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Alexandra Grecco + A Discount + A Giveaway!

There’s a special place in my heart reserved for Alexandra Grecco’s fabulous tulle skirts. Why? They’re sassy + stunning, totally wearable for every occasion and have an extra dose of gorgeous sprinkled into every.last.layer. In other words, they’re the perfect addition to any e-session, going away brunch or holiday party. Prepare to be amazed, loves… these are the definition of awesome.

Based in the ever-fabulous Brooklyn, NY, each Alexandra Grecco masterpiece is available in an array of sizes + lengths and features a stunning silk waistband that provides that extra dose of pretty. Not to mention the insanely gorgeous color options. I’m talking soft, romantic shades like ivory, dusty blue and seafoam and a seriously sophisticated champagne hue that is the perfect complement to every party on your agenda. Which means that whether you’re heading downtown to meet your besties for coffee, brunching it up with the one you love or partying the night away, Alexandra Grecco has six layers of beautiful tulle just waiting to take your breath away.

Can’t wait to dance the holiday season away in a dazzling Alexandra Grecco tulle skirt? Click here for more info, and be sure to check out the Lace Elliot Top in ivory, pale gray, nude or black for pairing with your skirt, dress or even denim.

Promotion

SMP readers will receive 20% off their order with the code “stylemepretty15″… and that includes already reduced items!

the-giveaway

What: Alexandra Grecco is giving away a stunning tulle skirt in any size or color offered to one lucky SMP reader! (Value $188)

How: Simply leave a comment below telling us where you plan to wear your lovely Alexandra Grecco skirt!

Who: One winner, chosen completely at random, will be announced right here on SMP on Friday, December 4, 2015. For terms and conditions, click here. Good luck, lovelies! xo

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Photography: Elizabeth Messina | Hair: Brittany Romney | Makeup: Mandy Bisesti

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Elegant + Vintage Parisian Wedding in Brooklyn

Some celebrations are so out-of-this-world elegant we kinda lose our chill. Take this darling duo and their 8 month post ceremony party at the Brooklyn Winery. Radiating beauty and old world glamour, we simply can’t get enough of this gallery goodness. It’s the type of love story that we’re beyond grateful to share, and thanks to Bia Sampaio it’s all waiting for you in THE VAULT!

From Bia Sampaio… Alyssa and Nic had a small and private courthouse wedding 8 months before they threw their gorgeous and vintage Parisian-inspired Reception Party. With only eight months to plan, they made a list of what was important to them: family and friends, good food, open bar, and great music. They accomplished that and much more.

From The Bride…We wanted to throw the kind of party we would want to go to, and we did exactly that. We live in Brooklyn, so we wanted to make sure everything took place in that borough to make it easier on not only us, but family who came in from out of town I knew I wanted a vintage-Parisian-vibe (deciding on the band early on helped focus that direction), and I knew I wanted to keep things simple. We’re both introverts, and it felt strange to be the center of attention to begin with, so we didn’t want to do the traditional moments typical at weddings. We quickly realized that, since this was our party, we didn’t have to do anything we didn’t want to!

Red is my favorite color (and Nic’s!) so I knew I wanted deep red incorporated into the event design. It was the wonderful team at Faye + Renee who suggested including some pale pinks to lighten everything up, and I’m so glad we did!

Brooklyn Winery already has a fantastic vintage/rustic feel, and I wanted to build on that with the rest of the design. I work in book publishing, so early on in the planning, I began collecting vintage French books in deep reds (all purchased through etsy.com). The books were used on the tables, and, in keeping with the theme, I also found a wonderful old set of wooden library card catalog drawers from the 1920s that we used as our card box. My original vision was based on the Woody Allen film, “Midnight in Paris”: Paris in the ‘20s with the “found” vibe of bohemian and vintage glamour. Brooklyn Winery’s dishes are all mismatched floral china found at antique shops, which perfectly matched my vision of “found” rustic.

In addition to the vintage French books I also found a lovely blue French sugar (“sucre”) tin that we used to hold pens for our guestbook. The guestbook itself was actually Paris in Love by Nichole Robertson: a photography book filled with photos of Paris all in reds. I also wanted to include portraits of my parents and Nic’s parents on their wedding day at the welcome table. This was important for me because my parents’ wedding anniversary was also August 9th, so I wanted to acknowledge that special occasion. Also, Nic’s father passed away about two years ago, and I wanted his presence represented at the party.

My dress was something I had been thinking about for a long time. I wanted something unexpected and completely unique. I knew I didn’t want to look Bridal. I wanted to be comfortable, and I wanted my dress to match the feel of the party: vintage and French. I found this one at Veka Bridal. They specialize in more alternative-looking wedding gowns. I wanted: blue, vintage-design, no train, comfortable, bateau neckline, and something just completely different from any other wedding dress I’d ever seen. At the reception, many guests actually asked me if my dress was vintage!

The band, The Avalon Jazz Band, was the highlight of the entire party. They really set the tone playing old standards and French jazz songs. I wanted to have a “first dance” with Nic (the only wedding tradition we did), and chose La Vie en rose because it’s such a romantic classic.

The ring was custom-designed by Anna Sheffield with a gorgeous 1.2 carat diamond is from Nic’s mom’s engagement ring.

Every cliché piece of advice you’ve heard is true: don’t sweat the small stuff, relax and enjoy yourself, and remember what you’re really celebrating! Brooklyn Winery provided a day-of wedding coordinator, and that really helped me relax on the day because I didn’t have to worry about being our vendors’ only contact point. So, if you can, having a day-of coordinator is a big stress reliever. But if there’s one thing I would remind brides-to-be, it’s that as long as you’re reasonably organized, things will work out. Throw the kind of party you would want to attend.

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See even more Brooklyn Winery weddings in THE VAULT!

Photography: Sampaio/Walz Photography | Wedding Dress: Veka Bridal Couture | Invitations: Minted | Bride's Shoes: Chanel | Bracelet: Anthropologie | Catering: Brooklyn Winery | Makeup: Vinnetta Scrivo | Hair: Matt King At Fox And Jane Salon | Band: Avalon Jazz Band | Favors: Laduree | Groom's Attire: Armani | Venue: Brooklyn Winery | Bride's Clutch: Kate Spade | Bride's Ring: Anna Sheffield Bridal | Earrings: Kate Spade | Floral Design And Event Designer: Faye and Renee Floral and Event Design | Seat Cushions: Party Rental Ltd.

Stylish Brooklyn Wedding at the Prospect Boathouse

Elegant and timeless yet filled with personality, this Prospect Park Boathouse wedding captured by CLY BY MATTHEW is the kind we can’t get enough of here at SMP. It’s a wedding where, by the time you’ve scrolled through all the gorgeous images, you feel like you really know this couple, and you want to be their best friend. It’s filled with style and love, and it’s all waiting for you here.

From The Bride…When planning my wedding there were two non-negotiables: It had to be outdoors and there had to be dancing. I was partial to the Prospect Park Boathouse before I even saw it, because it was one of the few venues where it was possible to have a dance floor outdoors. When I saw the beautiful historic building, I began to draw inspiration for the wedding style. The pond, the bridge, big outdoor lamp posts, barrel vaulted ceiling prompted me to think of a 1920s French-style theme (think the Midnight in Paris movie), with a cellist and violinist, pale pink flowers, mercury candles and bridesmaid dresses with a little bit of a sheen. I chose my dress because it’s today’s version of the ballerina dress that has been around since the 15th century. I accessorized the dress with my grandmother’s pearl earring and necklace set. For his suit, Brian went all modern with inspiration from Tom Ford (big lapels, big bowtie) and sunglasses designed by one of his friends.

Honoring my Persian/Iranian heritage was important as well as Brian’s, so we chose to set up a sofreh aghd (a traditional table set for ceremonies in Iran) and have a rector from Brian’s K-8 school (St. Richard’s Episcopal School) officiate the ceremony. DJ McElfresh – one of Brian’s favorite DJ’s from Indiana – spun at the wedding.

We placed photos from our families on the card table, and one was a photo of my dad when he was six years old, surrounded by my great aunts, uncles and grandfather.

