New York Weddings

Hey LBBer’s, we’re trying something new this week – today is the start of our very own Wrap It Up Pretty Friday feature. If you frequent Style Me Pretty, which I’m sure you do, you’ll know that the Main Page likes to wrap up a week of lovely and tie it with a sweet little bow. It is exciting to see all the gorgeous from the past week in one spot. Plus, it’s a great send you off into your weekend. So in the name of granting you even more access to our uber-fabulous wedding party all week long, we’re jumping on the pretty train! Before we get into it, though, we’ve got a little sneak peak from one of the jaw-dropping weddings we have coming up next week on The Little Black Book Blog from one of our favorite LBB photographers, Melani Lust! Hope you have a fantastic weekend! xo

If you just can’t wait … here’s Erin & Steve’s Style Me Pretty photo gallery from Melani Lust Photography!

Here’s our Pretty Parade of weddings this week:

a warm California vineyard affair
a sweet Canadian winter wedding
a Dallas wedding with a bold color palette
a colorful and fun California fête
a rustic Colorado rehearsal dinner complete with horses
a completely DIY Ohio love fest
a pink California wedding + film
an Indian celebration in Austin
a classic Houston affair

My favorite part about this Hudson Valley wedding is not the lovely, lilac and lavender-hued flowers, not the stunning old New England barn and not even the breathtaking photography by Maggie Harkov.  My favorite part has got to be the light-up-a-room grin of the beautiful bride.  I am crazy about couples who can crack each other up and these two must have some pretty sore cheeks from all the smiling they were doing on their big day.  Click here to see even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… The truth is I have been planning my wedding since I was a little girl growing up in Portland, Oregon.  I even have a binder with clippings from bridal magazines dating back to 1995.  To spill my dirty little secret, I was also an avid SMP reader long before getting engaged.  A fact that only a few of my closets friends knew, but once they got engaged, I’d send them over to SMP knowing the site would inspire gorgeous weddings.  I had multiple versions of my dream wedding all planned out. All I needed to find was “the one.”

After years of living only blocks apart in Brooklyn, NY, Greg and I met on match.com. We frequented the same restaurant, bars and gym but it took an online wink to bring the two of us together. After two years of dating, Greg surprised me by proposing on a Monday evening in October.

We spent the first few months of our engagement trying to decide where to get married.  I grew up in Portland, OR and he grew up in Washington DC.  We toyed with idea of getting married in Nantucket where Greg’s family vacations, but ultimately decided to get married in NY.  Despite loving the city, I really didn’t want an urban wedding.  I wanted something rustic and charming.  My dream wedding at the time was actually inspired by a Style Me Pretty post from June 2008.  I fell in love with this wedding and from that moment on knew I wanted to get married in a barn. One day, a friend emailed me a link to a barn a former co-worker was getting married at.  With the barn being 2 ½ hours north of NYC and it now being the dead of winter, we had a little difficulty getting up to see the space.  But after a few snow storms, we were finally able to drive up.  Even covered in blankets of snow, I could tell that the Circa 1799 Barn, and the farm it was situated on, was the perfect place for our wedding.  Rustic and charming was exactly what it was.

With the place and date finalized, we set out on creating the perfect vision for our wedding.  The color palate and table settings were inspired by a Sunday Suppers blog post that featured burlap table runners, rustic dishtowels as napkins, and monochromatic bunches of flowers in various shades of purple.  From the mason jars as water glasses and the 140 dishtowels we personally ironed to the mini clothespins we attached the menus with – I tried to capture the perfect casual and charming style.

We tackled as many DIY projects as we could – printing the programs, table numbers and seating cards at home mimicking our invitation suite, printing our programs and tucking them into individual muslin bags, enlisting the help of friends and family to string lights in the barn, clip the menus to the napkins, etc.  One of our groomsmen even made the chalkboard we used for table assignments.  The little details really made a big impact.  People raved about all our hard work.

The day of the wedding was everything and more that I could have dreamed of.  Putting my dress on was one of the highlights of the day.  It’s when I started to feel like a true bride, getting ready to marry the love of my life.  By the time the ceremony rolled around, I could hardly believe it was finally here. I had lost my dad eight years ago and the thought of walking down the aisle without him was definitely the hardest part of my day.  But my Uncle Jim was there and looking back on the pictures, I was smiling and looking forward at my husband the whole walk down the aisle.  All I could think about was marrying Greg.

The ceremony was so personal.  The celebrant that married us took the time to ask our friends and family to write down advice and messages that our bridal party read out loud during the service. From the ceremony it was cocktail hour, taking place outside the barn on the lovely grass field, under the trees.  The weather cooperated with us better than I thought possible.  From there was dinner and dancing.  It was such a whirlwind of amazing speeches, delicious food, and boogying on the dance floor all night long. After the band shut down, there was a bonfire and smores, which was the most perfect way to end our evening, surrounded by our nearest and dearest making smores in the middle of a field.

We were so lucky to have Maggie Harkov taking our pictures.  We could not be more thrilled with the way everything turned out, and are so happy to have these memories to carry with us throughout our lives.

Wedding Photographer: Maggie Harkov / Floral Design: Gardenia Organic / Wedding Venue: The Circa 1799 Barn / Invitations & Paper Goods: Hello!Lucky / Celebrant: Murphy Birdsall / Day of Coordinator: Mary Shimkin of The Circa 1799 Barn / Catering: The Marketplace Catering / Hair: Shine Hair Spa / Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Teresa Broadwell / DJ: DJ Gaza of 74 Events / Rentals: Mahaiwe Tent & Party Rentals / Wedding Dress: Marisa / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Gap (Khakis & Blazers) + Banana Republic (Ties) / Napkins: Ikea / Ring Bearer Bowl: Paloma’s Nest / Custom Cake Toppers: Goose Grease / Custom Hanger: Lila Frances / Flip Flops: Old Navy

Oh.my.goodness. I cannot tell you (but I will try) how much I love this engagement session by Judy Pak Photography. It might have a little something to do with the fact that this couple is downright hot (am I allowed to say that Abby L.?). I mean, how many guys can pull off a sweatshirt in a photo shoot and make it look hip? And I swear she is a model material. This session is just so them, and I don’t even know them, which means it’s perfect. And there is even more in the full gallery of images.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Judy Pak Photography… Angela and Joe may be the sweetest couple I’ve ever met. So how fitting is candy and soda pops for the shoot? Don’t let them fool you though… they do have a bit of a naughty side as well! We ran around, broke some rules, and trespassed all in the name of good fun and some great photos! They will be getting married in Brooklyn this July.

