New Jersey Weddings

Let me just start by saying, I love this wedding. Every single inch of it is fabulous. But there is one shot from Raw Photo Design that stopped me in my tracks and I knew right away I was seeing something special. You’ll have to scroll almost to the bottom of the post to see the bride and groom dancing in each others’ arms among their loved ones. This image evokes such an elated happiness, like we are lucky enough to be let into a very, very special and private moment – which of course, is exactly what is going on. A very, very special gallery awaits you!

I have always had a love for New York and the in the beginning stages of our planning process I was adamant on having a city wedding. After researching venues I came across the Liberty House, set on the Hudson River overlooking the Manhattan skyline. This got me thinking wouldn’t the city skyline be more impactful as a backdrop to our wedding then being in the midst of it? One thing we knew for sure, we wanted a loft style space that was open but intimate. The Liberty House was perfect. From the minute we stepped into the space, we had could already envision our family and friends filling the dance floor and basking in the breathtaking view.

The moment we were engaged I had begun designing my wedding. Working in the fashion industry in New York, I always have a vision for everything I merchandise and design. My wedding was no different. This was the most important job I would take on and my passion for detail was going to be tested. Our theme was “vintage elegance.” We wanted a tasteful evening that was filled with romance, laughter and unforgettable memories. Having carefully mapped out with my extremely creative mother every detail and aspect of the wedding, my fiancé was on board with everything and anything I wanted. I have a passion for anything vintage. I could spend hours at vintage boutiques, flea markets and estate sales. I wanted to incorporate and eclectic mix of new and old in our décor.

I had chosen my dress before even trying it on. After purveying the internet I came across a dress that I knew was perfect. Upon trying it on, I was right. It was modern with a vintage touch, a satin mermaid silhouette with a bodice encrusted in vintage beading and jewels. I had a vision for my overall look and I was lucky enough to have my best friend/matron of honor as my extremely talented make-up artist and my gifted hairdresser Liz Curry style my hair. I wanted to look like myself but a more glamorous version. I knew I wanted my hair mostly down and I wanted to feel comfortable and not confined to a stiff up do.

Our ceremony was intimate and moving. We wanted a neo-traditional ceremony and hoped our guest would walk away feeling the love we shared with each other. I walked down the aisle to Ben Harper’s “Forever” with my father, this song couldn’t have been more fitting. We had the honor of Pastor Vincent Rife officiate. The Pastor has been a family friend and working very closely with us on what we wanted our vow exchange to encompass. He has us write letters to each other on why we wanted to marry, he then took the letters without us knowing what each had wrote and incorporated them into our ceremony. This made for an unforgettable and very personal exchange. The ceremony concluded with a procession to “hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley and our guests made their way into the cocktail hour with the exquisite Jason Leibman.

Upon walking into our reception we wanted the Manhattan skyline to be the focus of our guests evening. Having Jason and I spent so many amazing nights in the city, looking out into its landscape couldn’t have been more perfect. This is the city where we fell in love and being able to incorporate such an important aspect of our relationship into our wedding in such an impactful way was amazing. The loft was strictly candlelit with the city lights the only “artificial” lighting of the evening. The guests’ tables were an intricate mix of ivory flowers arranged into 3 different size vases filled with crystals to enhance the variety of textured florals. Twisted branches were entangled on the table brining an element of outside in. Our table was filled with dripping candle sticks and a enhanced version of our guests arrangements. A cigar bar entertained our male guests as the marveled at the backdrop as they smoked their imported cigars. Raw Photo design provided an overly entertaining photo booth that had our guests posing for the camera all night long. Our night was perfect and having our amazing pictures from Raw Photo and our incredibly moving video from Moho Creative we are able to relive it over and over again.

Photography: Raw Photo Design / Cinematography: Moho Creative / Flowers: Rita’s Floral Touch / Ceremony + Reception Location: Liberty House / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Dress: Vineyard Collection from Priscilla of Boston / Makeup: Stacey Palancia of Blush Couture / Hair: Liz Curry of Chop Chop Bang Bang / DJ: Kris Abramson of Elite Entertainment / Guitarist: Jason Leibman

Oh goodness, this wedding by Kay English Photography is just prettiness defined. Pink perfection.Blush-hued bliss. Romantic done oh so right. It’s just a complete dream of a day, and every gorgeous picture tells the story of a couple completely in love and tying the knot in serious style.  So trust me when I say you’ll want to set aside some time for this pretty little number, because the full gallery is bursting at the seams with one pretty detail after another!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We had to travel 1,200 miles from home to find each other. Tony and I both grew up along the Jersey Shore, about 45 minutes from one another, but we met five years ago while both living and working in Florida. We had the connection of both calling the same place home but realized quickly we shared so much more — importance of our families, passion and aspiration for our careers, and a love of sharing great food and wine. When we began planning our wedding, we wanted it to reflect our roots, honor our families, and most of all exude the happiness, love and fun we have found in one another. Mallard Island was the first venue we looked at, and we immediately fell in love with the intimate ballroom, breezy feel and easy elegance of the waterside estate. The views and setting are spectacular and the reception truly felt like a big dinner party at our own home with all our loved ones over — it was the perfect place to celebrate. We wanted our wedding to feel springy, soft, elegant, romantic, warm and happy. It was the biggest compliment to hear from our guests that we accomplished just that.

I fell in love with my dress the second I put it on. I loved the lace, the lines — everything about it was perfect for me. The finishing touch was my “something old” — we had the seamstress attach the buttons from my mother’s wedding dress down the back, and they added a sweet, special detail that we both really cherished. I went with statement, vintage-style earrings from Tejani and a bold bangle from Nadri (my wedding present from Tony) to complement the dress. 

Peonies are my favorite and I knew I wanted them and other soft blooms — ranunculus, hydrangeas, astilbe, lily of the valley — to be the basis of our florals. For months, my mom and I collected mercury glass vases and votives, picking up varying heights and styles whenever we spotted them in stores. We liked the eclectic elegance they brought to the tables and were thrilled with how our florist brought our vision together so beautifully. My brother, who’s a designer, made our “happily ever after” signs and got us the ampersand symbol for some photo fun. We were blessed with a perfect spring day, stunning setting and no shortage of cherry blossoms outside our church — all of it was captured gorgeously by Kay English. The food was extremely important to us (a raw bar was a must), and we tried to choose a variety of our favorites that would be a hit with our guests. Our band was a no-brainier — Tony’s known some of the members of Facedown since he was a kid and we knew they would be a blast for all of our guests. We danced and laughed the night away with everyone we love — what could possibly be better?

Each of our vendors worked so hard to make the day seamless and special. Kristin and Adam with Bella Bridal Consultants went above and beyond, steering us through the process from start to finish to help us create and enjoy the day of our dreams with our family and friends. It was truly the most beautiful, fun, happiest, love-filled, fastest day of our lives, and we wish we could re-live every moment!