The result was a designs and relics from a lot of different eras and places, but if I had to pick a theme, it would be if someone time traveled back to the 1920s, became inspired by architecture, made a stop in Hamadan 1940s to pick up a photo and some jewelry, and came into the modern times.

Photography: CLY BY MATTHEW | Floral Design: Quatre Coeur | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Invitations: Lion in the Sun | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Alfred Sung | Catering: Movable Feast | Makeup: Vensette | Hair: Varin Salon | DJ: Jay McElfresh | Groom's Attire: Martin Greenfield | Venue: Prospect Park Boathouse | Bridesmaids' Gifts: Alexis Bittar | Getting Ready Location: Wythe Hotel | Groom & Groomsmen Sunglasses: Dom Vetro | Photo Booth: Cly Booth

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Chic 1970’s Themed Wedding Inspiration

I probably should share a little disclaimer: I DIE for floppy hats. I’m obsessed; they instantly up your chic factor in seconds. It’s no surprise then that I fall for any 1970’s style inspiration, so this shoot by Alicia Swedenborg is right my alley, with bold makeup by Facetime Beauty Concierge and on point pieces from Two Of A Kind Rentals. Enjoy this fabulous #throwbackthursday treat right this way!

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From Two Of A Kind Rentals… We chose Weylin B. Seymour’s as the backdrop for this energetic 1970’s styled shoot because of its built-in charm. A venue the New York Times calls “as sumptuous as a jewel box suspended 110 feet over the mosaic marble floor, the great dome inspires awe.” We agree!

The color palette and design details seen throughout the shoot are inspired by the 1970’s era and include beautiful golden tones (such as yellow, orange and gold), cascading florals, bold makeup, daring necklines, floppy hats and more!

Thanks to Alicia Swedenborg for capturing all of the beautiful photos from this styled shoot!

Our bride wore two gowns for her big day, both provided by Kleinfeld Bridal. The first ivory gown was a plunging neckline stunner including a bow placed at the bride’s waist. It matched the bride’s white floppy white hat she wore outside the venue. The second gown was a beaded, long sleeve gown in ivory with a light tulle bodice. Both gowns reminded us of true “1970’s glamour” and made our bride truly shine.

The groom was outfitted in Zara pants and a Burberry suit jacket paired with a custom pair of Lareymondie shoes, a delicate yellow boutonnière and vintage bowtie. Our friends at Face Time Beauty gave our bride a timeless smokey eye and soft pink lips as well as a soft up-do to feature her hair accessories.

Beautifully on-trend florals were provided by L’Atelier Rouge. Their designs included an ornate canopy of mixed blooms (incorporating daisies!) in Two of a Kind’s Prescot Urns for the bride and groom to share their vows underneath. Seating was provided by Two of a Kind rentals including their popular Iron Garden Folding Chair and Tufted Ottomans. We wanted to highlight mix-and-match ceremony seating since it’s our favorite way to add a creative touch to ceremony seating.

Other L’Atelier Rouge florals seen throughout this shoot include the bride’s bouquet (two of them!) featuring yellow, orange and green pops of color in cascading designs as well as the grooms boutonnière and a centerpiece for the dessert table.

Our dessert display, placed inside the venue’s bank vault, sat against ornate orange wallpaper with yellow and blue detailing. Two of a Kind’s 26″ tall Gold Candelabras and 15″ Gold Candelabras were arranged on the table beside the bride and groom’s tiered cake. We love the gilded accents on the cake, provided by Made In Heaven Cakes. All items sat nicely on Two of a Kind’s Metal Pipe Table, commonly used for event dining.

Nestled in a separate room, a guest’s lounge area was created by a grouping of Two of a Kind Tufted Ottomans and Scalloped Side Tables.

For an updated take on the classic dinner menu, we had ours hand-scripted onto a large silver mirror (provided by Two of a Kind rentals) and scripted by the talented Virginia Lucas Hart. This created a gorgeous statement piece for the wedding guests to view.

Invitations were designed and created by Fourteen-Forty which included a palm details with orange and yellow accents. This invitation set truly embraced the 1970’s theme for the day!

Photography: Alicia Swedenborg | Floral Design: L'Atelier Rouge | Wedding Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal | Cake: Made In Heaven Cakes | Invitations: Fourteen-Forty | Hair And Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Calligraphy: Virginia Lucas Hart | Venue: Weylin | Female Model: Jessica Goehner | Furniture & Decor Rentals: Two of a Kind | Groom's Pants: Zara | Groom's Shoes: Lareymondie | Groom's Suit Jacket: Burberry | Male Model: Ian Lowe | Table Manufacturer: David Flatt

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Romantic Sunrise Engagement on the Brooklyn Bridge

Inspired by infinitely fun late nights out that turn into pizza-at-sunrise kind of mornings, this romantic esesh from Loft Photography epitomizes young love in the City That Never Sleeps in the most magical way imaginable. From the Bride-to-be’s festive crop top to the Groom-to-be’s tux game on point, check out every last bit from this stylish duo’s shoot in The Vault right here!

From Loft PhotographyA 4:00am wake-up call minus coffee is well worth it when you get to experience sunrise on the Brooklyn Bridge documenting a charming couple’s love for each other! Ashley and Tim have a chemistry that’s contagious, and we think you’ll agree that their style is incredibly dapper! We had the best time strolling and dancing on the bridge as if we were the only ones on it (the cyclists may not have appreciated that). Tim’s tux game was spot on, and we adore Ashley’s pale blush skirt paired with her crop top. We’ll set the alarm for 4:00am any day for sessions like this one.

From The Bride…I wanted our engagement session to be classic, old New York. New York is the city that never sleeps, the mantra is almost as iconic as the Brooklyn Bridge itself and so for our session I wanted to incorporate the spirit of the city. Thinking back on nights where you dress to the nines for a formal event and have so much fun you end up at a late night diner or pizza place right before sunrise and decide to stay up just the extra hour to catch a glimpse. This shoot took us through a night out, first very buttoned up and formal and then eventually we get into party mode. Every black tie dance party inevitably ends up with Tim loosening his tie, losing his jacket and I take my shoes off as soon as possible! Looking at the pictures, they are perfect…it reminds me of New York and being young and carefree and in love. It reminds me of how lucky we are to have each other and live in this bustling beautiful city.

Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Photography: Loft Photography LLC | Photography: Justin Tearney | Photography: Jennifer Kulakowski | Venue: Brooklyn Bridge Park | Black Heels: Steve Madden | Crop Top & Skirt: The Fifth Label | Film Processing: PhotoVision Prints | Necklace & Bracelet: J.Crew

Romantic Summer Wedding at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

This wedding just jumped to the top of my favorites list and while the florals are beautiful and the bridesmaid dresses beyond gorgeous, what really grabbed my attention and has yet to let go, are the abundance of amazing moments. Emotions are pouring out of every one of Nicki Sebastian and Quyn Duong’s pics and I feel like I not only know this cute couple, but that I’m one of these best friends. There is so much genuine joy and if I could, I’d join in every single one of these hugs. See it all right this way!

From Nicki Sebastian… To put it simply, Andrea and Dan’s Brooklyn Botanic Garden wedding transcended words. The two were married at the very same place where Dan proposed, and every last detail—venue included—was infused with meaning. The gardens were the ideal backdrop for this elegant, floral-inspired affair, and the soft neutral color scheme was the perfect complement to the surrounding blooms and lush expanses of the grounds.

After an emotional outdoor ceremony, guests enjoyed summery cocktails, unseasonably mild temperatures, and a stunning golden hour around the Garden’s Lily Pool Terrace, followed by a delicious dinner under the stars and a dance party for the ages in the glass-walled Palm House. The wedding itself was indeed a joining of two incredible families, but it certainly felt as though everyone had known each other for decades—never have I experienced so much unabashed love, joy, and true connection in one event.

I absolutely cannot wait to see what adventure lies ahead for these two, and I’m endlessly grateful that I was able to document the indescribable day that kicked off Andrea and Dan’s next chapter!

