vibe and flexibility of what the venue had to offer. While the forecast threatened torrential downpours and flooding leading up to the day of their wedding, the rain passed through the night before and we had surprisingly abundant sunshine when it was time for the ceremony! The couple chose to expand upon the already present maritime theme at Mystic Seaport. Kaity chose green (her favorite color) and poppy for the wedding palette. Kevin, a designer and creative director by trade, designed a fun and colorful suite of wedding stationery to match the color palette and sea theme. The bridesmaids all chose their own dresses in a shade of green or tan. They made little lime sea-salt containers as an escort card and favor for their guests, and of course brought plenty of polaroid cameras for their guests to have fun with! The signature cocktail of the night was named for Kaity’s sister and Maid of Honor, Holly… it was fittingly called the “Holly-Would.”

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Photography: Lynette Boyle Photography | Floral Design: It’s So Ranunculus | Coordinating: Alyson of Latitude 41 | Ceremony Location: The North Lawn at Mystic Seaport | Reception Location: Latitude 41 at Mystic Seaport | Caterer: Coastal Gourmet | DJ: DJ Salty Snacks | Invitations: DIY, Bride + Groom | Hair + MUA: Sara’s Glam Squad Salon | Wedding Dress: Victoria Nicole (straps customized by the bride) | Shoes: BHLDN | Bridesmaid Dresses + Groomsmen Suits: Lula Kate, J.Crew

This wedding plays out like the prettiest of dreams. A dream we get to see come to life through the oh-so-talented lens of Photography by KLC, and a dream that was made reality by this stunning Bride and her lovely family and friends. It’s picture perfect in every sense of the word, and you can see it all right here.

From Photography by KLC… Shannon & Ken were joined by their family and friends In the Berkshires of Massachusetts at the gorgeous Elm Court Estate. The sprawling estate was once owned by the Vanderbilt family and was their “summer cottage.” The estate was largely abandoned and fell into disrepair before being recently renovated. The antique details of the estate were a perfect compliment to Shannon and Ken’s elegant wedding.

This event was truly a labor or love, with Shannon’s stepfather doing all the cooking, Shannon’s family and friends acting as event planners (and table setters and furniture movers!), Ken designing the programs, door tags, and menus, and Shannon’s artistic vision driving the over-all look of the event.

The wedding was on the smaller side, around 95 guests, and the focus was on the couple, their love, and their wonderful families. Ken’s family is from Belgium and they welcomed their guests with guest bags filled with Belgian treats (yes, waffles were involved) while Shannon’s grandmother kept the all the guests laughing all night.

Shannon’s details were understated and elegant – simple jewelry, a gorgeous form-fitting dress, and a color scheme of blush pink, white, and cream and that perfectly fit in with the natural beauty of the estate and the surrounding countryside. It truly was a beautiful day.

Photography: Photography by KLC | Floral Design: Garden Blossoms Florist | Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia | Bakery: Soma Catering | Invitations: Yours Truly | Entertainment: DJ Jay Free | Wedding Venue: The Elm Court Estate | Bridal Boutique: Bella Sera Bridal | Hair+Makeup: SEVEN salon.spa | Waitstaff: VIP Hospitality

This backyard beauty from Megan Haley is simply as sweet as they come. Intimate and meaningful, every detail dreamt up by this adorable duo is all them. Which I just couldn’t adore more. It’s as stylish as is it is sweet and will surely melt your heart – and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

From Megan Haley… This intimate vintage backyard wedding was created with thought and purpose. It was important to Scarlet and Eric to create a day that was truly them, and that stood for values they held dear. This meant a combination of DIY and sourcing either local or handcrafted goods to furnish their lovely celebration. Everything from Scarlet’s beautiful and unique wedding dress to the Bunting birds cake topper were found from various artists on Etsy. Another important aspect of their celebration was local and organic food. Good local food is something that both Scarlet and Eric cherish and love exploring together. On their wedding website they had a whole page dedicated to the importance and benefits of eating locally and supporting your local farmers. Even including this wonderful quote: “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.” -Thomas Jefferson

Their ceremony was simple and beautiful. One of Scarlet’s dearest friends performed the handfasting ceremony, among a circle of about 18 of their closest friends and family. A short cocktail hour followed with their favorite board games and toasts with a signature drink – a spiked Arnold Palmer which was the perfect complement to the hot summer day! Scarlet also surprised Eric with a beautiful serenade! Lunch consisted of amazing gourmet burgers cooked up by the awesome Heirloom Catering, which prides themselves by sourcing local and organic food. The day rounded out with Karaoke inside the beautiful private country home in Colrain, Massachusetts.