Photography: Judy Pak Photography / Location: Highline & Meatpacking District, New York, NY

This little number first debuted on one of our local wedding blogs but we loved it so much we had to put it up here in sparkling twinkle lights. Crafted by the lovely Jen of Jen Huang Photography and Betsey of Nine Cakes, this is what their little tea party for friends looks like. Pretty amazing, right? I loooooovvvee me some pretty cakes and when they are photographed so beautifully I go into extreme blog lovin’ mode. Click here for even more!

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From Jen Huang Photography… Betsy and I are good friends, and we respect each others work so much, so we decided to do a shoot of her cakes and creations, styled beautifully of course. We didn’t want all her confections to go to waste so we decided, why not style a REAL party, a tea party, where it would not only be eye candy but delicious bites for our dearest friends.

I’ve been collecting mismatched teacups, saucers and china and we used that, as well as my romantic and rustic studio as the backdrop. The idea was to provide a context to the cakes, so that brides and grooms would be able to see how to use a single cake, or multiple smaller cakes at their weddings. We kept it simple, letting the design of the cakes and macaroons do the talking. What emerged was an intimate, laid back and fun party with delicious and beautiful food and a special feel. After the party we thought something like this could inspire an intimate wedding, or even a bridal shower.

Photography: Jen Huang Photography / Venue: Jen Huang Studio / Wedding Cakes & Baked Goods: Nine Cakes

This sparkly stunner of a dress had me at hello. Actually, the entire wedding did. Captured beautifully by Heather Waraksa, this wedding is just (seemingly) effortless perfection and plays off the backdrop that is Blue Hill at Stone Barns beautifully. It’s bursting at the seams with not only well thought out details, but also the obvious love this couple has for each other – which as you all know is my favorite detail of all. For even more be sure to check out the full gallery of images, and because I promise you want to see this all come to life, stick around for the video by Hello Super Studios.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

A promise is a promise – Hello Super Studios take it from here!

From the Bride… My whole intention was to let the beauty of Blue Hill stand out. We used the tree that was behind the chuppah as the inspiration for our invitations and everything sort of came from that. That’s why we picked the color scheme of greens, whites and some greys- to blend in with what was already there.

The circular chuppah was made for us, as I originally wanted the seating to be set up in a circle, but the space didn’t allow it. I liked the idea of being surrounded, so we did it with the chuppah. Our cake was by Ron Ben-Israel and we were totally into the tilty-ness and imbalance. Everything we chose we aimed to have just a little less traditional and more fun for our guests.

We were banking on the weather being clear and we totally lucked out that day. Chris’ mom had passed away a few months before and we had put her on”weather duty” so we like to think she came through.

Wedding Photography: Heather Waraksa / Wedding Cinematography: Hello Super Studios / Floral Design: Jeff Conti of Pinewood Farm / Event Design: Jeff Conti of Pinewood Farm + The Bride / Event Planning: Exquisite Affairs Productions / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Blue Hill at Stone Barns / Wedding Invitations: Spark via The Wedding Library / Bride’s Shoes: Guiseppe Zanotti / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham / Feather Bolero: Cassin / Hair: Stacy Pitt of StylesOnB / Makeup: Sally Duvall / Wedding Cake: Ron Ben-Israel

So many fabulous elements to this wedding, so little time. This Prohibition Era inspired wedding by Patricia Kantzos Photography is bursting at the speakeasy’s seams with fun pieces of the couples personality. They mastered the idea of having a theme wedding without being themey, and the result was a weekend that had style for miles. The entire affair made for a Hudson Valley humdinger of a wedding, and there is even more in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… We had such a blast planning our wedding!  We wanted the wedding to be a reflection of who we are and so we did not use a wedding planner.  Although we had the expertise of my sister who is an event planner!  We LOVED coming up with ways to make our wedding fun and unique but beautiful and elegant at the same time. We loved the fact that we had an entire weekend–starting with rehearsal dinner the night before and ending with breakfast the morning after.  We kind of wanted to have a destination wedding, but without being too far from home.  This gave our guests the choice to join us for the entire weekend (which most did) or to drive up just for the wedding. It really was the most special day of our lives, and sharing it with our friends and family was the greatest feeling. Moments we will remember forever.  And just all the love in the room that entire day was overwhelming.

We chose Garrison, NY because it is 1 hour North of where I grew up, and because it is in the mountains. Jeffrey and I love the mountains and so we felt that it was a good reflection of who we are. We also realized that St. Basils Academy was located in Garrison.  This was the academy that my mother lived at for a short time when she was a little girl. My mother had always told me her time at St. Basils was the happiest time of her life as a child, and once we visited we knew it was the place for us.

The Highlands Country Club is magnificent!  The grounds were beautiful with the stunning chandelier, fireplaces, floor to ceiling French doors and windows!  Plus, we had access to The Tavern restaurant that we turned into the Candy Room.  Chef, Eric Gabrynowicz, was incredible!  It was picturesque with the mountains and the Hudson River in the background from both St. Basils and The Highlands. We were going for a Prohibition-Era NYC theme. Most of the canisters I purchased for the candy room are vintage- antique straw holders, candy bowls and containers. For the photo area, I used things I already had and were in the family—the vintage suitcases, vintage accessories, mirror, and the vintage frames for the photos that we had displayed.