Photography: Jennifer Kulakowski | Photography: Justin Tearney | Photography: Michael And Carina Photography | Photography: Nicki Sebastian | Cinematography: Robert Allen Of BKWV | Coordination: Whimsy Weddings | Floral Design: Whole Foods Market | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Jewelry: Alexis Bittar | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Catering: Cafe Pinot | Hair and Makeup: Dvir Salon | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Officiant: Jeddah Vailakis, NYC Wedding Officiant | Venue: Brooklyn Botanic Garden | Brides' Dress Alterations and Restoration: The Wedding Dresser NYC | Invitation Printing: Boxcar Press | Matches And Napkins: For Your Party | Music: 747 Orchestra | Photography - Assistance: Quyn Duong | Programs: Minted

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Vintage Inspired Brooklyn Wedding at 501 Union

Take a crazy cool locale like 501 Union and add in a fab team of vendors (I’m looking at you, READYLUCK), plus a stunning duo that knows a thing or two about saying “I do” in style and the results are this: a vintage-inspired Brooklyn affair almost too pretty to believe.  Think awe-inspiring captures + fall-hued everything.  Head to The Vault for every ounce of pretty.

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From The Bride…We had a tall order for our fall wedding: throw an amazing party with a chic, early 20th century vibe to match our Brooklyn venue, 501 Union, while incorporating elements of a British groom, Nebraskan bride, our New York City life, and a love for all things trivia. And we definitely didn’t want traditional.

We had a lot of help pulling our wedding together! We were so lucky to have talented friends, parents, and amazing vendors around us. The design was mostly black and gold, and with the help of our incredible florist, Alexandra Abruza, we added lush tropical palms, pops of fuchsia, and a variety of ferns in antique bottles. She wrapped my grandmother’s 1930s beaded bridal headpiece around the stems of my bouquet, which made my grandmother’s eyes light up when she saw it. We couldn’t have pulled the night off (or the months leading up to it) without the help of our wedding planner, Melissa McNeeley, who lined the aisle with vintage Persian runners, and designed unique, vintage-inspired spaces throughout the venue to create different atmospheres (and photo ops!) for our guests.

I wore the “Lenox” dress by Amsale, and I kind of wish I could wear it every day. Styles on B did incredible hair, with gorgeous makeup by Anni Bruno at NYC Faces. (One of my bridesmaids even kept the same hair and makeup for brunch the next morning… seriously impressive.)

We were really focused on personalizing the night for our guests as much as possible. Drink stirrers in our signature cocktail contained fun facts about our families and wedding parties (we had the best time writing those), and we used trivia and inside jokes with our guests as an inspiration for the table names. Each guest received an escort card with a question – the answer to which was their dinner table placement. Custom-cut table names (such as “Bruce Springsteen,” “West Village,” “Phil Collins,” and others), had meaning to the people seated at each table. Melissa and her team designed these elements beautifully, and they topped the tables with vintage playing cards in reference to my husband’s love of poker.

People raved about the dinner catered by Betty Brooklyn, and I’ve never seen such amazing catering staff. I’m dying to eat the top of the cake provided by Nine Cakes that we’ve been saving in our freezer for our one-year anniversary. Yes, I am proud of myself for not having eaten it yet.

But what really made the wedding was the people! Thanks to our super talented photographer, Eddie Winter from Readyluck, so many personalities, hilarious moments, and friendships were captured in the most beautiful pictures. He really knows how to capture a moment and the feeling of it, and we adore our photos. Our DJ, Justin Carter, aka Mr. Saturday Night, had people dancing all night, and people are still talking about how great the music was. In a homage to my husband’s Australian parents, we topped off the night with a food truck serving Australian hand-held pies to the guests. It was an amazing night!

Photography: Readyluck | Event Planning: Events By Melissa McNeeley | Floral Design: Alexandra Abuza | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Cake: Nine Cakes | Invitations: Ashley Page Norton | Catering: Betty Brooklyn Catering Co. | Makeup: NYC Faces | Hair: Styles On B | DJ: Mister Saturday Sound | Band: The Lowdown Stoppers | Venue: 501 Union | Painter: Mike Rohner | Rentals: Patina

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Romantic Brooklyn Engagement Session

These two traveling hearts have stolen mine for the afternoon. Fresh off of a Maldives proposal and making the trek all the way from their home in Hong Kong, these two lovebirds landed on New York for their love sesh with Judy Pak Photography—a locale where they went to school and created an abundance of memories together. See all of the hand holding and sunset snuggles over here in The Vault.

From Judy Pak PhotographyAngelina and Howard are travelers at heart. Since they had fond memories of school and work in New York, they wanted to incorporate their love for the city in their pictures. They traveled all way from Hong Kong to take their engagement photos in New York following Howard’s proposal in the Maldives, one of their favourite vacation spots. They will celebrate their destination wedding in Jeju island this September.

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Venue: Brooklyn

Romantic NYC Elopement

You know what I’ve realized? Just how small the world actually is. Like, when you meet someone in the Big Apple who just so happens to live in the exact same Russian city as you. Take these two, who did exactly that, fell madly in love and eloped in NYC, the city that stole their hearts. Complete with monumental moments and a carrousel ride, it’s a tale of two from the lens of Cynthia Chung Weddings and you can see it all in The Vault!

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From Cynthia Chung WeddingsHad the lovely opportunity to photograph this beautiful couple, Kira and Mikhail. They met in NYC but were both from the same city in Russia! After living in Brooklyn for a few years, they both decided to move back to their home country of Russia after they get married. Their plan was to spend their honeymoon traveling across the United States and then finish up their honeymoon in Russia. Kira worked as a gallery manager, so NYC, fashion and art was a huge part of her life. She wanted to capture the liveliness of NYC forever. With Kira’s custom hand-painted high heels, we began the day in Soho, photographing throughout the streets, went to DUMBO, rode on Jane’s carousel and finished up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for their reception at Acqua Santa. It was a beautiful day!

Photography: Cynthia Chung Photography | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Venue: Acqua Santa | Carousel: Jane's Carousel | Hair & Make Up: Mount Tabor Park

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Garden Chic Brooklyn Winery Spring Wedding

This neighborhood fête from the lens of Rima Brindamour is celebration of local loveliness. For when these reconnected childhood sweethearts married on their 7 year anniversary (!!) the Brooklyn Winery proved to be the perfect place. Striking a balance of spring florals and industrial beauty, every detail is downright delicious (including their menu options) and you can see it all in the gallery.

From the beautiful Bride… Alex and I met on vacation with our families in Bermuda when I was 9 and he was 12. We didn’t see each other for nearly 12 years when we reconnected at a family function in 2008. We immediately hit it off, dated long distance for a year until he moved to New York, and then moved in together a few months after I graduated from college. In September 2013, Alex proposed during a trip to Europe, in front of the Eiffel Tower where we enjoyed a surprise picnic with our friends. Upon our return from Europe, we started planning the wedding, hoping to be married the following September in Westchester.

When our original venue fell through in January 2014, we were sent back to the drawing boards. Our thoughts immediately fell on the Brooklyn Winery, which we’ve lived next to for the past 4 years. It’s been a part of our story, as we shared a glass of wine there when we signed our lease on our current apartment, we frequent the wine bar on a regular basis, and we always admire the beauty and uniqueness of their weddings every time we walk by. We set up a meeting as soon as we could and booked the venue for May 30, 2015, which also happens to be our 7 year anniversary. We could not wait to bring our friends and family from near and far to experience our corner of the world for a weekend to celebrate our nuptials. It also didn’t hurt living half a block away from the venue, on top of having a year and a half to plan the wedding.

We wanted to strike a certain balance between a spring, floral themed wedding with the industrial beauty of the venue, and I think we did a wonderful job. We tried to maintain a springy, natural palette of peachy pinks and neutrals with bright floral greens. Since we weren’t having an outdoor wedding like we originally wanted, we tried to bring the outdoors inside by having lots of flowers and succulents to give a romantic, rustic, “garden-party” feeling to the venue. By sprinkling votives and hurricanes throughout the venue, we perfectly achieved that look, especially in the atrium, where the glass roof makes it feel like you’re underneath the stars. The venue itself is so beautiful that we didn’t need to go overboard with the decor, but it provides a great canvas to make it what you want it to be.