Photography: Meg Haley Photographs | Catering: Heirloom Catering | Cake Artist: 2nd Street Baking Co. | Cake Topper: Tea Olive

There is something so magical about the coastlines of New England, so it’s no surprise that couples flock to its shores year after year to say i do. The gorgeous images snapped up by  Lindsey Rae Photography below paint the perfect picture of exactly why that is the case, and proves that a little rain will never damper a wedding this beautiful. It’s a nautical New England wedding done oh-so-right, and you can see it all right here.

From Lindsey Rae Photography… Jen and Jeremy’s love for each other, their family, and their friends just radiated on their wedding day! Every last detail showcased their personalities and passions perfectly. To witness all the planning, late night DIY projects, and attention to detail come together on their wedding day, was a true honor. From the personal, handwritten message Jen wrote on the bottom of each bridesmaid’s shoe, monogrammed bathrobes, the handmade treasure chest ring box for the ring bearer, Vineyard Vines ties for all the men, a Pinterest inspired beer cake for Jeremy, his and hers scuba diver cake toppers, an American flag pin to honor her Mother’s love of pins, reception tables named after their favorite spots in Gloucester, wooden buoys hung inside the tent, wooden lobster trap for cards, hand-stamped cocktail napkins, and so much more!

Photography: Lindsey Rae Photography | Cinematography: Waves Media | Event Planning: Vineyard Vines | Floral Design: Lady Slipper Designs | Invitations: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Ceremony Venue: St. Anthony's by the Sea | Reception Venue: Eastern Point Yacht Club | Bride's Shoes: Caparros | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Catering: Eastern Point Yacht Club | Hair + Makeup: Beauty In Motion | Bridal Boutique: Allegria Bridal | DJ/Band: Move It Music | Dress Designer: Essense of Australia

If you’ve read Style Me Pretty for any length of time you may have gotten to know some of our incredible SMP ladies. Erin – our AHHHMAZING Weddings Editor  – is like our It Girl. She’s pure style and her taste is about as spot-on as it comes. But the girl is busy. Like really busy. And her perfect little Boston flat always seemed to take a back burner to her SMP work. That is, until last week. When we decided to give her apartment a teeny tiny facelift. We’re blabbing all about the gorgeous details here today! Starting with the before pics and the fabulous inspiration behind the spruce up.

So. Erin’s apartment is tiny. Like barely fits more than four people tiny. And since SMP is a work from home kind of place, Erin’s desk and office space take up the majority of her living room. Plus, Erin loves to entertain and cook and snuggle up with her cute hubs with a cocktail or three come Friday night. So the goal was to give each “area” – despite it’s mish mashed togetherness – a personality of it’s own. Here are some before pics so you can get a lay of the land. More are right here.

Here’s what we knew going into this super fun project:

1. Erin loves gold. Like loves it. She once tried to gold leaf every last accessory that she could on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

2. She is girly to the core. But happens to house a very manly man.

3. She loves herself a good cocktail. Even better? Sharing them with friends.

4. She’s one part lady, one part total rebel. So her space needed to feel pretty…but with a bit of an edge.

5. She’s vegan. And preggo with TWINS. Neither of which have anything to do with anything other than just how cool Erin is.

So, with a few DIY projects, a handful of gussy-ups and one or two must-have splurges, we collectively transformed Erin’s space into one that felt both inspiring and wildly relaxing. Perfect for Friday night get togethers or Tuesday night movie-fests. And here’s a little peek at what you can expect later this afternoon…

 

Coming up…the DIY project that we all fell so in love with!

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After Photo: Ruth Eileen  | Lamp from Home Depot | Art from Art.com | Blanket from West Elm | Bowl from Lazy Susan | Pipe from Johnathan Adler | Clock from Crate & Barrel | Notebook from Sugar Paper | Pillows from West Elm | Desk Chair from Lamps Plus | Roses from Metro | Mirror from Ikea

One thing I know for certain?  Shane Godfrey is awesome.  He’s super sweet, super talented and sends us some of the prettiest weddings you will ever lay your eyes upon.  Case in point?  This gorgeous little number held at the ever-amazing Four Seasons, aka, a traditional stunner with beautiful blooms from Winston Flowers, a Vera Wang masterpiece and all kinds of amazing moments that will literally make your heart sing. (Seriously.)  See every last one right here in the full gallery.