Wedding Photography: Kay English Photography / Second Shooter: Ben Tapper / Ceremony: St. Catharine & St. Margaret Parish in Spring Lake, New Jersey / Reception: Mallard Island Yacht Club in Manahawkin, New Jersey / Wedding Planning: Kristin of Bella Bridal Consultants / Floral Design: MDS Floral Designs / Wedding Cinematography: Endless Wave HD / Wedding Invitations + Stationery: Belletristics / Catering: Taste Catering / Band: Facedown / Wedding Dress: Legends by Romona Keveza “L192” / Bride’s Shoes: Pour La Victoire “Cristella” / Bride’s Earrings: Tejani / Bride’s Bracelet: Nadri / Bride’s Clutch: Nordstrom / Hair + Makeup: Expert Makeup Artistry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Men’s Suits: Calvin Klein 

The look on the bride’s face says it all. She’s so thrilled to be marring the love of her life and isn’t afraid to show it. I love that moment and each and every other meaningful one that was captured oh-so-perfectly by Pat Furey Photography. With handmade touches and the prettiest ballroom setting you ever did see, you’re guaranteed to be inspired here in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Since we both grew up near the beach, having our wedding near the ocean was important to us. All along, I knew I wanted a Cape May, New Jersey, wedding. The day after our engagement, we took an impromptu trip to the Oceanside Victorian town — this resulted in a love affair with the Congress Hall Hotel. We set the date for August 27, 2011. Two days prior to our wedding, there was a state-mandated evacuation of Cape May. Hurricane Irene was on her way and was to arrive on our wedding day. We were heartbroken and had to leave. Since I live for crafts and creativity, I took my wedding as an opportunity for some DIY. My collection of vintage silver, linens and all my hand-made hard work was sitting in the trunk of car — and there it had to stay. It was on its way to Toms River, New Jersey. This is where Wayne and I became husband at wife, on the 26th, instead! I entered the Ocean County Courthouse and couldn’t help but laugh as I walked through metal detectors in my short white number, holding my bouquet. We said I do with our friends and family present. The celebration continued in my mother-in-law’s backyard. We smashed cake in each other’s faces and got thrown into the pool. Along with ideal weather, the mood was carefree and everyone had the best time.

The Congress Hall wedding was postponed to March 24, 2012. The hotel is an experience in itself. Its charm reflects its history, which dates back almost 200 years. It’s grand and cozy at the same time, and the décor is impeccable. The bright painted ladies, the age-old trees, and the Atlantic Ocean set the scene for our day. The morning of our wedding I woke up and stuck my head out the window. The sky was gray, but I was so excited, especially considering the circumstances. Everyone was being super-optimistic about the weather to provide me with hope and comfort. It was sweet. The girls gathered at Founder’s Hall to get ready with me. There, we ate breakfast, sipped mimosas, prepared some flower arrangements, and beautified for the day. I did my own makeup, and a bridal party member did my hair. I pinned my dad’s boutonniere on him and did my mother’s makeup. I told my bridesmaids to pick a lavender or purple dress and I loved the result. I finally got to wear my lace gown! That made it all so real. The groomsmen congregated in our hotel suite. Since we were legally married, Wayne’s uncle performed the ceremony and we exchanged our own vows under the veranda, right alongside the grand lawn and next to the beach. When I set my eyes on Wayne, I thought he looked like a Kennedy in his J.Crew Ludlow suit.

We kept the décor simple and let the ballroom speak for itself. The Tiffany blue walls and black and white harlequin floors worked well with my vintage-inspired theme. The florist did a beautiful job on the bouquets and the simple centerpieces of white hydrangea, lavender daisies, and lavender spider mums. I did the planning myself with help from my three wonderful maids of honor, and my day-of coordinator executed everything perfectly. The food was beef and seafood, of course, and just delicious. I made the cake topper, table numbers and place card holder myself to add a hand-made touch. For the cake topper, I used a piece of my own dress and silk petals from my great-grandmother’s hat. My dad and I decked out a “just married” wagon, which made the perfect photo prop. The night ended with Wayne and I being hoisted into the air, among all our guests on the dance floor.

Wedding Photography: Pat Furey Photography / Wedding Venue: Congress Hall in Cape May, New Jersey / Floral Design: Kate’s Flower Shop / Wedding Planning: Renee Tornabene (The Bride) / Wedding Coordination: Daniella Cordisco + Krista Ostrander of Congress Hall / Wedding Officiant: The Groom’s Uncle / Wedding Cinematography: Joseph Guagliardo Photography / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Music: Versatile Professional Entertainment + Ryan Subers / Cake Topper, Banner, Place Card Holder, Wagon, Arbor, Table Numbers, Ceremony Flowers + Family Photo Table: Renee Tornabene (The Bride) / Wedding Dress: Enzoani “Diana” via Memories Bridal by Reem / Shoes: Kate Spade via Piperlime / Hair: Devan Thatcher (A Bridesmaid) / Makeup: DIY by the Bride / Bridesmaid Dresses: Various / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew “Ludlow”

A blending of different cultures and traditions always makes for the most beautiful of celebrations and sometimes those celebrations turn into two day wedding extravaganzas. Love Me Do Photography captured a whole weekend full of festivities that culminated in this gorgeous, modern affair held at One Atlantic. It’s layers of bright florals by Michele Tallent & Co. mixed with glass-walled views of Atlantic City and lots of celebratory moments caught on film. See them all right here along with the beautiful Ceremony that started thing offs below.

And here’s a peek at the couple’s gorgeous Persian ceremony held at the Bride’s parents’ house. It was DIY from start to finish all lovingly crafted by the Mother of the Bride. Now that’s a sweet Mom!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Love Me Do Photography… Asal and Michael’s wedding was a two-day affair that took place over April 21-22nd.  The first day was a traditional Persian ceremony held at the bride’s parents’ house. The ceremony was performed in Farsi and translated by a friend for all the English-speaking guests. It was a beautiful mix of culture, and the weather was perfect. After the ceremony, women from the bride’s family presented her with beautiful jewelry as gifts. Afterwards we took advantage of the weather and went outside for some portraits and group shots with family and friends. The following day was the big wedding at One Atlantic. For us, the day was perfect, despite the rain that lasted all day, preventing us from setting foot outside. One Atlantic has so many great wall textures and backgrounds for photos that we could have spent all day taking indoor portraits of the couple! We really felt like we took advantage of all the indoor locations throughout the building. The wedding itself was a huge celebration, with all of the guests having a great time on the dance floor and in our photo booth. Asal and Michael are so perfect together with their personalities complementing one another. It was definitely clear to us that they belong together! 

From the Bride… The Persian Aghd (wedding) ceremony was special because my entire family was there, and I felt a connection to my past and my heritage. My uncle read poetry by a famous Persian poet, and Michael and I fed each other honey! It was very romantic. My mother did all the flower arrangements and decor, and she had spent a lot of time planning that day so it meant a lot to me. The actual wedding day at One Atlantic was out of a dream. I wanted to have a classic elegant themed wedding (copper urns, single low lying centerpiece with mercury glass accents), with cool modern touches in the cocktail hour room (the cement vases).  And from the cocktail hour music and the flowers to the food and the view — it was perfect! And we were so happy that not only all my family from the night before was there, but also Michael’s extended family, some of whom he had not seen in years — all there to wish us well! I loved the Jewish culture integration (the chuppah, the chair dance!) Our families blended and had a great time.