It was really important for us to choose vendors who were either friends/family or locally based, as we really wanted the wedding to be a celebration of us, our neighborhood, and our favorite things. One of our favorite vendors was our stationer, Swiss Cottage Designs, located in Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn. I cannot sing enough praise for these ladies! Courtney and her team perfectly captured the look we were going for and created some of the most unique and beautiful invitations we’ve ever seen!

Choosing our photographer was also a very important task for us. We looked through blog posts of Brooklyn Winery weddings and found a few photographers who had shot multiple weddings at the Winery. After meeting Rima Brindamour, we immediately felt a connection with her and knew that she would be the perfect fit for the style we were looking for. She impressed us with her knowledge of the Winery (ie. lighting, angles, etc), as well as the options she offered for albums, photo booth, etc. We had so much fun during our engagement shoot, and when the wedding day finally rolled around she was so organized and professional, giving direction when she needed but also remaining invisible enough that we didn’t notice her perfectly capturing the beautiful candid shots that are her specialty. We are beyond happy with how everything turned out and are in love with the album she so beautifully put together for us. I would recommend Rima to any couple getting married in the Tri-State area, especially those whose venue is the Brooklyn Winery!

Some vendors we knew personally were our DJ, JusB, a friend and former co-worker of Alex’s; my uncle, David Clason at Betteridge in Vail, Colorado, who designed and made my engagement ring and our wedding bands; our florist, Maureen Lanning at Bedford Village Florist in Westchester, a long time friend and colleague of my aunt, who did an absolutely amazing job and is a true artist in her craft; and Alex’s client, Anna Kim, who served as our Day of Coordinator. We also found our officiant by posting on Facebook that we were looking for someone who could legally marry us in NYC. Our friend, Kristen Mooney, happened to be getting her NYC officiant license and offered to help us. It was so nice working with someone we knew to come up with the perfect ceremony (including a symbolic wine ceremony, which was a nod to where we first reconnected at Alex’s family’s vineyard in New Jersey, and our venue). To keep it local, we ordered our cake from Momofuku Milk Bar in Williamsburg, and crafted our place card holders out of succulents purchased from Sprout Home, also in Williamsburg. Our welcome bags that we gave to guests staying at Le Jolie and the Wythe include local treats such as McClure’s pickle flavored potato chips and cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar.

We didn’t go overboard with the DIYing, but we loved how everything we did turned out. I work at an advertising agency and one of our producers had a bistro chalkboard left over from a shoot, much like the one that Brooklyn Winery places outside during their weddings with the couple’s names written in chalk on it. I knew it would fit in perfectly with the rustic chalkboard theme of the venue, so I took it home and used it to list our seating arrangements. Also, with the help of one of our amazing groomsmen, we spent the day before the wedding potting miniature succulents in adorable silver buckets to serve as our place cards, decor for the table, and favors.

One of my favorite parts of the wedding was the dress! I had my eye on the Reem Acra beauty since before we got engaged. My aunt and I went to Bergdorf’s one afternoon to see if we could score a same-day appointment. The woman at the front desk kindly told us we would have to come back another day, but when I spotted my dream dress hanging out front, she was so nice and fit us in for a super quick appointment. We were in and out of there in 45 minutes – I think I set some world records! Somehow I knew that the cap sleeves and twisted bodice would suit my body type perfectly, and as soon as I tried it on, I knew I had found my dress. Joan at Bergdorf’s couldn’t have been nicer, and I would highly recommend any of their saleswomen to assist with finding your dream dress!

I felt very strongly about my bridesmaids choosing dresses that made them feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. We tried on some great dresses but realized that they just wouldn’t work for everyone’s body types, and I wanted to avoid having one or two girls feel uncomfortable in the dress we chose. I ended up giving them a color scheme, a very loose theme and a Pinterest page to give them some guidance. In the end, I was so pleasantly surprised by how beautiful everyone looked both individually and as a group. Even though the dresses did not perfectly match, the hair, makeup and accessories brought everything together perfectly to create a cohesive look. I still can’t get over how gorgeous and glowing they were!

We held our rehearsal dinner at the Wythe Hotel, where we also stayed in the North 8th loft (we live on North 8th Street, so found it quite fitting). The loft has a beautiful private terrace, where we had a quick rehearsal with our family and bridal party before heading down to the private dining room in the cellar of the hotel. Reynard, the hotel’s restaurant, created an absolutely spectacular family style meal that set the tone for the weekend. Following the dinner, we headed over to Nita Nita, just a few blocks from the Wythe, where we enjoyed after dinner cocktails with family, our bridal party, and out of town guests. The following morning, the bridal party showed up bright and early to the Wythe where we relaxed and were pampered by our amazingly talented hair and makeup team, consisting of our hairstylist, Henry de la Paz (also a friend), and our makeup artist, Shai, who has become a friend in the process and just launched her own makeup line, Josephine Cosmetics! Alex and his groomsmen got ready at our apartment, enjoying Best Pizza (if you live in Williamsburg, you know it’s the best) and local Brooklyn Brewery beers.

Following our first look photos, taken in the courtyard of the Wythe, the bridal party ordered Uber SUV’s (because who needs rented limos anymore when you have them at the click of a button?) that took us over to the Brooklyn Winery. Prior to the ceremony, in between taking photos with the bridal party and family, we relaxed in the bride and groom’s suites as the guests trickled in. The Winery really has perfected the flow of their weddings – some of the compliments we heard the most from guests were that they were never without a drink (they offered glasses of sparkling wine as they entered the ceremony) and they never stood around wondering what was going to happen next. Immediately following the ceremony, we were swooped up to the parlor where the staff brought us sparkling wine and a sampling of all of our hors d’oeuvres. We then mingled with the guests for cocktail hour, and they brought us into the atrium to see the dinner set up before any of the guests. This was really a special moment for us as it looked so much better than we could have ever dreamt!

One of the reasons we chose Brooklyn Winery was for the delicious food. I can’t sing enough praises for their food! We tried to play with the stereotypical chicken and steak often served at weddings and chose buttermilk fried chicken and leg of lamb. Our guests were floored by how delicious everything was. Following dinner, we gave a quick toast, cut the cake, and headed to the dance floor for our first dance, “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green (we saw him live at BB King’s a few years back, so this song has always been special to us). We danced our booties off (so much so that the cap sleeve of my gown ripped and I ran to my apartment to change into my after party dress early!) Following the reception, we walked down the block to Roebling Sporting Club, where we had an open bar and munchies like sliders and fries for our guests. We ended up heading to a friend’s rooftop a few blocks away for a surprise after-after-party, where they had a full DJ setup that kept us dancing until the wee hours of the morning! The following day, we checked out of the Wythe, had brunch at Rye with our siblings and best man, and headed to the airport to jet off to Hawaii for our honeymoon.

You probably can’t tell from the pictures, but I was sick with bronchitis throughout the entire weekend! With a little help from our friend who is a doctor, and so much love from all of our friends and families, we were able to overlook this slight inconvenience and have the absolute best weekend of our lives! The best part about getting married in our neighborhood is that every time we walk around Williamsburg and past our venues, it brings back all of the best memories and puts a huge smile on our faces.

Photography: Brindamour Photography | Floral Design: Bedford Village Florist | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Invitations: Swiss Cottage Designs | Bride's Shoes: Something Bleu | Makeup: Sholayide Otugalu | Hair: Henry De La Paz | DJ: JusB | Grooms Attire: J.Crew | Groomsmen's Attire: J.Crew | Hotel: Wythe Hotel | Wedding Venue: Brooklyn Winery | After Party: Roebling Sporting Club | After Party Dress: Alice And Olivia | Bride's Bracelet: Ben-Amun | Bride's Clutch: Whiting & Davis Bags | Cake Topper: Alexis Mattox | Day Of Stationary: Minted | Engagement Ring, Wedding Bands, Bride's Earrings: A E Betteridge Jewelers | Photobooth: Brindamour Booth | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Wythe Hotel | Succulents: Sprout Home | Welcome Drinks: Nita Nita

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Industrial Chic Brooklyn Food Truck Wedding

A Movable Feast sounds like the sort of fete I was made to attend. Add in the craft beer patio and tacos galore and it’s pretty much my version of paradise. But what I really love about this celebration is that this creative couple made their wedding 100% THEM. It was authentic and awesome. Katie Osgood captured it all and if these pics don’t give you party envy, I’m not sure what would. See it all this way!