From Shane Godfrey… I met Olga and Patrick only a few short weeks before their wedding, and I happened to still be available for their wedding date. We immediately clicked at our first consultation. Being a small business owner, Patrick and I started talking web tools and he actually got me interested in both Paypal and a signature service called Hellofax which I still use today! (Thanks Pat!)

We started the day at the Four Seasons where the girls got ready and Olga got into her amazing Vera Wang dress and Jimmy Choo shoes. The guys got ready at their apartment in Beacon Hill, and walked down to the Boston Gardens where we met up for a first look with the bride and groom in the middle of the garden. We then walked around and finished up all the photos before the ceremony started inside the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel. Patrick’s father was actually the acting officiant for their wedding ceremony. They were such an easy couple to photograph and it was clear to see that they are a couple in love. As a result, the photos of the bride and groom were a breeze, and the party kept on going through the night until we finished out with a sparkler send off. But not just your typical sparkler send off. They ordered three foot long sparklers which put out some serious light for some great end of the evening photographs!

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Photographer: Shane Godfrey Photography | Wedding Venue + Catering: Four Seasons Hotel Boston | Officiant: Bill Cahill (Groom’s Father) | Floral Design: Winston Flowers | Wedding Dress Designer: Vera Wang | DJ: White Label DJs

Nautical weddings hold a special place in my heart. They are so perfectly New England, and their classic style always leaves me weak in the knees. And if I were to dream up such a fête, a wedding like this one from Ned Jackson Photography would pop in my brain. Sweeping views with sailboats a’plenty, a crisp color palette, and timeless style. It’s Nautical perfection, and you can soak it all up right here.

From the Bride…Mike surprised Kate in December 2011 with a romantic proposal at the W Hotel in Boston.  Before Kate was able to get swept away in the wedding planning they discussed what their vision of the wedding would be – classic, comfortable, and with a nod to Marblehead’s nautical surroundings. They also talked about what elements they could not live without – good food, an open bar, and music to get the dance party started.  Both Kate and Mike are from towns north of Boston, so it was a no brainer that they would marry in Kate’s hometown of Marblehead in the same church that her parents married in 31 years earlier.

To keep the day stress free and fun the girls gathered at the bride’s parent’s house for hair and make-up while the guys spent the afternoon hanging out at the Salem Waterfront hotel. The wedding ceremony took place in June 2012 at the beautiful Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. Kate and Mike’s mothers both recited readings and Keros Entertainment played beautiful music throughout the ceremony.  Once Kate and Mike had exchanged their “I Dos”, the bridal party boarded their trolley to Crocker Park, which overlooks Marblehead harbor, to take in the picturesque views – the perfect backdrop to for bridal party and family photos. We made our way back through the historic town to the reception at Tedesco Country Club where the cocktail hour was in fully swing. While listening to the live Jazz music, guest mingled on the outdoor patio overlooking the golf course and enjoyed the numerous passed appetizers, including Kate and Mike’s favorite – tomato soup with a grilled cheese crostini. Soon guests made their way towards dinner, which was held in a sail cloth tent illuminated by a canopy of white, baby blue, and chartreuse paper lanterns of varying sizes.

The bride chose navy has her primary wedding color with pops of green accents to bring in a little nautical feel. The navy table linens made the the lush flower arrangements in the center, really pop. The table numbers were navy and green and held upright by adorable nautical monkey-knots. During the delicious dinner of either filet of beef or locally caught baked haddock, Marblehead is a fishing town after all, Kate’s father, her sister who was also her Maid of Honor, and Mike’s Best Man gave heartfelt speeches. It was apparent how important friends and family are to Kate and Mike especially in light of the difficult year they had faced leading up to their wedding – one which brought on a serious and unexpected cancer diagnosis which Mike was able to courageously overcome with the support of Kate, his family, and friends who help him to always look for the positives in life. Both Kate and Mike felt incredibly lucky to have been able to share their wedding day with seven of their grandparents in attendance in addition to their families and close friends.