Persian Ceremony Day – Venue: The Bride’s Parents’ Home / Floral Design + Decor: DIY by the Mother of the Bride / Wedding Day – Wedding Photography: Carina + Amanda of Love Me Do Photography / Wedding Venue: One Atlantic in Atlantic City, New Jersey / Floral Design: Michele Tallent & Co. / Catering: One Atlantic + Jerusalem Glatt Kosher Restaurant (609-822-2266) / Wedding Cake: The Bake Works / Wedding Stationery: Paper Source / Wedding Invitation Ribbon & Flower, Favor Jars + Wedding Programs: DIY / Singer: Jonni Drue / Violinist: Catherine Boyd / DJs: DJ Justin Horn + Kia of Atish DJ / Wedding Dress: Alyne Bridal “Adelaide” / Bride’s Sash: Etsy / Bride’s Shoes: Lulu Townsend / Hair: Belinda Novella / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: Etsy / Groom’s Suit: Tommy Hilfiger

I adore coming across new Bachelorette Party ideas and this is for the group that loves (and I repeat LOVES) to have a wildly good time. Cooked up by The East Coast Bride along with photography by Cassi Claire, this is a playful take on the Bachelorette Fête that mixes pole dancing lessons, glitter and sweets galore.  But the sweets galore part is what really sucked me in. What can I say, I’m a sucker for an ombre cake. Check out the gallery for so much more.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From The East Coast Bride… We’re so excited to share this styled bachelorette party with you! Our vision for this event was to create a playful bachelorette party that was full of fun and style, with a touch of grace and sweetness. This pole dancing party, fit for any bride to be, is the perfect way to celebrate being a woman with all of your close friends. Inspired by the pole dancing bachelorette party trend, we wanted this event to be classy, glamorous and sexy.

Photography: Cassi Claire / Location: Dakini Studio in Warren, New Jersey / Event Design: The East Coast Bride / Rentals: Ultrapom Event Rentals / Stationery: Erin Fosbenner

Antiquing and thrifting isn’t for everyone. But for those of us who can’t help but stop at the nearest Estate Sale Saturday morning, to hunt down the prettiest, most special little additions to our homes, it comes only natural to plan a wedding around the seriously loved treasures we find. MDS Floral Designs is in the same boat as I when it comes to this love of all things recycled. When The Studio Photographers sent over an inspiration shoot they worked on with MDS, centered around the French Countryside and thrifting, I could. not. get. enough. So I loaded up the gallery and got ready to share my new obsession with you!

Click here for the full image gallery!

From The Studio Photographers … Michelle from MDS Floral Design created a spectacular scene. She’s a thift store junky and loves vintage furniture pieces with “good bones” to refurbish. The ornate table and velvet chairs where the perfect match for the shabby chic look she was going for. With the mix of old and new, and the old barn setting , it all just fell into place. The thrift store antique pitcher and sugar bowls blended perfectly with the flowers and the china, which was donated by our stationary designer’s Grandmother.   

Photography: The Studio Photographers / Venue: Weddings of Destinction: The Ashford Estate / Floral Design: MDS Floral Designs / Hair and Make-up: Tim Alan / Stationary: Stephanie Somodi: Designing the Most Inviting Day / Bridal Salon: Exquisite Bride / Bridal Accessories: Sassy Chic Boutique

If one flower deserved the “Most Romantic Bloom” title, the peony would be it. The soft layers of this flower are uber romantic which is why TableArt picked the peony to inspire this so romantic you could get lost in the lovely layers for days and days inspiration shoot. Captured by Marie Labbancz Photography, this soiree in the woods has me dreaming of Prince Charming, love letters, delicious cakes from Pink Cake Box, and of course bouquets and bouquets of peonies. Ready to get lost?

Click here to see the full image gallery!

From Kathy Warden of TableArt … Peonys are the perfect wedding flower; they are romantic, lush, beautiful, whimsical, elegant and dramatic.

What a perfect venue for a peony shoot: ‘peony envy.’ A wonderful field of peonys in New Jersey, rows and rows of peonies in all different shades and hues of pink are growing in field surrounded by woods…

We loved the inspiration for a wedding ceremony in a peony field; how romantic and amazing to be me married in a field of peonies.

The bouguet is a lush handtied bouquet of the palest blush pink peonies that compliment the amazing champagne toned gown. The vanity inspiration is whimsical with the mirror framed in pink peonies. The placecards are of course peonies in vintage perfume bottles with caligraphied tags for each guest. The pink lemonade (or pink champagne ) station is set with a gorgeous bouquet of pink peonies and pink bubble glasses.

The sweetheart table is so sweet – beautiful bouquet plates from Party Rental Ltd. are the perfect accent piece for this elegant table for two in the woods. Silver candleabra and a silver revere bowl filled with a gorgeous arrangement of peonies in all their glory. The very sophisticated organdy overlay (from Settings by Mona) with the pale pink border is pinned and adorned with peonies. The vintage white linen monogramed napkins are of course adorned with peonies.

Wow, a dream come true! What bride would not want to be married in a field of peonies?

Photography: Marie Labbancz Photography / Floral Design: TableArt / Event Design: Kathy Warden of TableArt / Location: Peony’s Envy / Cake: Pink Cake Box / Shoes: Marshalls / Dress: Claire Pettibone, Queen Anne’s Lace gown / Hair + Makeup: Claudia Seyler / Plates: Party Rental Ltd. / Organdy Overlay: Settings by Mona / Veil: Claire Pettibone Mantilla from Nicole Bridal

As soon as this beautiful bride said yes to her handsome soon-to-be hubby, they toyed with the idea of going away to the Caribbean to marry in the sand – a prospect that tempts us all at some point or another, I’d say. But ultimately deciding to stay home so ALL their nearest and dearest could be at their lovely day lead to one of the most amazing designs I’ve seen in a classical East Coast wedding. Tropical decor. The day, as seen by Images by Berit, Inc., was gorgeous and hinted to a destination wedding which we love, more than a little bit. Click here to see it all!

Now it’s time for a little more from the lovely Tweed Weddings…

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Click here to see the full image gallery!

Danny and I met on the trading floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange, where I was interning and he was working at his first job out of college. Four and a half years later, he proposed at the exact spot on the trading floor where he asked me on our first date. My whole family was in on his plan, and they were all there to celebrate with us with champagne after he popped the question.

From the beginning of the planning process, we were searching for a unique venue with lots of character. I was especially interested in finding a place with beautiful grounds that would provide a good backdrop for outdoor pictures. We first heard about Natirar by word of mouth from friends of my family. It was still under renovation when we booked our date — and the tent for the reception was not yet under construction! — but the mansion and grounds were so beautiful, I knew it was the ideal venue for us. And all of our photos turned out even better than I could have asked for.

I wanted aspects of our wedding to feel cohesive, but it was hard at first to come up with a theme. When we were first engaged, Danny and I briefly discussed having a destination wedding in St. Thomas, one of our favorite places. In the end, our love of tropical locations helped us choose a theme. I chose bright, exotic flowers, named our tables after Caribbean islands and even surprised Danny with a steel drum band at the cocktail hour, where we featured tropical specialty drinks, like watermelon mojitos.

Family is very important to us, and we wanted to include them as much as we could during our big day. Our godparents did the readings during our Mass, one of my cousins sang, while another was an altar server and two more passed out programs. One of the songs during the Mass was actually a song featured at my parents’ wedding. And my “something blue” was my grandmother’s garter, which I was so grateful to be able to wear.

I’ll never forget pulling up to the church with my dad, bridesmaids and flower girl in our trolley to see my youngest cousins jumping up and down on the church steps and waving to us with excitement. It meant so much to me that they were part of our big day.

We were so lucky all day with the weather — steady rain was forecast for the entire day, but it held out all afternoon, allowing us to get great pictures outdoors and letting guests enjoy the mansion’s beautiful patio during cocktail hour. The skies finally opened up later in the evening, but at that point, everyone was safe and dry inside the tent and on the dance floor! Our band, New Power Soul, could not have been better. I’ll never forget how much time they put into learning songs and getting our playlist just right — it truly made the night amazing, and people are still talking about them!