From the Bride… Throwing a food truck wedding seems like the kind of event a couple would set out to deliberately host. You know – the kind of idea that had been brewing for some time, with photos pinned to a secret Pinterest board and specific food trucks already on deck. But for Dov and me, the idea was a solution – a really delicious one – to the planning problems many couples typically face.

When Dov and I sat down to plan, we considered food, alcohol and music the holy trinity of our reception – the trifecta that truly makes for a great party. We also learned within a hot second that these were among the most expensive elements of any wedding. So to keep our guest list at 200 people, we made some decisions early on: we would search for a venue where we could stock our own bar, we wouldn’t use a traditional caterer and we would find the most fun DJ NYC could offer.

We also had some stylistic preferences of our own. We wanted a wedding that was simple and informal. Dov grew up in Los Angeles, so we wanted our wedding to incorporate some of that casual elegance native to California. As a lifestyle editor who grew up in New York, I’ve seen just how elaborate and stunning weddings can become. But that level of grandeur just isn’t me (I skipped the veil and ditched the bouquet), and it certainly isn’t us. It was challenging to find vendors that had similarly restrained approaches, and it wasn’t until we decided to work with food trucks that we found some awesome collaborators.

Dov and I opted for a cocktail-style reception so guests would be up and about. We looked into some loft spaces but preferred a venue that shined on its own and only needed a few subtle, seasonal details. We came across a former foundry called The Green Building on a quiet street in Brooklyn and fell in love with its exposed brick, vintage charm and sky-high ceilings.

Since we weren’t using a traditional caterer, we had more freedom to serve the kind of food people love to eat – like grilled cheese, fish tacos and falafel. We thought about using some local Brooklyn restaurants to cater the food, but we wanted such a variety of options that no one restaurant made sense. We initially came across the concept of food trucks as something couples used as an extra element, like for dessert or as a late-night snack. But food trucks were our answer for the whole reception, allowing us to serve the kind of food we love to eat and cutting our food and alcohol budget by more than 60 percent.

We included a card in our wedding invitation informing guests that the reception would be “A Moveable Feast, featuring vegetarian fare from our favorite New York City food trucks.” We hired trucks that served four different types of grilled cheese and handmade sodas, Middle-Eastern cuisine, roasted local vegetables, fish tacos and customizable chipwiches for dessert. To top it all off, my mom made the wedding cake and additional pies, while the groom’s mom individually wrapped dozens of her homemade peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. And as a final detail, we served coffee and tea in to-go Anthora cups, as a final nod to New York City and the casual dining we love. The trucks were placed in the patio area of the venue, as well as on the street right outside. Guests were able to move from the patio to the reception room, and out to the street with ease.

For the bar, we chose our favorite top-shelf liquor combined with delicious wine, champagne and the craft beers we love. We set up a self-serve “craft beer garden” in the patio, so guests could help themselves to nine different types of beer — which included some local brews, ciders and seasonal ales — throughout the night.

And when it came to music, our friend Allyson Levine at Bob Gail Special Events recommended DJ James Mulry, who spins at the Wythe Hotel, for some great tunes. James was especially awesome on the big day – somehow incorporating my love for jazz and old standards with music that people actually want to get up and dance to. He also kept our wedding – both the ceremony and the reception – on schedule.

Planning a food truck wedding for 200 people was certainly a logistical nightmare at times – you basically quadruple the amount of vendors you’re dealing with, and how is one supposed to know how many fish tacos to order vs. falafels vs. pounds of roasted bokchoy?! But it’s pretty amazing to know that we designed every single element of our wedding ourselves, which seemed like the right way to kick off sharing a life together.

Photography: Katie Osgood Photography | Floral Design: Joseph Richard Florals | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | DJ: James Mulry | Officiant: Rabbi Richard Camras | Venue: The Green Building | Alcohol Vendor: Warehouse Wines & Spirits | Beer Vendor: DeCicco's in Armonk | Bridal Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Bride and MOB Hair Stylist: John Barrett Salon, Braid Bar | Chuppah: Gail Kogen (Groom's mom) | Cookies: Gail Kogen (Groom's Mom) | Food Truck: Morris Grilled Cheese | Food Truck: The Taco Truck | Food Truck: Toum | Groom's Stylist: Geronimo De Ocampo Desumala III | Groom's Tie and Pocket Square: Paul Stuart | Ice Cream Truck: Coolhaus | Invitation Calligraphy: Ashley Curry | Ketubah: Stephanie Caplan | Local Vegetable Station: Westville | Menu Cards & Programs: Bride & Groom | Paper Products Printer: B Squared | Photobooth: We Love Photobooths | Venue Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals | Wedding Cake & Pies: Marya Shapiro (Bride's Mom)

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Brooklyn Wedding at The Green Building

Inspired by their beautiful and vibrant backyard, Brooklyn, this couple and their talented team of vendors created a day I am absolutely sure their guests are still talking about today. With gorgeous design (and expert planning) by Jove Meyer Events, lovely florals from Rebecca Shepherd, a Momofuku Milk Bar, and Sasithon Photography – this stunner at The Green Building captured by Sasithon Photography is just everything. See it all here.


From The Bride…I grew up in New York and Marc grew up in the DC area. We have lived in Brooklyn for several years now, and really wanted to get married “in our backyard.” Roughly half of the guests would have to travel for our wedding, regardless of whether it was in DC or Brooklyn, so we decided to keep it local. Our focus from the beginning was to make sure the wedding didn’t feel overly stuffy. We didn’t want it to be just another formal affair. Looking back to other fun weddings we’ve been to, three things remain constant: great food, great music, and great people. So that’s what we focused on!

From the moment we walked into The Green Building we knew it was the perfect setting. We loved the vibe and feel of the building, and thought it really exemplified our borough. Jove Meyer Events was our wedding planner and he did an unbelievable job of helping us flesh out our vision. Not only did Jove help steer the design of the wedding, but he also coordinated all of the vendors and served as the day-of coordinator too. He was cool, calm, and collected throughout the entire process and we couldn’t have done it without him. Through Jove we were introduced to Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design and Patina. Rebecca was amazing and so easy to work with! We left much of the decision making up to both Rebecca and Jove, and they worked flawlessly together to create beautiful floral arrangements, tablescapes, the chuppah, and ceremony backdrop. Patina provided the Swag from The Color Condition, which we loved! It really brought a different feel to the room. For the food we went with Garces Catering, and this was actually their first NYC wedding. We got rave reviews all night long about the food and cocktail hour, and were so happy with the service we received. We were fortunate enough to have Sasithon Photography capture the day for us. We actually found her on Style Me Pretty! Sas is a truly remarkable person, both personally and professionally, and the quality of her work is exceptional. From the moment we met her we immediately clicked, and trusted her to take the creative lead from start to finish. She far exceeded our expectations.

Most of the design elements in the wedding as well as leading up to the wedding were inspired by our neighborhood and the venue. Once we settled on The Green Building, we found an amazing artist, Chase Kettl, to do our wedding invitations. We loved the laser engraved wooden invitations so much that it inspired several other details in the wedding such as the bar menu, table menus, table numbers, and place cards. Each individual guests’ first name was carved in wood and served as both the place card as well as the wedding favor. I didn’t want the bridesmaids to have another dress added to the “back of the closet” collection, so I gave them freedom to pick their own dress, so long as it was a shade of grey. To further the fun and casual tone of the wedding, we did away with suit rentals for the groomsmen, and simply provided them with the matching ties and suspenders.

Everyone says that something will go wrong on your wedding day and you just need to expect it and roll with the punches. Through the hard work of everyone involved in making our special day a reality, I can truly say that everything went off without a hitch. We couldn’t have been happier with how the evening turned out. One and a half years of planning was over in five and a half hours, and we loved every second of it!