Along with all of the vintage touches, our Escort Cards were Metro Cards and the table cards were NYC subway maps.  Each table was named for a location in NY that has meaning to Jeffrey & I, like Von Bar, where we met, Yankee Stadium, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and Grand Central (where we had our engagement shoot with our photographer Patricia).

Our Greek Wedding Crowns were made by my aunt using pearls from a necklace that had been my Grandmothers when she was alive.  It was really important to me to have crowns that were unique and custom-made.

Having a live Greek band and lots of Greek dancing was really important to us!  We wanted to make sure that the guests knew that they could not break the plates – it is a Greek wedding. Hence the “These plates are not for breaking” signs that I had made for each plate.

We really love our wedding photos and cannot thank Patricia enough. Patricia was incredible.  She made it easy to work with and everyone fell in love with her!

Wedding Photography: Patricia Kantzos Photography / Wedding Design & Coordination: The Bride / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Basil Academy / Wedding Reception Location: Highlands Country Club / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Wedding Veil: Custom by Nancy Sinoway Design / Bride’s Shoes: Vintage via Isobel Arnberg / Floral Design: Westchester Floral Decorators / Floral Broach & Pendant: Vintage / Wedding Cake: The Pastry Garden / Cake Topper: Fancy Flours / Groom’s Attire: Jones New York + Eisenberg & Eisenberg + Paul Stuart / Bride’s Ring: Seattle Diamonds + Somos Creations / Bride’s Necklace: Doyle & Doyle / Groom’s Cufflinks: The Missing Link at The Showplace / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bride’s Garter: Illisa’s Vintage Lingerie at The Showplace / Candy: Economy Candy

There isn’t a rule in the Wedding Planning Handbook that says high-maintenance = high style, and this is just the wedding to prove that. The delegating duo in this darling affair picked vendors they loved, and then just let it all fall into place. The October occasion ended up being a perfect fall fair, and the proof is in the pudding…or in this case, the proof is in all the lovely images by Uplift Photography in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… I’m a veterinary student, which left very little time to plan and obsess over wedding details. We picked the Garrison because it offered so much at the same location (ceremony and reception space, the food, the cake, all the tables and chairs, etc). We also wanted to have the ceremony outside, and with a mid-October wedding, having the option of a covered space took a lot of the stress out of our day. We also picked vendors who had great style, and just trusted them to do what they do best.

My (now) husband took charge of the music, since that was important to him. We went with some non-traditional choices; I walked down the aisle to Tom Petty’s “Here Comes My Girl,” a family friend become ordained to give a very personal ceremony, and we had a small wedding party.  We also had more traditional parts of the day; the white dress, wedding cake, and a father-daughter dance. Overall it really fit us, and we had a great time!

My advice: pick good people to work with, and delegate!

Wedding Photography: Jade O’Connell of Uplift Photography / Floral & Event Design: Steven Bruce Design / Ceremony & Reception Location: The Garrison / Bride’s Dress: Melissa Sweet via Priscilla of Boston / Catering & Wedding Cake: The Garrison / DJ: Bri Swatek of Spinning with Style / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Wedding Invitations: Greenwich Letterpress

Super cute engagement shoot alert! On a rooftop, with cupcakes, and by Judy Pak Photography no less. It’s just a recipe for photo shoot greatness. The fact that the couple is uber adorable just adds to the equation. I love seeing the beginnings of such a fabulous time, and there is even more adorable to see in the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Judy Pak Photography… Chloe and Michael met and fell in love at Brooklyn Law School where Michael sat behind Chloe in Constitutional Law class. She said he was always trying to make small talk with her. He said that she was asking him out for months until he finally gave in. Well, at least they can both agree that they went to a Greek dancing event together and have not been apart since!

Photography: Judy Pak Photography / Cupcakes: Big City Little Sweets / Dress: Diane von Furstenberg / Location: Private Residence 

This beautiful Hudson Valley affair is fabulously classic with loads of sentimental touches topped off with absolutely stunning florals from Geranium Lake Flowers. Could her bouquet be any more cheerful and perfect? The sweet as can be couple filled their day with tradition and nods to their loving families, and the result is a day they will never forget and one we get to enjoy. For even more, check out the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Alex and I met at Homecoming at our alma mater.  I was a senior in college and he was an alumnus (we did not overlap at school). We hit it off over a conversation about his upcoming trip to Argentina and his desire to learn to tango in preparation. I had studied abroad in Buenos Aires but didn’t have the heart to tell him that he did not need to know tango. Our first date was a tango lesson!

Our second date was when everything just clicked. We lived in Philadelphia at the time. We went to Tinto for a phenomenal tapas dinner. It was pouring so we sprinted to a bar down the block.  The bar ended up having a photo booth. We jumped in to take photos and our first kiss was on the third photo! I still have it in my wallet. (Ever since, we have made a point of using the photo booth whenever we come across one in our travels.)

Our wedding look was inspired by Alex’s family plaid.  We have strong connections to our families and it was important to us to weave pieces of both families into this event that joins them together.  From Alex’s family, we chose the plaid color scheme, had our ceremony officiated by a close family friend, and held the wedding in Alex’s home town at the club where he once caddied. From my family, I wore my cousin’s (MOH) veil, wrapped my bouquet in my great-grandmother’s handkerchief that my mom used in her wedding, wore my grandmother’s ring on my left hand and put a silver pence from my father’s family in each of our shoes.  From each other, Alex wore monogrammed cufflinks and I wore blue shoes from Argentina, which were both the first gifts we gave each other. Combining these elements made our wedding a deeply personal event that celebrated the joining of our families and their traditions.