Photography: Images by Berit, Inc. / Cinematography: Tweed Weddings / Flowers: Joe Longo, Crest Florist / Event Design + Planning: Mother of the bride / Wedding Gown Designer: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Jewelry: Diamonds, U.S.A. / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Jenny Yoo / Ceremony Location: St. Patrick’s / Reception Location: The Mansion at Natirar / Invitations: Smock, Cambridge Street Papers / Cake: Joanne Costa, Sweet Swirl Cakes / Band: New Power Soul / Ensemble at church: The Amaryllis Ensemble / Makeup: Danielle Arminio / Calligraphy: Belles Lettres Calligraphy

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Jenny Yoo

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This morning felt like the perfect morning to escape to the New Jersey Shoreline, and lucky for you, I had this Therese Marie Wagner Photography soiree waiting in the wings for a day just like this. The mix of the calm shore and the chic + classic, is absolutely amazing. A little vaca we’ve been dreaming about for months. And the best part – no packing required to visit the gallery!

Peter and I met at Siena College outside of Albany New York. We had the same group of friends and were often in classes together for most of our four years there. During our senior year, we began dating, and have been together since. One night, Pete suggested a nice date night at a local restaurant on the Hoboken waterfront (Zylo at the W Hotel), I went happily and as we were walking to dinner he pointed out the gorgeus full moon over the hudson river & NYC skyline, he suggested a walk along the water during which he stopped and got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. After some tears and shock I obviously said yes, we proceeded on to a beautiful dinner where Pete had arranged to suprise me with both of our families being there, it was a wonderful night that we will always remember!

When we started planning, our minds immediately went to one of our favorite places to escape. We thought what could be better than getting all of the people we love together for a weekend at the one place we love the most! My family has a home in Long Beach Island NJ and I grew up spending summers there. Luckily Pete fell in love with the island the first time he came to visit, we spend as much of our free time there as possible and both see it as a little piece of paradise. When Bonnet Island Estate was first built I remember thinking how beautiful it was and what a fairy tale a wedding there would be. It is very rustic and beachy, but also has a magical fairytale feel to the whole estate. Probably within a week of being engaged we decided that we should definitely have our wedding in LBI. We both obviously love everything about the area and wanted all of our friends and family to be able be experience something so special to us. After some quick decision making, we had a date of 10-15-11 booked at our dream location!

Pete called me one day in the spring prior to the wedding and said he had seen a grey tuxedo that he thought would be great for our fall beachy wedding, we went to try it on, loved it , decided it went perfect with the rustic/formal feel of bonnet and then ran with that as our inspiration for a color pallate! Our invitations were accented in grey, the blue of the girls dresses was chosen because of how great it looked with the guys tuxes, grey berries were added to the flowers, and I think it all came together beautifully. I had always loved peonies, but since October is not peonie season, our amazing florist suggested ranunculus and cabbage roses mixed in with other more seasonal flowers mixed in to get the look we wanted. It all came together the day of and we could not have been happier with the look and feel of the day.

Our wedding mass was one of the highlights of the day for us. While we stood at the alter looking out at everyone we were both so overwhelmed and happy to see all the people we love looking up at us. The mass was said in memory of Petes later father and his presence was with us from the of the begging of the weekend to the end. A memory that stands out for me was during our pig roast rehearsal dinner, when at just the right moment the cloudly drizzly sky cleared up and there was a vibrant full rainbow, it seemed like Pete’s dad was right there with us giving a big smile. After the mass we walked directly out of church and right to the beach, kicked off our shoes and it was just the two of us for a few minutes, we looked at each other and just smiled, we couldn’t believe we were married!

Our band rocked and had everyone on their feet the whole night, but especially for our first dance. We used a song that we had loved from our local college bar Dapps, “You’re so beautiful” by Pat Macguire Band and although it was not a traditional “wedding song” it meant a lot to us, and we will always remember that dance and how it felt like we were the only people in the room.

From there on it was an all out party. We were thrilled everyone we loved had made the trip and we just spent the whole night celebrating with our amazing friends and family until about 2am! There is a candid shot of Peter and I looking and smiling at each other at our sweetheart table, and when I see it it brings me immediately back to how happy, in love, and amazing we felt right at that moment. I don’t remember the amazing Therese Marie Wagner snapping it, but it is definitely one of our favorites, and perfectly captured the mood and our memory of the day. All of our vendors were unbelievably amazing and to us the day was just perfect and exactly what we had hoped for.

Photography: Therese Marie Wagner Photography / Venue: The Bonnet Island Estate / Church: St. Thomas of Aquinas Church / Gown: Mikaella / Shoes: Badgley Miscka / Tuxes: Jean Yves  / Flowers: Avenue Flowers / Invitations: Smith Letterpress / Band: The Christopher Michaels Band

This is one of those love stories that just completely melts your heart.  From childhood playmates to soulmates, this couple has been a part of each other lives for twenty four years!  He even proposed on the same playground where they met as children.  So unbelievable sweet!  Their wedding, captured by Angie Silvy Photography, is equally as romantic as their love story taking a cue from Long Beach Island with classic, nautical touches.  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Steve and I met on the playground in third grade. Steve had just moved to Medford Lakes, New Jersey, from Tennessee. We were each other’s first playground boyfriend and girlfriend. As with most first relationships, it didn’t last very long but we continued to be friends throughout. We dated again when we were 20, having a summer romance on Long Beach Island. We continued to keep in touch over the next twelve years, and at 32, we decided to get engaged. Steve proposed to me on the same playground that we met 24 years before. Steve and I both love the beach. I grew up spending my weekends on Long Beach Island, and Steve was born in Hawaii. During our 20s, we dated on Long Beach Island, so it only seemed natural to have a beach wedding. My parents have become year-round residents, so we thought it would be nice to be married in their backyard. The reception was held at the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club, where my family has been members for many years. Both of these locations have beautiful bay views and were an easy choice for our wedding.

The color inspiration for our wedding was from the island itself. I wanted to highlight the important components that are local to the island. We choose white for the beaches, blue for the water and green for the marshlands that surround the island and can be seen from both venues, especially Mordecai Island. Since Steve and I have known each other for so long, it was a challenge to arrange the ceremony. Instead of the traditional bride and groom side of the aisle, we had our ceremony in the round. It was very special to have our friends and family surrounding us during this very important moment. Standing on the alter, it was unbelievable to be able to look in all directions and see all our friends and family from the past 24 years. As a way to wear my mother’s dress, which unfortunately was a heavy satin and perfect for her December wedding, I had her wedding headpiece created into my sash and used the sleeves as the belt ties. This was very special to me as I had always wanted to wear her wedding dress. Most of the printed material was created by hand. A friend, Maggie Ress, designed the save-the-date using a vintage postcard of the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club. The invitations were assembled by Steve’s parents, and I designed the programs and menu cards, and they were assembled by my mother and sister.

After spending the day with my bridesmaids and getting ready, walking down the stairs to see Steve was one of the greatest parts of the day. As guests arrived, the bridesmaids waited upstairs and watched everyone come in. We admired the outfits, got excited to see old friends and did some final primping before getting ready to walk down the aisle. This was one of my favorite wedding moments. I also remember our first dance and how much fun it was preparing for it and that it didn’t matter if we didn’t remember any of the steps. The “dip” is one of my favorite pictures. We left the ceremony by boat. This was one of my favorite moments as the group of us departed — two bridesmaids/groomsman per boat — we were able to see all the guests lined up the edge of the dock.  My parents had placed a just married sign on the stern, and lieu of cans rattling down the street, they used lifesavers.