Photography: Sasithon Photography | Floral Design: Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Invitations: Catarina Pelosi | Bride's Shoes: Prada | Catering: Garces Events | Makeup: Rachel Wood Makeup | Hair: Pamela Baumgartner | DJ: Scott Melker | Band: Veronica Jokel Music | Groom's Suit: Canali | Venue: The Green Building | Bride Engagement Ring: Victor Canera | Bride Wedding Ring: Memoire | Cake Topper: MrMunny | Chalkboard Art: Sharp Shooter Signs And Designs | Getting Ready Location: Wythe Hotel | Groom And Groomsmen Ties: Bonobos | Groom Wedding Ring: Tiffany & Co. | Groom's Shoes: Allen Edmonds | Groomsmen Suspenders: Handmade By Fine And Dandy (New York) | Pizza Truck: Pizza Luca | Seltzer Bottles: Brooklyn Seltzer Boys | Swag By The Color Condition: Patina | Wedding Planner / Designer: Jove Meyer Events

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Abby Capalbo

Design, Styling, Parties
Organic Modernist Garden Wedding in Brooklyn

I love some over-the-top glamorous “I Do’s,” but it’s intimate, eco-chic weddings like this that really hit home with a California girl like me. Captured by Mademoiselle Fiona, the pared-down essence of these organic “I Do’s” shone through personal details, like the handmade paper bag lanterns, as well as through undeniably fun elements (hello, gold piñata!). Take a peek through the gallery here to see it all!

From Bespoke OnlyAmy and Peter were the kind of clients that we simply hit it off from the very beginning. These two had a very clear vision of what they were hoping achieve – a celebration to highlight the notion of love and faith for one another. With the concept in mind, we designed an intimate gathering that celebrates a sense of community. Pared down to the essence, the feel was beautiful in a humble fashion through all the elements. We carefully curated the space with a styling approach that is organic and simple yet nothing short of whimsy.

Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg was the perfect spot for Amy and Peter. The mix of old and new mingle harmoniously in the space. The exposed timber beams and cast iron columns created a rustic warehouse backdrop while a sense of history grounds the design with reclaimed/restored materials and contribution from local artisans. Carrying a similar look, we brought in industrial style barn tables with steel frame and paired them with Tolix chair for an iconic urban bistro flair. An assortment of iron terrariums and bud vases made of recycled glass housed air plants, various of succulents, river rocks and fun tropical fruits such as Cucamelon while copper miniature garden insects, including butterfly and ladybug nestled in between to mimic the scene of a real garden. A grape vine based wreath was hung on the brick wall at the courtyard to frame the most intimate ceremony. The couple’s close friend played acoustic guitar when the bride was walking down the aisle. With the summer breeze, everything simply felt so natural and uncontrived. The majority of botanical elements were chosen with their longevity in mind and given away to the guests as favors at the end of night. It was a true green event with minimal waste. Amy and Peter proved a wedding needn’t to be lavish yet still captivating in every way.

A line of carved white paper lanterns that spell “Best Day Ever” were flickering in the breezy summer night at this Brooklyn hot spot. Another highlight of the night was the piñata, an ode to the bride’s fond childhood memory in hometown Austin. Because nothing says a fun party more than a gold piñata!

From The Bride…Peter and I wanted our wedding to be a representation of the two of us – personal and nothing over the top. We didn’t know what the final result would look like until day of the wedding but it was fun being part of the journey and getting to work the kindest group of people who made it happen!

Wythe Hotel was the first and only venue we visited. Once we stepped into the entrance, we knew immediately it was for us. We loved the space so much that we didn’t feel like it needed to be masked with heavy décor. The staff and coordinators were also extremely helpful and patient while assisting every detail of the wedding!

When we were in the search for our photographer, we knew we wanted someone with a well-edited eye, who could embrace the environment we would be in. When we came across Fiona’s website, we both couldn’t believe how beautiful her weddings were; each photo was thoughtfully composed yet felt so natural. Then we knew we had to work with someone who could magically put everything together. Upon recommendation, we met Melissa from Bespoke Only, who seemed to understand what we wanted right away. She grasped the overall fresh and light hearted atmosphere we described for the wedding; also adding her own details that made it so much more beautiful than what we imagined!

I saw the Dauphine gown on J. Crew’s website when we got engaged and knew it was what I had to wear. As it was three months before the wedding and the gown was still out of stock online, I sent an email to CEO Mickey Drexler and President Jenna Lyons, requesting the gown. The dress arrived two days later and I couldn’t be happier with all of it.

Growing up in Austin, every birthday party I attended had a piñata, it was such a fun and festive way for all the attendees to come together and celebrate. This was an unexpected detail for our guests and also bringing a piece of my childhood to such an important day! Confetti System created piñatas that were irresistible and modern, that we thought would be a fun décor for the ceremony space as well.

With all the components coming together, it was so special to celebrate a special moment with our families and friends who showered us with love and laughter. Peter and I keep on feeling like the luckiest Bride and Groom as we look back on our wedding. It was truly the best day ever created by Melissa and captured so beautifully by Fiona; and we would never change one bit!

Photography: Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography | Event Design: Bespoke Only | Bride's Shoes: J.Crew | Hair: Drybar | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Wedding Venue: Wythe Hotel | Bride's Dress: J.Crew | Pinatta: Confetti Systems | Rental: Broadway Party Rentals

#LOVEWINS For Modern Nautical Wedding at Liberty Warehouse

Today is a really great day my friends. With the Supreme Court ruling that same sex marriage is now legal in every single state in our country, our smiles and hearts are bigger than ever and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with one fabulous wedding between two adorable dads. Amy Shey Jacobs for Chandelier Events orchestrated the fabulous fete and Dave Robbins didn’t miss a beat. See all his pics in this gorgeous gallery – and cheers to kicking off the weekend on a really fantastic note.

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From Amy Shey Jacobs for Chandelier EventsJerry and Scott had been a duo for over 17 years. They have spent a lifetime together building their family: an amazing son Owen, their beautiful NJ home, their careers and an incredible circle of blended families and friends. When they were finally granted their chance to make their love official through marriage, they were ready for an all-out celebration!

Inspired by the beach – from New England spots like Ogunquit, Maine and the Jersey Shore where they share a summer home – Jerry and Scott wanted to bring their family and friends from near and far to the New York Harbor to celebrate in true nautical-meets-Brooklyn style. They enlisted Amy Shey Jacobs of Chandelier Events (who Jerry had known for many years) to bring their vision to life – she brought them to the piers of Red Hook, Brooklyn to Liberty Warehouse, a converted warehouse complex with wrap-around views of the harbor from the Verrazano Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge and a bird’s-eye view of the Statue of Liberty. There, the rocky shores, buoys, boats and ferries sailing by, became the perfect place for these two dads to wed. Incidentally, just as they selected their venue, Jerry and Scott’s son Henry made his debut into the world – kicking the joy of wedding celebration into overdrive.

With the goal to bring the best of Maine to Brooklyn with a sophisticated, masculine aire, Chandelier Events worked with Grayson and Arturo at New York City’s Prudence Designs to bring the farm tables to life with burlap runners and burly driftwood centerpieces flanked by glistening lanterns, succulents and proteas. The unfinished wood was accented with vintage cross-back chairs and market lights strung above by Pegasus Lighting – who installed a dramatic marquee lighting installation spelling L-O-V-E over the stage. And whimsical touches were abound, from the vintage oar escort card display created by Prudence Designs and Belles Lettres Calligraphy to sea-glass chargers with kraft-bag menus and pretzel breads created by Chandelier Events at every seat to the “groom’s side, groom’s side” ceremony chalkboard display!

For #TwoDadsWed, who write a blog Two Dads Cook (http://twodadscook.tumblr.com), the menu was a paramount priority for Jerry and Scott! Both gourmets in their own right, Jerry and Scott naturally wanted to bring the taste of summer alive at their wedding. The guys worked with Amy and The Liberty Warehouse to dream up a four-course tasting menu that drove the nautical essence home, from roaming oyster shuckers at cocktail hour to an elaborate tasting meal featuring fresh burrata salad with local tomatoes and frisee, family-style lobster rolls served with mason jars of chilled gazpacho, steaks and onion rings and a New England-style dessert station with a whoopie pie tower “wedding cake,” old fashioned seltzer egg cream station and a surprise artisanal ice cream truck for dessert on the deck and the dance floor!