The wedding flowers were really important to me since my grandmother, who passed away when I was young, was an avid gardener and flower arranger. My last memory of my grandmother is her teaching me how to put together an intricate arrangement of flowers from her garden. With that in mind, I worked with Kim Foren of Geranium Lake to create fresh, luscious, playful bouquets and arrangements highlighted by bright blues, greens and yellows. I am a fan of succulents, which Kim incorporated throughout. The bridesmaids’ and my bouquets were primarily yellow with green accents. The yellow calla lily that appeared in my bouquet was also on Alex’s boutonniere. The ceremony took place under a giant oak tree (which we incorporated into the groomsmen’s ties), and the aisle and altar area were accented with bright blue hyacinths and lemons.

We wanted a simple wedding cake that was still fun and tied into the rest of our wedding. Our one-tier yellow cake (Alex is picky – no chocolate cake for him!) with white frosting, yellow polka dots and blue ribbon around the base was balanced on top of a clear vase and topped with flowers and lemons.

Although Hurricane Earl missed us, our outdoor ceremony experienced high winds that swept my cathedral length veil straight up in the air where it hung for a second and then off my head.  It floated towards the Hudson River; the crowd gasped; my cousin/MOH snatched it one handed before it flew over the wall.  She had a strong incentive since, after all, it is her veil.  We have re-watched it on video since and it is quite a sequence.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was the silver pence, because it was a complete surprise to us!  The day before, my mom gave us each a six pence piece that my father’s family had used at all of their weddings.  We were thrilled to incorporate something with such a long family tradition.  Alex was distraught the day after our wedding when he thought he had lost it.  As luck would have it, on the last day of our honeymoon, it fell out of Alex’s sock!

Floral Design: Kim Foren of Geranium Lake Flowers / Wedding Photography: Elena Gorelik Photography / Wedding Venue: Sleepy Hollow Country Club / Catering: Sleepy Hollow Country Club / Engagement Ring: Tiffany & Co. / Wedding Bands: Zell’s / Wedding Dress: Christos (Marisel) via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Veil: Borrowed from Maid of Honor, Cousin of the Bride / Bride’s Ceremony Shoes: Purchased in Argentina, Gift from The Groom / Bride’s Reception Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Groom’s Attire: Rock’s Custom Tailor / Groom’s Shoes: Johnston & Murphy / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom, Groomsmen, Officiant & Family Ties: Vineyard Vines / Rehearsal Dinner: Vintage Bar & Restaurant / Wedding Cake: Tarrytown Bakery / Accomodations: The Ritz-Carlton / Music: Rhythm Nights of Hank Lane Music / Makeup: The Ritz-Carlton Spa / Officiant: Friend of the Family / Transportation: The Ritz-Carlton / Wedding Invitations: The Bride / Groom’s Cufflinks: Tiffany & Co. / Groom’s Watch: TAG Heuer / Dance Lessons: Arthur Murray Studios / Honeymoon Planning: Sharon Elsen of Cardoza-Bungey Travel

Can you really go wrong with pink and green? My preppy little heart thinks not. Particularly when they are the colors chosen for a stunning wedding shot by the lovely duo of Robert & Kathleen Photographers. And really can The Wainwright House be a better backdrop for classically beautiful images? Once again, I think not. There is so much more preppy perfection to take in, so be sure to spend some time in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Robert & Kathleen Photographers… Seeing so many weddings and watching the way so many different couples interact with one another, we have learned quite a bit over the years. Not just about where to photograph what or which lighting conditions make for an optimal portrait, but about what really makes for strong connections between couples. We have learned this not only because we talk to our couples about what they love about one another, but because we watch for the little things that come through when there’s not a word spoken. And one of the greatest things we have learned was solidified even more through our meeting and working with Meghan and Marc. They taught us that when you have found the one person in the world that is clearly perfect for you, something special happens. You become an even better version of yourself. You become more comfortable in your own skin, more confident to be who you really are because you know there is no longer any need to be anything else. You have found someone who has reassured you that all the things that you have always loved about yourself really are the things that make you loveable. You can try new things, take bigger chances because you know that no matter what you’ll have that person by your side. And, what we think may be the most important, you can sing and dance around the house knowing that person not only won’t judge you, they’ll probably join you.

We had seen the sweet, gentle way Meghan and Marc interacted with each other during their rainy day engagement session in NYC back in May. We expected to see that again on their wedding day, and we did, tenfold. Not just when they were together either. You could see it with the smile on Meghan’s face when she was told that Marc had arrived before the ceremony, with the look of unabashed excitement on Marc’s face when he was told it was time to get into place because the ceremony was about to begin. Rob and I were both moved by the sweetness of their ceremony and the thoughtfulness of the vows they spoke to one another. It was during their reception that we saw something truly remarkable.

After very romantic first dance and a elegant dinner, Meghan and Marc took to the dance floor and let loose. They sang to one another at the tops of their lungs and moved perfectly in sync with each song, laughing and pulling each other close. And we weren’t the only people captivated by them, several times throughout the night a circle formed around Meghan and Marc as friends and family cheered them on. It made me smile because I could just picture Meghan and Marc at home doing the very same thing – letting go, having fun and just being themselves, knowing that neither of them would ever judge them for a whacky dance move or random song choice because they’d rather jump in.

It was particularly moving to us because that very same scene wouldn’t be unfamiliar in our house. Seeing the connection between Meghan and Marc – the gentle sweetness and the whacky fun-ness (totally a word), made us feel even luckier to not only do what we do for a living, but to have found one another. And having a job that makes you realize that all in one day, well that’s pretty amazing.