Wedding Photography: Angie Silvy Photography / Ceremony: The Bride’s Parents Home in Long Beach Island, New Jersey / Reception: Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club in Beach Haven, New Jersey / Event Design + Planning: Michael D. Young of activit!es / Floral Design: La Fleur — The Princeton Flower Shop (609-586-5130) / Cinematography: Bruce Lennox (A Family Member) / Save-the-Dates: Maggie Ress ( A Friend of the Couple) / Wedding Invitations: Carlson Craft + Assembled by the Groom’s Parents / Menu Cards + Programs: Designed by the Bride + Assembled by the Bride’s Mother & Sister / Wedding Cake + Desserts: The Big Apple Bakery / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff

Glamorous looks oh so good on this wedding. The Loubies, the dress, the so totally in love that they can’t stop kissing couple; it is all coming together for a knock-out affair at Mallard Island Yacht Club. And we have Maggie Harkov Photography to thank for snapping enough beautiful images to last a whole afternoon. Join us in the gallery for so much more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I am a diehard when it comes to old television shows, movies and all things vintage. I never leave the house without mascara, red lipstick and something from the past (an old necklace, brooch, ring, etc.) so I knew from the very beginning I wanted to use as many pieces that had been passed down in my family as possible. My husband, on the other hand, is as modern and preppy as they come, a true New England boy. We both grew up spending our summers on the beach and love singing along to the notes of Jack Johnson, so a destination (beach) feel was a must. When we pulled up to Mallard Island Yacht Club and walked through its entrance for the first time, I must confess I felt like Kate Winslet in the Titanic when she stepped onto the ship to set sail. I couldn’t picture a better place to exchange our vows.

Everything we incorporated into our wedding day originated from a deeper meaning. The date: 4-23-11. Tim loves the number 23 (his childhood sports #, Michael Jordan, etc.), and my grandparents would have been married for 62 years on that exact day — my grandmother passed four years ago, and I wanted to keep this date alive. The hand-crafted rosary beads that hung from the podium are a family heirloom on my dad’s side from Rome. My flowers, an array of calla lilies, were the first bouquet of flowers Tim gave to me, six years before we walked down the aisle. They also happened to fit perfectly into our theme — clean cut and modern, yet delicately saturated with just the right colors for my vintage feel. (For the centerpieces, I also added anenomes for their vibrant red and hydrangeas for their true lavender along with some berries and fillers. I wanted the perception of hand-picked flowers.) Our penguin cake toppers stemmed from our long time love of sharing video clips of these little birds waddling about while making our own hilarious voices to go along with each of them — they also mate for life. My mother and I made the seating chart together from an old mirror and some ribbon. She then hand-wrote everyone’s name in calligraphy. I wanted everyone to see that they were a “reflection” of Tim and me as they looked for their seats. “I carry your heart with me,” a poem by e.e. cummings, was printed in our programs and read at the end of the ceremony. It’s my favorite piece of poetry, and I gave it to Tim on our third anniversary. The morning of our wedding, my groom presented me with a printed book from 1923 that he tracked down where this poem was first published. It was the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. Lastly, in lieu of traditional wedding favors, we made a donation to the ASPCA and Special Olympics, two organizations near and dear to our hearts.

Our photographs, as cheesy as it may sound, are literally worth a thousand words. Our warm, personable and creative photographer who captured my husband and I along with our family and friends in every sense of the word will forever touch our hearts. Maggie Harkov has such a way of joining personality and photography resulting in captured moments where you literally feel the emotion. From the initial consultation, all the way to the big day and after, Maggie became a dear friend, and she has truly touched our hearts.

Wedding Photography: Maggie Harkov Photography / Reception: Mallard Island Yacht Club in Manahawkin, New Jersey / Floral Design: Narcissus Florals / Catering: Taste Catering (609-494-9300) / Cake + Cupcakes: Susan Chicola / Cake Topper: Red Light Studio / Wedding Cinematography: Art Guglielmo of Northeast Horizons Cinematography / Paper Goods: Kaitlin Andorfer Sockman (A Bridesmaid) of ink and ivory / Seating Chart: DIY by the Bride + Her Mother / String Trio: Shrewsbury String Quartet / Solo Singer: Ellen Remick / Officiant: Most Reverend Bishop George Lucey of St. Francis of Assisi / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bride’s Pearl Ring + Fur Bolero: From Her Grandmothers / Bride’s Veil + Headpiece: From Her Mother / Bride’s Headpiece Reconstruction: Mary of Frills (732-830-7125) / Bride’s Hair: Tanya Spalliero of Salon BLUSH / Bride’s Makeup: Tim Quinn of Giorgio Armani Beauty / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Vera Wang / Bridesmaids’ Hair + Makeup: DeVenir Beauty / Bridesmaids’ Headpieces: Kaitlin Andorfer Sockman (A Bridesmaid) of b. Poetic

There is something about an intimate, DIY affair in an urban setting that makes me positively giddy!  Throw in gorgeous wildflowers, a simple but chic design captured by Jason Walz Photography and I will forever be a fan.  This clever bride and groom show what can be done with some wonderful friends and family and a little bit of creativity.  Keeping their wedding small also means they get to enjoy a remarkable trip later on that will bring them closer to loved ones around the world.  Click here to see it all!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the groom… More than a color or style or theme, we really wanted our guests to experience a feeling of inclusion, togetherness and celebration. We wanted everyone to know that they are important to us, and so we did our best to make all our guests feel welcome and a part of things. We love to entertain, so we thought it would be perfect if we could have everyone feel as though they were at an extra-large dinner party, thrown by us. To achieve this, we used our own recipes (including the cake!), incorporated our favorite libations, recruited our friends and family for help and generally made or sourced whatever we could ourselves. This kept the whole effect very “close to home,” as nearly every detail of the wedding is directly from us or our friends and family.

But our wedding also has another interesting twist. When we first were engaged, we started looking at the traditional NYC venues like the Boathouse. Nothing seemed to sit quite right, and most were much more expensive than we had bargained for. We were relaying these travails to our friend Mike Karg, who gave us a BRILLIANT idea: Throw out the big white wedding – have a small party here with family, then take the rest of our budget, visit our friends around the world, and celebrate with each of them! He said, “For the price of a wedding, where you only see each guest for five minutes, you can visit your friends and take them out to a full dinner.” We still wanted to get everyone we love in one room (there is NOTHING that can replace that feeling!), but after having talked to Karg, we decided to really scale back our expenditures by producing the wedding (almost entirely) ourselves. What we ended up with was a wedding that was more personal and intimate than we had even hoped for, at almost 1/4 the cost of what we were expecting from the traditional venues. We had a budget of $20k for the whole thing, but we went over by $1800, so our total was $21,800.

We see the big trip (probably 4-6 months) as an extension of the wedding (rather than a honeymoon), where we get to see our loved ones and continue celebrating with them. To get our guests involved in helping us plan our trip, we set up a guest book/travel log area at the wedding where they can let us know where to visit them (anywhere from the family home, a study-abroad city, a planned vacation that we crash or an exotic locale). We have some amazing places to visit! So overall, we really tried to make the wedding feel welcoming, inclusive and intimate – I think we achieved it!