Speaking of the dance floor, Jerry and Scott worked with Kerry Beach, bandleader and lead vocalists of Elan Artists’s The Elements to craft a custom play list that would keep guests on their toes all night long. The result was an epic setlist that started with surprise recessional serenade “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons, which led guests New Orleans-style into cocktail hour, to mash-ups of New Age classics (“Melt with You,” “Take on Me” and “Sweet Dreams”) to new EDM hits from Ellie Goulding and Calvin Harris. And just when guests thought they’d seen it all, Chandelier Events and Elan Artists worked behind the scenes for a late-night live music surprise by street-band, The Drummadics, which brought the party to their feet!

To say it was a celebration of love is an understatement. Knowing what marriage is all about when you make the commitment in front of your family and friends is truly a gift!

Photography: Dave Robbins Photography | Event Design: Prudence Designs And Events | Event Planning: Chandelier Events | Calligraphy: Belles Lettres Calligraphy | Lighting: Pegasus Productions | Band: Elan Artists | Wedding Venue: The Liberty Warehouse | Dessert Bar: Baked NYC | Food Truck: Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream | Performance: Elan Artists | Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. | Roaming Raw Bar: Oysters XO

Alexandra Grecco + A Discount + A Giveaway!

There’s obsession, and then there’s the way we feel about the gorgeous tulle skirts from Alexandra Grecco; a seriously sassy + totally stunning collection that you honestly NEED to see.  Think an array of fabulous colors and lengths meets six layers of fully-lined tulle, all with a gorgeous silk waistband.  From everyday brunching to e-shooting with your sweetie, you’ll never feel so pretty… or so chic.

Based in NYC’s coolest borough (Brooklyn!), each Alexandra Grecco piece is crafted in sizes 00-14 and layered with the perfect amount of tulle for that fabulous flare we know you will absolutely adore. Imagine soft, ethereal shades like ivory, dusty blue, seafoam and champagne mix and mingling with your favorite pair of heels and that cashmere sweater your honey can’t seem to get enough of… OR looking absolutely awesome on each of your bridesmaids as they stand beside you on the big day.  Not to mention that each Alexandra Grecco skirt is more than perfect for every.single.event on your itinerary, so you can channel that inner fashionista for your bridal shower, engagement party and going away party!

Visit Alexandra Grecco today to order that skirt of your dreams.  And don’t forget to pre-order the new Lace Elliot Top (available in ivory, pale grey, nude or black) to pair with your skirt or dress… or even your favorite denim.  You can thank us later.

Promotion

SMP readers will receive 20% off their order with the code “stylemepretty15”, valid until July 18, 2015.

the-giveaway

What: Alexandra Grecco is giving away a fabulous tulle skirt in any size or color offered to one lucky SMP reader! (Value $188)

How: Simply leave a comment below telling us where you would rock your amazing Alexandra Grecco skirt!

Who: One winner, chosen completely at random, will be announced right here on SMP on Friday, July 17, 2015.  For terms and conditions, click here.  Good luck, lovelies! xo

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Photography: Elizabeth Messina | Hair: Brittany Romney | Makeup: Mandy Bisesti

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A Stunning Burgundy Wedding in Brooklyn

Truth be told? This piece of pretty had me at Burgundy. The perfect blend of rich hues and artistic details, my love for this fete borderlines obsession. From the Bride’s Lazaro gown to the stunning florals, every little detail Haley Sheffield snapped is more than beautiful than the last and can be found right here.

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From the beautiful Bride… Usually I am so indecisive about things, but with our wedding, I was never more sure. I guess my ideas had been brewing in my head for about 7 years, since Adam and I first started dating. Our waterfront venue was a converted 1800’s liquor warehouse in Red Hook Brooklyn. Our amazing wedding planner helped us find this gem. Exposed brick, wood beams and huge arched windows with views of the city and the Statue of Liberty. The venue was so “us”. It was vintage-romatic, and that was the style and design we were after. Once we booked the venue, we planned every little detail. For my tablescapes, I wanted guests to feel as though they were viewing a still life painting. I personally searched and hunted silver, tea pots and milk glass vessels to hold my unique florals. Fresh fruits of the harvest surrounded those arrangements. Chalk board guest board, hand spray painted wine bottle candle holders, hanging Edison bulbs strung from the rafters. A lot of DIY, but so worth it.

What I looked forward to was the moment when it all came together. For example, I hadn’t seen the Bridesmaids dresses in person till that day. I literally chose the fabric colors at the store and just went with my artistic gut. I couldn’t wait to see my vision come to life and of course I couldn’t wait to see Adam.

That feeling of overwhelming joy when walking down the aisle. It truly was the most perfect day.

From Haley SheffieldThis wedding is close to my heart. When Cadence reached out to me, over a year before her wedding to photograph her Big Day in NYC, my heart leapt for joy. Cadence and I had been long-time social media friends (how strange is the internet?!). Knowing that she had impeccable taste–both unique and timeless–and that she was an art teacher and photographer herself, I couldn’t help but to jump all-in to the photographic process.

Needless to say, Cadence’s wedding was one of my favorites of the year. With her background in art and admiration of the “classic” aesthetic, the fusion became a dream when the wedding unfolded. I absolutely loved the uniqueness of her color palette–the deep burgundy and cobalt with soft tones throughout. Juxtaposed against the clear horizon and beautiful empty canvas of The Liberty Warehouse, you couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day.

I absolutely LOVED the texture of her stunning Lazaro gown and the timelessness it added to her classic bridal look. Paired with Adam’s velvet bowtie (swoooooon), there was a nostalgic air about them together while still remaining fresh. And that theme was woven through the entire wedding. Although the Liberty Warehouse is a fairly modern venue, the Edison bulbs hung for decor brought a since of old to the room. The table decor included silver pieces that Cadence and her mother collected over the course of her engagement, but Cadence also tied in modern protea with her arrangements (including her bouquets!).

In addition to the nostalgia of the decor, Adam and Cadence tied in several details to the day that were special to them. Part of the themes running through their wedding was their love for Maine (a staple location for them as a couple), brought in through a subtle use of lobster in their decor. In addition, they offered whoopie pies (a Maine favorite) as a dessert option/favor–and the guests loved them! Lastly, Adam and Cadence tied in their different cultures (Egyptian and Italian) during their reception by dancing to the most amazing cultural music by the live band! I have never seen so much guest involvement in my life–the joy was absolutely contagious! Lastly, at the end of the night, I took Cadence and Adam out onto the balcony of the Liberty Warehouse to capture a photo of the two of them with the Freedom Tower in the background. Adam is a member of the New York City Ironworkers (how amazing!) and was a part of the crew that helped construct the tower. Such a perfect way to end the night!

Photography: Haley Sheffield | Wedding Planning: Orchard And Broome | Floral Design: Petals & Roots | Makeup: Kristen Therese | Hair: Tiffany Hayden | Bride Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Bride Shoes: Diane Von Furstenberg | Cake / Whoopie Pies: Merrie Stone-Ober | Catering (Also Venue): The Liberty Warehouse | Donuts: Carpe Donut NYC | Invitations / Paper: Moontree Letterpress | Warehouse: The Liberty Warehouse

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Industrial Brooklyn Winery Wedding

Have you ever thought about using Social Media to find a wedding vendor? I’m totally taking note from this beautiful Bride who searched unique Instagram hashtags to source her wedding dream team, genius right?! Rima Brindamour was behind the lens of this lofty Brooklyn Winery affair and the gallery is the perfect place to see it all.

From Rima BrindamourI love all of my clients but I really love these two. I can’t express enough how wonderful it is to work with a couple that is genuinely happy and surrounded by supportive, loving, wonderful friends and family. Andria and Gavin’s Brooklyn Winery wedding was like a dream–-completely relaxed, nothing but big hugs and smiles, and everything happened right on schedule. Weddings like this remind me why I love being a wedding photographer and get me excited for the start of wedding season. Oh, and it didn’t hurt that they are gorgeous!

From the beautiful Bride… Figure out what is most important to you. Pick a few things that you really love and feel the most passionate about and invest your time and money in those areas. For us, the venue, food, and photography were very important so we allocated more time and budget to that. This meant sacrificing in other areas like getting a live band, guest favors, or specialty cocktails. At the end of the day we were able to have the wedding we envisioned without get sidetracked with the things we deemed less important to the overall experience.