Wedding Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Wedding Venue: The Wainwright House / Catering: Corner Stone Catering / Hair & Make-Up: Once Upon A Bride / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Floral Design: Petals by Alice / DJ: Harborside Productions / Bridesmaid Dresses: LulaKate via Bella Bridesmaid / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Vineyard Vines / Wedding Invitations & Paper Products: Dauphine Press via Kate’s Paperie

Devouring these gorgeous photos from Missy Photography is like devouring a good romance novel. And boy does this photo shoot from Merci New York and loli events tell quite the story. A New York City rendezvous that ends in a spontaneous elopement, all under the gorgeous roof of The Surrey Hotel. Is it getting hot in here? Or is it just this photo shoot? It’s like a book you just can’t put down, and lucky for you there is even more in the full gallery!

Click here for the full image gallery!

The Surrey Hotel on the Upper East Side has an intimate, boutique-vibe that packs a solid punch of New York glam with it’s wonderful Daniel Boulud restaurants and ever-chic decor.  We thought it’s location, reputation, design and overall feel were the perfect setting for a New York City-themed wedding story. Like any strong editorial, our shoot had a defined story to work it’s way through the various fashion, flowers, treats and decor that weaved their way through the photos.  The Surrey’s motto is “Everything but the Wedding,” so with that in mind, our team crafted vignettes that spoke to the before, during and after of a chic elopement…

Our five vignettes delivered the mise en scene for: a boudoir setting, a reunited love affair, a romantic engagement, a city-chic elopement, and of course… an intimate champagne-fused celebration at Daniel Boulud’s Bar Pleiades.  Our goal was to show everyone’s work in a city-centric light that showed brides a decidedly different wedding day style {and great looks to accompany a slew of wedding-related celebrations, from shower, to rehearsal, to wedding and brunch!}

Meet uptown girl, madeline and downtown boy, oliver.  despite being from two different worlds, literally and figuratively, these star-crossed lovers are in love and have kept the flame burning in the most timeless and romantic of manners — the love letter.  after a few years of correspondence, madeline receives word that oliver is coming back to new york.  what will happen?

The place and setting — a rainy day at the beautiful and chic surrey hotel.  while madeline gets ready to be reunited with her love oliver, she re-reads his letters, building the anticipation of the reunion.  at the same time, oliver is making his way to be meet the lovely madeline, flowers in hand. They meet in the lobby and it is as if the years apart have melted away.  over an intimate tea of two, they know that they can no longer be apart.  in the most spontaneous of proposals, they decide to marry and be together forever.  Naturally after tying the knot, madeline and oliver want to celebrate.  it’s another intimate celebration of dessert and champagne at bar pleiades, the surrey’s fashionable and elegant cocktail bar.  madeline and oliver are finally together and new york is where it happened.

Photography: Missy Photography / Fashion Styling: Merci New York / Planning & Design: loli events / Floral Desgin & Calligraphy: kat flower / Pastries: Gigi Blue Delectable Edibles / Hair & Makeup: Stacy Pitt + Lauren Iavarone of Expert Makeup Artistry / Female Model: Lyric Lincoln / Male Model: Jonathan Bender / Venue: The Surrey Hotel

My little fingers can barely type the words fast enough of how much I love this wedding by Meredith Davenport of Christian Oth Studio. It’s just impossible to settle on the one thing I am obsessing over the most, because the mix of this couple’s love for big city glamour and sweet country details has me all a flutter. Then they went and added so many pretty shoes and a location that is both a beach and a winery – and they went and hit all of my wedding weaknesses. Really does it get any better? Each image is just as gorgeous as the last, and there is a full gallery of them for you to drool over.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

We wanted a mini-destination with a location that represented both of us. Tim is a born and raised New Yorker and I have been a Manhattan resident for over 10 years. After considering locations from the South of France to Nantucket where we got engaged, we knew there was no place more representative of us than our home of New York. The North Fork fit what we were looking for. It was far enough from the city to feel like we were doing a destination, but close enough to be hands on in the wedding planning process. We wanted a rustic setting in a vineyard with a mix of city glamour.

We knew right away the moment we were shown this little gem of a location. It was a private weekend home belonging to one of the winery owners. There was a long dirt road that cut through acres of private vineyard land where the grapes are grown for the winery. The road led to an alcove of trees which then opened to a sprawling lawn overlooking the north sound of Long Island on the edge of a cliff. Private rickety stairs led to a secluded beach and lush greeneries enveloped the home. We didn’t look any further as the venue was the perfect blank canvas for us to execute our vision.

We went with the concept of  “Town & Country.” It’s the idea of bringing our love for upscale elegance brought outdoors and made casually tangible. It’s the love of crystal chandeliers mixed with burlap details, velvet chairs with metal lanterns set against the backdrop of rustic vines. It’s the juxtaposition of both my husband & my love for the city & the country. We went with Grey, burlap & soft peaches as our color scheme.

I’m a New York City fashion designer and Lifestyle photographer/blogger.  My husband and I did the entire event designing and planning. We wanted to incorporate a sense of fashion & city glam to our wedding day. I had my bridesmaids each pick their own dresses in varying shades of grays & neutrals, as it was important to me that each lady felt just as beautiful on my day. They also had fun with picking their own bright shoe colors to play up the neutral pallet. Tim bought all the groomsmen beautiful silk Neiman Marcus ties in varying shades of colors to play off the girls’ shoes. I took mirrors, wall frames & my own velvet armchair out onto the lawn to create a photo booth. I collected metal lanterns for table lighting as well as hung frames from tree branches for the seating chart. I went to a glass cutting shop to have them cut custom mirrored plates to use as table names which we named after different types of wine variety. My husband loves wine, hence the choice of our wedding venue. Instead of a guest sign-in book, we took furniture & props from our home to create an outdoor photobooth where guest could leave us messages.

Music was another important aspect to our wedding. Instead of walking down the aisle to the classic wedding march, I had the mother-of-the-Bride/Groom walk down the aisle to INXS “Beautiful Girl” while the bridal party walked down the aisle to Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain.” I chose to walk down the aisle to Michael Buble’s “Everything.”  And of course, as we exited, Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Starting Something” was our song of choice. The start of the ceremony set the mood and expectation of the whole day…fun, relaxed, personal but classically elegant.