Wedding Photography: Jason Walz Photography / Wedding Location: Parlay Studios in Jersey City, New Jersey / Wedding Decor: The Bride, Groom + Mitchell Turnbough / Bouquets + Flower Arrangements: Christopher Knight + The Bride / Wedding Cake: The Groom + Christopher Knight / Truffles: DIY by the Bride, Groom + The Groom’s Mother / Catering: Simon Solis-Cohen of the Culinary Institute of America, the Bride + Groom / Printed Materials: Designed by Carlos Aponte + Printed by the Groom / Band: Manouche Bag / DJ: DJ Kevlove / Serving Dishes: Fishs Eddy / Table Cloth Fabric: Gift Fabric / Beer: River Horse / Wine Bottles: HomeBrewIt.com / Huppah: DIY by the Bride / Ketubah: Stephanie Caplan / Bride’s Dress: Renella De Fina / Bride’s Shoes: Brian Atwood / Maid of Honor’s Dress: The Bride + Maid of Honor / Groom’s Suit: Sam Leung of Classic Tailors (212-327-2789) / Rings: Custom Made by Groom, A Silversmith + Jeweler

It’s official.  I am obsessed with the Bonnet Island Estate.  OBSESSED.  And, trust me, one look at all of the pretty below and you will be, too.  Because this magical venue is boasting SO MUCH LOVELY (Hello Boathouse Chapel!), every last moment of this darling soiree looks like a scene from a romantic movie. Lucky for us, the oh-so-talented Femina Photo + Design was on hand to capture every last ounce of sweetness, including those charming DIY paper goods, the breathtaking florals by MDS Floral Designs and the uber-stunning bride and groom.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… John and I met our sophomore year at UD. We were in the same dorm and he was rooming with one of my best friends. We started dating that year, and our relationship was the best thing about college. Five years after we met, on Christmas Day, John proposed to me in front of my family. We got married a year and a half later. I feel so lucky to have met such a wonderful man while at college. There were two really important things with our wedding that we followed through with. The first, was not to get crazy or stressed or anything negative. Once we had our minds set on a positive and stress-free wedding, everything was just really easy and simple. I didn’t get upset or worried over any details, I took people’s advice, followed my heart, and included John in every decision. Second, there were some things John and I knew we wanted in terms of personal touches. The first was to have my two godfathers marry us. So they got ordained online and were able to marry us. Neither John or I are religious, and I didn’t want a priest who didn’t know John or me or believe in something we don’t marry us. So my godfathers did it and it was amazing and so special.

I also wanted my sister and John’s good friend Mike to sing our wedding song. They sung “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and then transitioned to “What a Wonderful World” for my father and I to dance to. We did our own invitations. John is a graphic designer so he designed them, spending hours picking out the right colors and font, paper, envelopes, etc. He even designed the stamps and return address sticker. I helped with the cutting and pasting. We had our friend write the addresses in calligraphy. I won’t lie, they did take a lot of time and effort, but if you have the know-how and leave extra time, it is totally doable and worth it. All other personal touches were in the details. I let the bridesmaids’ choose how they wanted their hair and makeup, shoes, etc. Everyone, including me, walked down the aisle to acoustic Beatles songs. Instead of a guest book to sign, everyone signed a surfboard. The table cards were each attached to a star fish or sand dollar, and they were buried in these beautiful sand boxes. I wanted to employ as many friends as possible (including our amazing photographers!) so our menus and programs were made by my good friend Rachael who is a graphic designer. We had our own signature drinks during the cocktail hour. Towards the end of the night, I changed into a short white dress and put on my Sex and the City blue Manolo Blahniks. I got my bridesmaids silver sparkle TOMS that they all changed into. We wanted the atmosphere to be relaxed and just fun, nothing stuffy or traditional. We had an after party at the estate where everyone just hung outside, smoked cigars, drank beer and ate pizza. We had a party bus drive everyone home, and we had a bagel breakfast the next day.

And finally our photographers were absolutely amazing. My favorite thing about them is how they were absolutely everywhere, got pictures of everything that happened that night … yet I never saw them. They were never in the way or anything like that. They were perfect. Most of all I love how they set up our “first look.” John and I wanted to do pictures before the ceremony, so they came up with a beautiful place for John and I to see each other. It was so special and I will never forget it.

Wedding Photography: Femina Photo + Design / Wedding Venue: Bonnet Island Estate on Long Beach Island in Manahawkin, New Jersey / Flowers: Michelle Santanello of MDS Floral Designs / Event Planning: Laura DeGennaro of Merri-Makers Caterers / Catering: Merri-Makers Caterers / Wedding Invitations: John Clifford, The Groom (A Graphic Designer) / Wedding Programs + Menus: A Friend of the Bride / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik + TOMS / Hair + Makeup: Aqua Bleu Salon / Band: Times Square Orchestra

Really, who doesn’t love a nautical wedding? Especially when a couple infuses their own personality all over the day. This New Jersey Shore affair has the required navy blue deets, but the fun couple made sure to be present all over the place by inserting pops of bright color everywhere – in sunglasses, shoes, and flowers from MDS Floral Designs. Ann Coen Photography loaded a full image gallery with all sorts of pretty so click here for more!

Our (semi) destination wedding at the Jersey Shore really captured our love for the coast/ocean. Bonnet Island Estate was the perfect venue for our nautical wedding, complete with an actual sea Captain performing the ceremony! With several small DIY projects, such as our anchor place cards and with the help of many amazing local vendors, our September 17th, 2011 wedding was everything we imagined!

Although we stuck to lots of (nautical) navy, we had several bright accents colors which we showcased in our flowers (Hot pink, purple, orange and lime green), but more noticeable in the men’s footwear- hot pink custom Vans and the hot pink Knockaround sunglasses gifted to & worn by the entire bridal party and immediate family. 

Our detailed oriented wedding was all caught on film by our amazing photographer; the unexpected rain led to most of our favorite pictures, complete with a rainbow and a sunset none of our guests will ever forget.

Photography: Ann Coen Photography / Flowers: MDS Floral Designs / Ceremony & Reception Location: Bonnest Island Estate / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Groomsmen Shoes: Custom Vans / Dress: Melissa Sweet, Mila in Ivory / Officiant: Captain CW Davis, Nautical Star Weddings / Hair and Makeup: DeVenir Beauty / Caterer: Merri-Makers Catering & Special Events / Suits & Shirts: IndoChino / Sunglasses: Knockaround / Watches: Nixxon / Groom’s Cufflinks: Paul Smith / Ties & Pocket Squares: The Tie Bar / Socks: J.Crew / Mrs. Korinis Hanger: Floating Owl Designs

You would have never, ever, ever guessed that this gorgeous New Jersey wedding was cancelled four hours before it was supposed to begin. That the wedding from these gorgeous photos from Kay English Photography was planned in those four short hours. Hurricane Irene was on it’s way to the East Coast and because of that Atlantic City, where this wedding was supposed to happen, was evacuated. Their wedding was cancelled. And what transpired next, was nothing short of amazing. Make sure to watch Lucky Productions Cinematography‘s take on the day so you can really fully, fully appreciate this gorgeous wedding and the love that went into it. And then click here for even more from Kay English!

Are you ready for the most amazing wedding story we’ve seen in a long time?

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My wedding day is every bride’s worst nightmare. What transpired on that picture perfect Friday afternoon was nothing short of a miracle. The beautiful pictures you see depict not what I imagined it would be, but what I wouldn’t trade for the world. After all, behind all the glitz and glamour of a modern day wedding, is it not really just about two people vowing to love, cherish and honor each other for the rest of their lives? Well that’s the lesson, unfortunately, I learned the hard way.