Kate and Mike’s warm and upbeat energy made everyone feel welcome all night. Kate was clearly happiest on the dance floor. After cutting the cake, Kate and Mike had their first dance to Ray LaMontagne’s ‘You Are The Best Thing’ followed by the father daughter dance to Frank Sinatra’s ‘Summer Wind’. The music kept the party going and the newlyweds had so much fun dancing the night away. Their wedding day could not have been more perfect and they feel truly blessed and happy to have been able to work with so many great vendors who made their vision come to life. It was a night they will always remember!

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Wedding Photography: Ned Jackson Photography | Ceremony Venue: Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Marblehead, MA | Reception Venue: Tedesco Country Club, Marblehead, MA  | Wedding Videographer: MapleLoft Studios | Floral Design: Flowers by Darlene | Letterpress Stationery: Goosefish Press | Ceremony and Cocktail Music: Keros Entertainment | Make-up Artist: Cynthia Klocek | Tent and Lighting: Exeter Events & Tents | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor |Groomsmen Ties: Tommy Hilfiger | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Nautical Monkey-Knots and Table Numbers: 2hands studios Etsy |Ceremony Programs and Escort Cards: William Arthur | Trolley: Salem Trolley | Wedding Cake: Cakes for Occasions | Chocolate Party Favors: Harbor Sweets

There is a special spot in my heart reserved for weddings just like this one from Readyluck. The kind of soiree that is so sweet you can’t help but smile right along with every single guest. It’s filled with great little details that you know are just so “them.” And it’s got a special kind of love that just radiates. This is the kind of wedding that makes my heart happy.

From the designer… Well this was certainly the most sentimental mStarr wedding as my brother + my new sister-in-law tied the knot! The vineyard was really the only choice for the big weekend given their engagement took place at Kimmy’s parents’ house on the island and they spend a lot of time there. Andy + Kimmy wanted a wedding that reflected both the island’s laid-back, rustic style and desire for a wild party! It was an amazing celebration filled with personalized touches, a ceremony downpour, a rainbow, back door donuts’ famous apple fritters, photobombing doggies, a photobooth from our brother Jesse Starr Photography, and a dance floor that was packed {and I mean packed} during cocktail hour. The energy really carried through the entire night. Tt was a special experience both bringing Kimmy + Andy’s big day to life and serving as bridesmaid! 

From the beautiful bride… Martha’s Vineyard has always been a special place for Andy and I. It was the place he first met my parents, it’s where we got engaged – and almost immediately after – we decided it was where we wanted to get married. Farm Neck was the perfect venue to capture our favorite elements of Martha’s Vineyard’s unique rustic charm. The weekend long celebration was filled with personal touches thanks to my new sister-in-law, the incredibly talented Emily of mStarr. With help from our amazing vendors, we were able to create the idyllic
and truly happy setting I had always envisioned for our special day.

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Event design + styling: mStarr event styling + design | Photographer: Lindsay Hite of Readyluck | Floral design: Krishana Collins | Rentals: Big Sky | Venue: Farm Neck Golf Club | Photobooth: Jesse Starr Photography | Hair + Makeup: Lisa George | Bridal gown + Bridesmaid dresses: Jenny Yoo from Flair Brides & Maids | Bridal shoes: Stuart Weitzman | DJ: Seth Isaacs from Beat Train Productions | Ceremony musicians: Michael Tinus and Rebecca Barca-Tinus | Transportation: MV Sightseeing | Officiant: Rabbi Rachel Saphire of Temple Beth Elohim

I love Summer.  I love boating, hiking and soaking in the rays like it’s no one’s business.  But when it comes right down to it, I spend most of my June through August missing the cooler weather.  Maybe that’s the Montana girl in me, but boy do I love me some hot cocoa and fireplace lounging.  Which is why I happen to be super smitten with this sweet engagement session from Annmarie Swift Photography, a Winter lover’s dream come true with snowy landscapes and one adorable duo just itching to say “I do.”  Click here for even more.

From the Bride-to-Be… I met Greg in college and we’ve been together ever since. After four wonderful years he popped the question on January 22nd in Tortola while we were vacationing in the British Virgin Islands. We spent a week there in warm, tropical newly engaged bliss and then came back home to the bitter cold weather of Massachusetts. We decided to make the best of it and had ourselves a mini engagement shoot to celebrate. We had a fun day out out in the North Shore area of Massachusetts shooting in several locations in Beverly (My fiance’s hometown) and Rockport (where our wedding will be)!