Wedding Photography: Meredith Davenport of Christian Oth Studio / Event Design & Coordination: The Bride & Groom / Wedding Venue: Private Estate / Wedding Dress: Reem Acra / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Groom’s Suit: Tom Ford / Bride’s Veil & Head Piece: Bride’s Head Revisited / Music: Jarrell Entertainment / Wedding Cake: Sacred Sweets / Floral Design: Landscape Adventure / Catering: Ross Schaudel Catering / Welcome Bags: Sara’s Gracious Goodies / Transportation: Sunrise Coach / Wedding Invitations & Paper Goods: The Bride + Paper Presentation (Supplies) / Groomsmen Ties: Neiman Marcus

Most brides would be bit nervous if her bridesmaids were assembling all the bouquets while getting their hair and makeup done, but that just isn’t this gorgeous-dress-with-cardigan-wearing bride. She was ready for the end result, and I love that. The entire wedding just has a laid-back yet elegant feeling about it. It’s all so effortlessly romantic, and eieio Photography was there to capture every moment. Have no fear, there are even more romantic images in the full gallery.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

From Chelse Thompson of eieio photography…What do you get when you have a couple from California who are totally laid back, hip, and just happy to be spending the day with all their friends and family in one place? An event that was effortless and stunning. Jen and Colin live in California but grew up in upstate NY. Both are in the film industry and were looking for a setting that would be totally relaxing and still have stunning views. Many of their details were DIY-in fact the bridesmaids were making the bouquets as Jen was getting her make-up done! Such a romantic day..they succeeded in their vision of vintage touches and sweet romance…

Photography: Chelse Thompson of eieio photography and Glow Weddings / Flowers: DIY / Ceremony Location: Sweet Briar Spa / Reception Location: Sweet Briar Spa / Dress: Maggie Sottero

Welcome, welcome to the launch of Style Me Pretty New York! We are started the pretty party with a wedding that you are SURE to melt over. I can’t tell you what I love more – the blending of cultures in this wedding or the blending of rustic meets complete and utter drop dead gorgeous elegance. That drop dead gorgeous elegance stuff gets me every time, and when you throw farm animals into that equation, well you have a gush fest. This wedding of a duo originally from worlds apart was brought together beautifully at Blue Hill at Stone Barns by the creative vision of the bride and the talents of Hatch Creative Studio.  And of course, there is more gush fest goodness in the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Mark and I are originally from half a world apart from each other (Mark is from Nevada and I am from Hong Kong), so from the beginning of our wedding planning we knew that most of our guests would be out of town, and even out of the country! The priority for us was to have our guests feel that they are an important part of the wedding. Having lived hectic lives in New York City, we wanted a wedding that wasn’t exactly in Manhattan. Our vision was inspired by a late summer night in the garden, picnic with old books under large trees, and rustic country elements. Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Westchester NY, a 40 minute drive from Manhattan, couldn’t make a better choice for us. Ultimately, we just wanted a small celebration with 72 guests, eating the most amazing farm fresh food and enjoying an intimate night with everyone. The goal for us was to create one-of-a-kind wedding elements that our guests could take home as keepsakes and treasure after the wedding.

Instead of hiring a wedding planner, I did my own planning and utilized Etsy as a source for most of my wedding vendors (I have 30+ etsy transactions as proof!). With this, not only was I able to create keepsake items by hand (save-the-date, ceremony programs, menu envelopes), but our wedding budget opened up for a few splurges that we would cherish forever, such as our one of a kind vintage hanky invitations, an old time jazz band, my Monique Lhuillier gown, and an amazing floral and decor designer to help realize our vision of a rustic style wedding.

On the day of our wedding, window panes in the atrium were filled with rows of hanging single bud flowers in vintage medicine bottles. The outdoor seating aisle was lined with flower filled garden lanterns. Vintage lace decorated gates led to a pathway of vintage picnic blankets with books and flowers heaped on atop. We said our vows under a vintage reclaimed chuppa. The escort card area that separated the ceremony and cocktail spaces was created with reclaimed wooden containers, bottles and jars with wedding favors (egglings) wrapped in drawstring hemp bags, adorned with hand-sewn lace. Pig and sheep figurines, sourced from ebay, were spray painted in cream and used as place cards, placed on top of home-made kraft menu envelopes. The pig and the sheep theme also appeared on the wrapping envelopes of our wedding invitations. They are actually our Chinese zodiac signs, understood by only those who would have known!

Wedding Photography: Erik Ekroth / Floral & Decor Design: Hatch Creative Studio / Wedding Venue: Blue Hill at Stone Barns / Wedding Invitations: Bird & Banner / Wedding Band: John Ragusa Music / Wedding Cinematography: Barnaby Draper Studios / Makeup: Maral Balian of Warren Tricomi Salon / Hair: Stacy Pitt / Wedding Cupcakes: Billy’s Bakery / Calligraphy: Heather Burns of Perch Papiers / Vintage Postage Stamps: Verde Studio / Wooden Table Numbers: Liz Artistry / Wooden Guest Book: Bragging Bags / Wedding Program Design & Assemby: The Bride / Wedding Program Printing: Baumbirdy / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bride’s Hair Piece: Jenny Packham / Bridesmaid Dresses: Sarah Seven + CLF by Claire La Faye / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Custom / Groom’s Cufflinks & Stud Set: David Yurman / Groom’s Bow Tie: Brioni / Groomsmen Ties: The Hill-Side / Pocket Square: Vintage / Wedding Favors: Eggling

You know we love when all the details line up in a pretty little row, so you better believe we L-O-V-E this Upstate New York Wedding. Our bride describes her wedding as rustic chic, and that it is. All the sweet little flea market finds work so well with the venue, the bridal party, and the color palette. And speaking of color palettes, how great is it that the colors they chose tie in SO well with our own little blog? It’s a match made in matrimonial heaven. Prepared to be smitten with Dave Robbins Photography‘s style… it goes so well with all the other charming elements of this fête. Click here for even more!