The dreaded call came in around 1:00PM on Friday, August 26th, the day before Hurricane Irene was predicated to hit the coastal towns of New Jersey, and just FOUR hours before my wedding ceremony was scheduled to begin. Due to the “red alert” and evacuation orders issued for Atlantic City, our five-star venue was forced to cancel our wedding ceremony and reception… I can still hear the words “Your event has been cancelled” ringing in my diamond-clad ear. For as most brides know, four hours before your ceremony begins, your hair has been coiffed, your makeup has been perfected and you are trying to relax while sipping on your mimosa.

So what do you do when your dream has been crushed? Well, most families may regretfully inform the guests of the unfortunate news. However, as you can see by the pictures, we’re not like most families. I remember the moment so vividly. My sister, and maid of honor, looked at me frankly and said, “What do you want to do? You know, we’ve always said someone should get married at Lynette’s house.” (Lynette is a close family friend with an AMAZING outdoor landscape.) And that was all took…

The ball was rolling. Our families frantically took to the phones, rerouting the minister, ordering chairs, trying to piece together some semblance of a ceremony. The most amazing moment was when we pulled up to the house, having no idea what our wedding would look like, and seeing the beautiful ceremony space arranged on the lawn and the smiles of our friends and family. You can see by the pictures, they did an amazing job!

When you’re in the throes of planning the big, glamorous wedding affair that you dreamt of, it is so easy to forget the real meaning and purpose behind the day. We were blessed with the wonderful reminder that it is not really about the venue, or the 5 course meal, but rather being surrounded and supported by the people that care for you as you embark on this journey called marriage with the one you love the most!

Photography: Kay English Photography / Cinematography: Lucky Productions Cinematography / Flowers: Gerads Florist & Decorator / Invitation Designer: Wedding Paper Divas / Cake: The Bake Works / Wedding Gown Designer: Marisa, from Bridal Garden / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Jessica Simpson Designs / Hairpiece: Portobello

It’s a brand new year, LBBers, and we wanted a fresh way to start it out. Enter this fabulous New Jersey beach wedding from Bonnet Island Wedding photographer Kay English. With fantastic florals, sweet frocks, the bright, island air, and a stunning couple, we couldn’t think of a better way to start out 2012. And with a wedding like this at the top of this list, we’re sure it’s going to be quite the year, 2012. Make sure to visit the gallery to see more!

Isn’t this amazing? We’ve got a three way tie of favorite things: the amazing colors of the water infusing themselves into every inch of this affair, that fanTASTic hearth at the altar, and the stunning, over-the-top in love couple center stage. I think I might be leaning toward that sweet couple!

Photography: Kay English Photography / Venue: Bonnet Island Estate / Bridesmaid Dresses: Modcloth / Entertainment: Silver Sound

After spending hours (or maybe days… who am I kidding) with this gorgeous New Jersey wedding, I can honestly say, I never would have thought it was Hurricane Irene who crashed this Pleasantdale Chateau party. The images from Susan Stripling Photography show nothing but a beautiful bride, a handsome groom, and a gorgeous, love-filled wedding. A true testament to Laura Clare Fine Floral Design‘s work. It is, seriously, one of my favorite weddings. Ever. Promise me you’ll peruse the image gallery to see why!

Oooh, and the romance is ever more present in this highlight film from Orange Films…

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I grew up in New Jersey and always wanted to get married in my home state. We instantly fell in love with the Pleasantdale Chateau the moment we walked in. It has an intimate home-style ambiance, yet grandeur at the same time. We envisioned our wedding to be elegant and timeless, with classic tones of ivory and gold. We wanted our guests to enjoy a royal evening with gourmet food, flowing drinks and good music to dance all night.

All brides pray for good weather on their wedding day. A hurricane blowing through the Northeast never even crossed my mind throughout the planning process. When we chose August, the biggest weather concern was the groom melting in his tuxedo during the ceremony outside. Hurricane or not, the party still went on! My friends and family reassured me that the most important thing was that I was marrying the love of my life and a little rain (and maybe some wind) was not going to get in the way. I knew it was going be a perfect day the second I saw Edmond’s face during our private first meeting and all my worries disappeared. As long as we had each other, this wedding was going to be better than we imagined. We sealed this sentiment with a high-five and said “let’s do this!”

My wonderful bridesmaids entertained with cute arts & crafts while we were getting ready to keep me laughing about the circumstance. They were my lifesaver in keeping spirits light and focused on the prize of marriage. All my vendors ROCKED and made us feel like nothing was going on outside. Everyone was determined to make this the wedding of our dreams and I am truly thankful to have had such an amazing team. Edward Zilberman captured the day in the best trailer that makes me smile everytime I watch it. We were lucky to have Susan Stripling there to work her magic and capture beautiful images all indoors. And Stacey Kallenberg, my wedding planner extraordinaire pulled it all together while preventing me from panicking.

Edmond often joked the groom is only a prop at weddings. So, it was important to let his personality shine through the details as well. Boston sports is what he loves the most (second to me, of course). Our signature drink was called “The Champions” with flags of the city’s sports teams. His birthday was four days before our wedding, so I surprised him with a three-tier cake: Patriots Helmut, Red Sox Cap, Celtics basketball. The band played ‘Sweet Caroline’ as the cake was rolled into the ballroom. His reaction was priceless and one I will remember for the rest of my life. It was amusing to incorporate these details among the biggest NY sports fans on their home turf. And it’s even funnier that a girl who knows nothing about sports planned these details.

Irene was a wedding crasher who was not welcome, but she also showed us how blessed we are to have so many people who love us. We are so thankful for the people who braved the weather to share in our special day and celebrate with us. You just roll with the punches when things don’t go as planned and enjoy every minute. We had a blast and everything turned out beautifully. All our guests are still saying it was an unforgettable wedding in more ways than one. We definitely have a funny story to tell our kids one day.

Photography: Susan Stripling Photography / Cinematography: Orange Films / Flowers & Event Design: Laura Clare Fine Floral Design / Event Planning: Stacey Kallenberg, As You Wish Wedding & Event Design / Ceremony & Reception Location: Pleasantdale Chateau / Band: Craig Scott Orchestra / Invitations: Ray Chang, Roi Elfassy, Stacy Wright / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Dress: Christos / 2nd Dress: Shanghai Tang / Bridesmaid Dress: Amsale / Veil: Homa Bridal / Favors: Sweet Jane Lynn / Grooms Cake: Wendy’s Cake Art / Make-up: Danielle Arminio / Hair: Ramonda Marku

I love, love, LOVE a brunch wedding.  And, really, can you blame me?  Fabulous food combined with your big day is never a bad idea.  Especially pancakes!  Plus, when you add in a plethora of lovely DIY details, one very gorgeous museum setting, two sweet as can be lovebirds and an entire gallery of brilliant images by Courtney Dudley Photography, it’s a downright perfect soiree.  And just wait until you check out those insanely awesome paper bouquets.  Ah.mazing.  Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… My now husband Mark and I knew from the very moment that we were engaged that we wanted a fun and different wedding. We are actors and so we knew we wanted to incorporate “Theatre” as a theme in our wedding. It was dumb luck that we found an awesome museum that had a theater inside of it! Once we found that, the first of our wedding dreams came true. Mark is also a HUGE dinosaur buff and we saw they were having a dinosaur exhibit during our wedding. I have seen my husband happy about a lot of things but this takes the cake. Mark was set!

Then we thought, “What type of meal does EVERYONE love to eat?” And almost immediately, we looked at each other and decided that our wedding, was going to be a BRUNCH wedding! Who doesn’t love mimosas and pancakes, french toast and waffles? We knew how much we loved it and so we thought, WHY NOT? It ended up saving us SO much money and was a unique, laid back awesome part of the wedding. Our overall goal was to make sure that guests left knowing who we were as a couple. And now, nearly 3 months after our wedding, I really feel we did that.