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Photography: Annmarie Swift Photography

Before you even get into this fashion forward farm fête captured by Julie Sterling, do yourself a favor and take some time to sit with this Bride’s description. Because you will not only get a little peek into the prettiness sitting in this post, but you’ll also get an oh-so-sweet look into this couple’s love story…and it is darling. So it’s no surprise really that this gallery is bursting at the seems with sweetness, and you can see it all right here.

From the Bride… As with all love stories, there is usually an interesting tale as to how it all started, and I’d say ours is almost too crazy to be true, but it is!! Thank the Lord for a divine encounter that happened on a crisp night in Boston’s South End…

I’d moved to Boston from Italy 8 months earlier and Phil had been living in Boston for about 10 years when I chose to walk in and change things up a bit. I had just attended a neighborhood block party with my wonderful roommate, who had moved to Boston only two months earlier from the UK. On the way home, she happened to point out a sign in the local firehouse window, advertising Fire Shirts For Sale! Well, it didn’t take us much to hop on that opportunity and we rang the bell! (It was only 9:30pm….what’s the problem?)

So long story short, Phil didn’t answer our bell ringing, but another firefighter did and since it was my roommate’s first proper glimpse at an American fire truck (or so her excuse went) we took some pictures, had some laughs and…down the fire pole comes Phil…literally SLIDING into my life! His timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It did take two more ‘coincidental’ meetings while I passed by the firehouse to go to/from the gym before Phil bit the bullet and asked me for a date, but to his credit, he explained that he simply “didn’t want to be a creep.” And thank goodness he finally did ask me, because I was starting to go nuts trying to plan creative ways for me to somehow get my phone number into his hands! We went on our first date a few days later, and for me, that’s all it took. I was immediately HOOKED on this guy and would’ve said yes to a marriage proposal within our first month of dating!

Our entire wedding event was rustic and vintage-inspired by our collective very deep love for vintage, historic, rustic things and whatever makes us nostalgic for the past, even the past we’re too young to have lived. It was a natural choice to have a vintage/rustic wedding theme and we had so much fun planning our day together. I wore my grandmother’s pink wedding hat from 1947 instead of a veil and a traditional, old-fashioned fresh-flower corsage (my grandmother wore one, too!). My dress was a high-low lace design reminiscent of the first half of the 20th century. It looked great and was easy to walk in on the farm. Top that off with a vintage mink stole for the evening and I really felt like I was living in another era for my wedding day…mission accomplished! Phil wore a vintage tweed suit and the boys wore suspenders and bow ties.

Our cake was modeled to look like stacked vintage hat boxes and we used mismatched coffee cups, saucers, and flatware for our tables. We had mason jars for our cocktail hour (and two specialty cocktails) and a “Stache Shack” for our DIY photo booth with temporary finger mustache tattoos (Phil has a real mustache tattoo on his finger and we thought it would be fun to work this into our day). We spent less than $200 on all of the flowers including my bouquet and corsage!

One of my very best friends married us and during our ceremony, we put a nice bottle of wine and letters to each other in a box, sealed it — to be opened on our 10th anniversary. For our first dance we waltzed to a song that my close friend Jessie sang (her husband was on the guitar) and they also sang/played throughout the ceremony. We had a four-person musical group (guitar, accordion, mandolin, violin, piano, clarinet all switching in and out depending on the song) and enjoyed contra dancing (New England square/folk dancing). Everyone learned the moves from a caller slowly and then all danced together. We had a fire pit, bean bags, horseshoes, hay bales covered in Phil’s Mother’s home-stitched quilts, and more! We exited in a 1939 burgundy Cadillac limo.

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Photography: Julie Sterling Photography | Wedding Venue: Smolak Farms, North Andover, MA | Wedding Stylist and Florist: Jillian at New England Vintage Rentals | Wedding Dress: Sabella Couture | Shoes, Hat, Jewelry: Vintage | Hair: Tricia Simon (the bride!) | Makeup: Sephora | Videographers: Well Spun Weddings | Caterer: Little Neck Clambake Company | Cake: Donna’s Cakes | Musician: Owen Morrison