If you’d like more of this sweet wedding, check out Joshua Brown’s highlight film!

Michelle + Josh by Joshua Brown Photography on Vimeo

The concept for our wedding began with a dream of whisking our family and friends away from the city and holding them hostage in the country for a long weekend. We hoped to find a venue which would afford us the freedom to create a fully customizable experience all our own. The Hill, a privately owned estate in Livingston, New York offered the perfect setting – a magnificent barn on an idyllic estate complete with the requisite rolling hills, grazing horses, and stunning 360-degree views of the Catskill and Berkshire mountains.

We had great fun assembling the details. I may have been a little old lady in another lifetime because I derived a surprising amount of pleasure from stockpiling lace runners, dusty suitcases, Mason jars, and other vintage miscellany for our tablescape and decor. Since no “rustic chic” wedding is complete without a typewriter-guestbook, we were thrilled to discover the perfect specimen at the local flea market. In fact, one of my proudest wedding planning accomplishments was changing the typewriter’s ink ribbon with the help of an instructional YouTube video!

We created escort cards by affixing Japanese Washi tape to shipping tags – a quick and easy project that came out great. All of these items were displayed on the beautiful wooden wagon that the owners of the property were gracious enough to let us borrow for the occasion.

Lest our Brooklyn guests get homesick, we served a signature cocktail called the Brooklyn Ginger, a concoction of Absolut Brooklyn, ginger ale, and a squeeze of lime. The menu featured a seasonal selection of local meats and produce. We also served seltzer in original glass bottles, which functioned as both decoration and drink. From the moment we arrived at our Rehearsal Dinner Square Dance, to the time we waved goodbye to the last school bus shuttling our family and friends home, the weekend was truly a dream come true.

Photography: Dave Robbins Photography / Invitations: Design by Paperfinger & Letterpress by Coeur Noir / Video: Joshua Brown Photography / Event  Coordination & Floral Design: Destiation Bride / Rentals: Columbia Tent Rentals / Catering: Apogee Catering / Lighting: BearFly Designs / Venue: The Hill

I actually love a theme wedding but sometimes the problem with a theme wedding is that it can get a little too…well…theme-y.  So here’s an idea, which I’m stealing from this Manhattan wedding by Josh McCullock Fine Art Weddings and Films, skip the theme and just take inspiration from the things you love.  Love to read?  Use a library catalog for your escort cards!  Love to eat?  Use the names of your favorite restaurants as table numbers!  There’s no reason why you can’t have it all and still make it look good!  Oh and why don’t we just throw in some be-still-my-heart flowers from the great Saipua!  If you can’t get enough of this elegant wedding you may want to check out the full gallery and then head over to Josh McColluck’s blog to see the beautiful film!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Josh McCullock… Jesse and Stacy were married on Jan. 8th 2011 on Manhattan’s upper east side. Preparations were done at the Hotel Wales with the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception held at the Harold Pratt House. The bride and groom are both rich with friends and experience. They love food and dining and it came out in the design and execution of their wedding day. Each guest chose their table assignment from an old library card catalog and then found their seat at one of many tables named after one of the couple’s favorite restaurants. They gave favors to all their guests, such as custom jars of buckwheat honey from a farm in their native Ithaca, New York. This wedding was an absolute joy to shoot. Not because of the well planned details and timeless locations, but because the couple has a magnetism and humility about them.

Wedding Photography: Josh McCullock Fine Art Weddings and Films / Wedding Cinematography: Josh McCullock Fine Art Weddings and Films / Wedding Venue: The Harold Pratt House / Wedding Preparations: Hotel Wales / Florist: Saipua / Wedding Stationary: Stephanie Moss, Friend of the Bride / Wedding Dress: Custom by Lydia Colombo / Ceremony Musician: Cynthia Marcus Smith / Cocktail Musicians: Aaron Ewing Jazz Trio / Dinner Musicians: Juliana Riccardi Music Group (JRMG) / Post-Dinner DJ: Anthony Costello of JRMG / Wedding Cakes: Magnolia Bakery / Pies: Four & Twenty Blackbirds / Cookies: Nicole Masciopinto / Makeup: Ron Titone of Dana Bartone & Company / Hair: Kathy Slowik & Anna Geloso of Hair Creations

We are suckers for sentimental touches here at SMP, and I am a certified sap when it comes to traditions that help personalize weddings. Particularly when said tradition is fashion based. Take for instance this breathtaking Brooklyn wedding by Erik Ekroth Photography – the bride’s gorgeous coat has been passed down for 50 years, and is to be worn when the women in the family need a little time in the spotlight. Now that is a tradition I would fully embrace. Be sure to check out the full gallery for even more personal details from this gorgeous autumn affair.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the bride… We wanted to create an intimate gathering with an elegant, understated theme, a slice of vintage glamour and full of precious, sentimental details. Details that highlighted past and present and the blending of two families. With my roots in Pennsylvania and Michael’s in Michigan, it was about entertaining in “one of the greatest cities on earth” and as we subtly stated in handmade wedding itineraries from Etsy vendor, Little Ladybug Press, we wanted our friends and family to “fall in love with Brooklyn.”