Make your wedding your own: Gavin is a writer and we have a vintage typewriter that has lived with us since we moved in together so we turned it into a welcome sign for the guests. In place of flower petals for the flower girls, we cut paper hearts out of the pages of my favorite book. We also borrowed vintage books from family members to use as part of the table settings. Your guests may not know the story behind every item, but it was really fun to know the “secret” behind each piece and it made our wedding day more personal to us.

Leave time for the unplanned: I made the mistake of trying to get too ahead of things and spent a lot of time making DIY table numbers that we didn’t end up using because they ultimately didn’t fit with the rest of our theme. Definitely keep things on schedule to avoid last minute scrambles but keep in mind there are some things that may change throughout the planning process. Leave some time for these unplanned things.

Use social media: I found my hair and makeup artist through Instagram. I searched relevant hashtags like #hairmakeupnyc and #nycmakeupartist and found Laura Burns who was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend her to anyone getting married in NYC, by the way. Instagram is the next best thing to Pinterest for research and ideas because you can “browse by hashtag” and get a visual spread of ideas from real weddings instead of themock wedding shoots that are often in a lot of magazines and blogs.

Photography: Brindamour Photography | Floral Design: Whole Foods Market Preston | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Shoes: Valentino | Caterer: Brooklyn Winery | Hair And Makeup: Laura Burns | DJ: Scratch Weddings | Suit: Hart Schaffner Marx | Hotel: Wythe Hotel | Wedding Venue: Brooklyn Winery | Clutch: My A La Mode

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Glamorous 1970s NYC Wedding Inspiration

With its gray skies and chilling temperatures, winter is my least favorite season. But, Harwell Photography managed to make even the gloomiest New York City winter day beautiful in this inspiration photo shoot. Amidst the industrial charm of 501Union, a glamorous 70s cocktail party came to life with wild, romantic florals and bohemian bridal look. Travel back in time and appreciate winter even on its dreariest days in the gallery.


From Simply Charming Socials The grey of a wintery city can be beautiful in its own way. We were inspired by the ethereal gloom that falls over New York in the cold months and paid homage to 70’s glam for this styled wedding shoot. From caftan to cat eyes and cocktails to candlelight, we used vintage details with a modern twist to give brides some moody inspiration. Jeremy Harwell captured the day so perfectly.

The venue 501 Union provided us with a stunning background for the shoot, with it’s velvety banquettes, industrial beams, factory windows, and throwback palm leaf wallpaper. As the daylight shone through the windows, we were able to highlight the romantic details of a wedding.

Gabi of The Sentimentalist chose the most stunning Carol Hannah Iolite gown from the S/S 2015 collection to dress our Brooklyn bride. The sequins, tassel detail, and flowing sleeves give her an angelic glow. We styled her hair with a Farrah-esque bang and dark cat eyes. A rosy cheek finished off her bridal beauty look.

Wildly organic florals were a must to soften the very masculine space. Juli Vaughn chose black pit anemones, white ranunculus, ripening raspberries, Juliet garden roses, fern and lush greenery, and tied off the bouquet with ochre colored silk ribbon. In the arrangement, she used complementary flowers placed in a tarnished vessel for a touch of metallic sheen. Gold leaf, marsala-colored wax candles in brass candlesticks added height and color to the table.

The venue boasts a fabulous bar and what wedding would be complete without some libations. Ashley Buzzy hand lettered a cocktail menu in bold ink to match the moody invitation suite. The paper had a watercolor effect in grayscale tones, mimicking vintage photos of decades past.

Uniquely, each member of our team has ties to both New York and the South by way of Atlanta. This shoot was our take on city style, though we infused the elegance of Southern fetes.

Photography: Harwell Photography | Floral Design: Juli Vaughn Designs | Wedding Dress: Carol Hannah | Reception Venue: 501 Union | Makeup: Nicole Sievers Makeup Artistry | Hair: Styles On B | Creative Direction & Styling: Simply Charming Socials | Fashion Styling: The Sentimentalist | Invitations & Paper Goods: Ashley Buzzy | Model: Emily Pickell

Get the low down on donuts from Dough Brooklyn

National Donut Day celebrates one of America’s favorite and most decadent desserts, donuts. Gone are the days of your run of the mill donuts, today, you can get just about anything on top of these melt in your mouth goodies. We enlisted the help of an expert Pastry-chef Fany Gerson from Brooklyn’s famous Dough to share how she’ll be celebrating National Donut Day and more.

How did you get into the donut industry?
I had been a pastry chef for a while and a former boss called me up to ask if I wanted to open up a doughnut shop with him. He felt there were few places that made doughnuts with the attention and love that you often see in other pastries. I agreed but mainly it sounded like fun.

What’s the flavor everyone gives their diet up for?
Dulce de Leche with toasted almonds and salted chocolate caramel.

What non-traditional flavor combo do you think would make a great donut?
I think that continues to evolve. Many people do crazy flavors and some are good and some, I feel are made just for the sale of being different. The doughnut is a canvas and honestly, the options are limitless if you have a good doughnut that can be enjoyed on it’s own.

What’s your favorite flavor?
That’s a hard one! But it’s between the lemon poppy, passion fruit with cocoa nib and the cinnamon sugar which may be simple but we use freshly ground Mexican cinnamon and I just love it!

What’s the most creative donut flavor you’ve ever created?
I guess the hibiscus doughnut or salt and pepper which I’ve done as a special.

Biggest donut fail?
We did a yoghurt glazed with house made granola that was really good, but I don’t think people want something healthy sounding with indulgence. Maybe it’s an oxymoron.

What’s the best way to eat a donut?
Nothing beats a warm plain or cinnamon sugar doughnut but the thicker toppings have to be glazed when the doughnuts are cooled. Those are best with a good cup of coffee (which we are lucky to have)

How are you celebrating national donut day?
Every year, we do a raffle. With the purchase of a box of 6 or more people enter a raffle to get a year supply of doughnuts (they can get a box every week for the entire year!)

What are your thoughts on mini donuts?
I think they are great for events so you can get a taste of many, but I think when you are treating yourself to a doughnut you should have a big one for sure. If you are gonna enjoy it truly, you need to have several bites.

Photography: Dough Brooklyn

Elegant + Dramatic Brooklyn Wedding

Real weddings are our bread and butter here at SMP. From Brooklyn like this next one to Boise, from trendy to timeless – weddings are what we call home. But the best ones, in our opinion, are the weddings where fun reigns King. And knowing that this pair used Trivial Pursuit and Shuffle Board to keep their guests busy, made all of the gorgeous decor that much more lovable. With photos by a guy + a girl photography, beauty by Jackie Schneider Beauty and vows by Reverend Annie Lawrence, this is one wedding that we can get completely on board with. And there is more here!

Colors
Settings
Event Venue
Styles
Modern

From a guy + a girl photography… Oh, here is one of our favorites of the year! An incredibly cozy Winter wedding at 501 Union in Brooklyn. Sarah and Mike (and their families) have been close since elementary school, so this wedding truly was a union where two families officially became one.

Their decor featured an NYC-meets-Brooklyn theme with skylines and vintage postcards present throughout. We are still obsessed with their gorgeous gold cake, and could not believe it was vegan!!! Although the ceremony and reception took place at 501 Union, their happy day opened and closed at the nearby Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, where Mike is a member. Games like connect four, trivial pursuit and of course, shuffleboard kept Sarah and Mike’s friends and families (and their wedding photographers!) partying long after the cake was cut and the band stopped playing. So happy for this amazing pair!

Photography: a guy + a girl photography | Coordination: Viva Max Weddings | Event Design: Viva Max Weddings | Floral Design: Lindsay Rae Design | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Lael Cakes | Invitations: Lion in the Sun | Shoes: Paul Green | Catering: Saucy By Nature | Makeup: JACKIE SCHNEIDER BEAUTY | Band: Brian Kirk And The Jirks | Groom's Attire: Macy's | Groomsmen's Attire: Macy's | Officiant: Rev. Annie Lawrence, NYC Wedding Officiant | Ceremony And Reception Venue: 501 Union | Hair Piece: Debra Moreland | Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals

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