Wedding planning can be so daunting and I, like many other brides, did not have a huge budget. My parents had both been out of work and so I wanted to keep the wedding small and very personal. DIY projects became my best friends. With the help of friends and family, we created our invitations, programs (Playbill style), centerpieces, boutonnieres, bouquets, guest book, wedding cake…just about EVERYTHING. I was most proud of the bouquets. A mixture of paper flowers with script pages (Mark proposed at a curtain call of a Midsummer Night’s Dream, so we used pages from that script), ribbon roses, both sheer and satin and some fake flowers from Michaels. We worked so hard on those and I felt they looked amazing. It was a lot of work, including a year of collecting milk glass vases and vintage books, making tons and tons of paper flowers for the bouts and bouquets, working tirelessly on a template to design our Playbill programs and at the end of the day, just crossing my fingers that what I was seeing in my head was what I would see on the day.

And then the day came…and it was WONDERFUL. We didn’t tell the guests we were getting married in the theater, so when they came into the museum, they were ushered there so it was a total surprise. We then gave them time after the ceremony to roam the museum and see the various exhibits going on there. We wanted them to enjoy the whole place, not just the event of our wedding. We added a few personal touches. We had choreographed our own first dance and performed that, we wrote our vows, we put Shakespearean quotes that we loved on each of the tables instead of table numbers, my father made our Ketubah (marriage contract in Jewish weddings) and the top of our cake was my grandparent’s cake topper from their wedding. They have both passed, so it was a great way to honor their memory. We wanted the day to be casual, fun and personal. I think weddings are the most wonderful days for the couple in the whole wide world, but make sure you have the wedding YOU want to have. It’s hard during planning to remember that, but if you stay true to yourself, you will feel so fulfilled and your wedding day will be everything you dreamed it would be.

Wedding Photography: Courtney Dudley Photography / Centerpieces: AW Flowers / Hair: In Style Down the Aisle / Make-up: Gina Brozon Makeup Artist / Day-of Coordination: Cindy Marotta of All About You Events / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Morris Museum / Wedding Invitations: DIY from Michaels / Bride’s Shoes: Dana Davis Collection via Ideeli / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale + Watters / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew / Groomsmen Attire: Express / Paper Bouquets: Jinni Pike of Caged Bird Things

Okay all you New Jersey area brides – I’ve got good news. I have found heaven on earth. Or the Garden of Eden. Or something completely different, but equally as amazing, gorgeous, and breathtaking – and it’s in the Garden State. This gorgeous love-filled soiree takes place at my new favorite place, Grounds for Sculpture. And on top of that, it is filled to the perfect brim with absolute jealousy-inducing details. And a couple who could give you a toothache. Captured by the utter talent that is mk Photography, this affair is an instant favorite. To see what I mean, visit the gallery here.

Manny and Tara met while working at Bloomingdale’s in NYC. They had worked together for over a year but it was never more than a friendly hello. Then one day a mutual friend asked them to go to her wedding. Neither one of us had a date, so she said you don’t live far from each other just go together. So Manny and Tara went to the wedding and had an amazing time. That night they made plans for a date the following week.

Manny and Tara had gone through their share of ups and downs. Manny was promoted to a Senior position at Bloomingdale’s and moved to Orlando while Tara stayed in New Jersey. They spent every few weeks trying to see each other for nine months. Then one day when Tara was visiting Manny in Florida he was offered another promotion in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Manny came and told Tara and asked her if he should take it, and if she wanted to go? Tara always loved the area around Washington DC, and her roommate had just gotten engaged and was moving out. So she figured why not, I have to move anyway — so that’s what she did. Tara followed Manny down to Alexandria.

After five years together Manny popped the question on the Fourth of July while watching the fireworks at the Chart House in Alexandria, Virginia, since that was the first place they shared a home.

It took Manny and Tara five months to find a venue for the wedding. Tara’s worst fear was to have a typical wedding, she wanted it to feel different and special. Tara’s Mom and Dad took Manny and Tara there as an engagement celebration, and Tara knew this was it! The ceremony took place on the Grounds for Sculpture at the nine muses, cocktails and dinner followed at Rat’s restaurant. It could not have been more perfect.

Venue: Rat’s Restaurant at Grounds for Sculpture / Cake: Design Cakes / Flowers: Dee’s Flowers and Gifts / Hair & Makeup: Valina Salon and Spa / Photography: mk Photography

I’m a total sucker for a DIY backyard wedding and this one has so much personality and spunk that I know you’ll fall in love with it just as fast as I did. This truly was a family affair and everyone (even the family dog) pitched in to make sure this couple’s day was a unique reflection of their love for one another. The bride cross-stitched all the signs and made the napkins, her brother in-law hand drew the invitations, and her mom did all the gorgeous flower displays that included ranunculus, tulips, pussy willows, and billy balls. Talk about a talented family! Lassara Photography was on hand to capture all the amazing details and as always, there’s so much more in the gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We knew we wanted a wedding that was colorful, intimate, and reflected the things we love without having too much of a defined theme. We also knew that we are lucky to have totally creative friends and family, so creating this event was definitely going be a group effort.

My husband is a professional film blogger and so we framed photos of classic Hollywood couples to identify individual tables and our reception featured a popcorn machine.  Our dog, Oscar, was an integral part of the day — he was on the hand-drawn invitations created by my husband’s brother and on the stamps of our postcard-sized RSVPs, which were written in MadLib style.  My brother-in-law also drew the icons used on 1″ buttons, distributed as favors to our guests.  I took it upon myself to cross-stitch various signs and made the napkins, into which we rolled utensils and tied off with a kraft paper name tag.  Music was all run via iPod and it took us months to curate an 8-hour “greatest hits” playlist.  One of our best friends acted as our officiant and was ordained for the occasion.  My mother is a florist by trade and her shop did all the flowers, incorporating my favorite ranunculus, tulips, pussy willows, and billy balls.  We incorporated twine, raffia, and other natural materials throughout the decor — our ceremony arch was hand-built from twigs and we used freshly-cut logs (cut down by my stepfather) as cake stands and to display centerpieces.

As we’re both big fans of Mexican food, we had a make-your-own-taco bar and three separate wedding cakes, one of which was completely vegan.  All cake flavors were conceptualized by me and baked by a friend of my mother’s.  Another friend made a large paper-maiche pig for our guest “book” note cards. (My husband is known affectionately to his friends as Porkchop.) Finally, family friends were gracious enough to allow us to use their beautiful backyard for the event and though it rained lightly as the ceremony took place, it cleared up for the reception and we were able to dance the night away without umbrellas.

All in all, it was the best day of our lives!  We’re so happy that our friends and family were there to join in the fun.

Wedding Photography: Lassara Photography / Floral Design: Flowers By Addalia / Venue: Private Residence / Invitations: Brandon Campbell (brother of the groom) / Menus + Programs: Vistaprint / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet via Kleinfeld Bridal / Veil: velvet owl / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Bridesmaids Dresses: H&M + Zara / Ties: Express / Hair + Make-up: Appearance Workshop / Catering: Surf Taco / Buttons: Busy Beaver Button Company / Cake Toppers: ReadyGo + BlossomHill / Cupcake Flags: Belletristics / Guest Book Cards: Eden Wedding Studio / Props on a Stick: MaroDesigns / Event Design + Planning:  The Bride + Mother of the Bride