We were fortunate to have an amazing natural color palette around us. The brilliance of autumn and its magnificent foliage was in full swing. We couldn’t have asked for a better backdrop. The River Café, Brooklyn NY was beyond spectacular. The entrance alone instantly places you in the midst of a lush oasis with arrangement upon arrangement of fresh fall inspired flowers. Enclosed in our own conservatory, we were delighted with 180-degree views of the Manhattan skyline across the Hudson River and a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty to boot.  We wanted the inside of the Terrace Room to feel just as radiant as the surrounding area. Guests were greeted with cream-colored pumpkin and leaf cardstock escort cards from Etsy vendor Sugar Papers that had been calligraphed. Our talented florist Denise Fasanello created the tablescapes with elegant floral arrangements. Rustic and lush in appearance with full Dahlias, orange roses, local hydrangeas, bittersweet, and calendula. The mini pumpkins selected from an Amish Farm in Pennsylvania provided us with a signature fall touch as Denise positioned them cascading from the arrangement. Additionally pumpkins and varied gourds were used to highlight our curly willow wishing tree as friends and families were asked to “leave us a well wish for the future” on multicolored mini leaves.  A single acorn collected from my grandfathers’ 60 year old Red Oak tree dotted each of the place settings. A precious sentiment as he is no longer with us, but could be there in spirit.

The space embraced our less than 50 person affair. Lending itself to the perfect level of intimacy, we were able to share our own taste in music without a band or even a deejay. Michael carefully crafted our own cocktail, dinner and dance mix. It captured all of our musical interests with far from the traditional sounds…a real crowd pleaser. The menu was an array of palate pleasing courses from gnocchi to veal.  In lieu of wedding cake, we opted for individual apple tarte tatins for our guests and a signature Brooklyn Bridge dessert in decadent chocolate for Michael and I to seal the deal.

The desire for vintage glam was idealized in my dress and accessories.  A chance encounter at a Birnbaum and Bullock sample sale, alone and on a whim it was one of the few dresses I tried. But as they say “when you know you know.”  With minimal alterations needed, the dress fit like a glove. It was meant to be. My something borrowed and standout accessory was the art deco belt buckle I fashioned as a hair brooch. My shoes, once plain silver strappy shoes were glammed with hand made shoe clips from Etsy vendor Sofisicata. Bold in theory for me, but perfect in sentiment, I wore vintage costume ruby and diamond earrings that my mother and I found among some of my grandmother’s jewelry. Unbeknownst to her, they were exactly what I wanted and were the combined birthstone of Michael and myself.  Luxurious in so many ways, but more endearing was the fur coat I wore during the day for pictures. A 50 year old coat that carries a lot of history and pleasure for many special women in my life was given some center stage moments.  My bridesmaids were regal in eggplant by designer Enzoani. My intention was to have a color that most exemplified fall. The color complimented each of the ladies features and made for a fun cocktail dress for an afternoon wedding. Each of us were highlighted with beautiful bouquets wrapped in hand selected vintage hankies and brooches to meet the girls personalities. I carried a traditional Irish lace hankie with shamrocks to honor my Poppi pinned by an art deco brooch with three crystals, as I am one of three girls in my family.  Michael sported a Hugo Boss suit. His groomsmen were likewise outfitted in suits with purple ties in various shades to complement the bridesmaids.

After ten months of preparation and thoughtful execution of details with respect to so many special people in our lives we felt as though we succeeded in creating a day that embodied us as a couple. WE are so grateful to the many talented people that brought their creative spirits to fruition. Our photographer Erik Ekroth has a gift for imagery and captured the day effortlessly. Many Etsy.com vendors were utilized and were a dream to work with offering much care and delight in being apart of our day. The hours spent enjoying the day and blissfully relaying all the special touches and sentiments was and still is the most enjoyable. We were overjoyed and almost in awe that the day could truly unfold far better than we could have ever imagined. In one word, we felt blessed.

Wedding Photographer: Erik Ekroth Photography / Reception Venue: The River Café / Wedding Gown: Birnbaum & Bullock / Bride’s Shoes: Ralph Lauren / Shoe Clips: Sofisticata / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Bridesmaid Dresses: Love by Enzoani / Escort Cards: Sugar Papers / Photobooth Accessories: Maro Designs / Florist: Denise Fasanello Floral Design / Calligrapher: Maryann Goodhue of Goodhue Designs / Wedding Itineraries: Little Ladybug Press

This super darling Montauk wedding by Karen Wise Photography has me craving sweet, summer days by the shoreline like you would not believe. The casual yet elegant vibe of this affair is just what I love about summertime weddings. Not to mention, the bride’s dress could not be more adorable. It just could not be. I do believe my Monday morning will be spent  soaking up all of this sweet summer soiree in the full gallery, and I bet I am not alone on this one.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Joe and I met through match.com in August 2007.  Turns out, we had lived less than one block apart for almost six years.  In fact, our apartment buildings almost backed up to one another. But our paths never crossed – at least not that we were aware of – until the internet brought us together.

After we got engaged, we really had no clear idea of exactly what we wanted for our wedding – other than a fun party that wasn’t too formal – or even where we wanted to get married.  Eventually, we settled on Montauk, where we had spent the last two summers, and it couldn’t have worked out better. It became a destination wedding, of sorts, and we were able to enjoy the full weekend with our family and friends.  Best of all, Mother Nature cooperated completely, giving us a string of perfect 80 degree days in the middle of one of the hottest, most humid summers on record in the northeast.

We were fortunate to work with some fantastic vendors who were able to implement our idea of casual but elegant with very little direction from us.  In fact, they often got little more than a list of what we didn’t want.  And throughout the planning process, I was always amazed by the patience and generosity of our friends and family, who pitched in to help in so many ways.

When we got the pictures back, we were absolutely thrilled.  Karen Wise and her assistant, Joan Cuenco, did an amazing job capturing the emotions and details of the day beautifully.  In particular, I think they got at least one picture of every one of our guests, which is something I hadn’t really thought about beforehand, but now I’m so glad to have all those shots.

Wedding Photography: Karen Wise Photography / Flowers: Karen Lenahan Design / Event Planning & Design: Anderson Green Events / Wedding DJ: PopShop DJs / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: East by Northeast / Wedding Invitations: Lion in the Sun / Bride’s Dress: Christina Kara of Blue / Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Navy Beach Restaurant

I am having such a hard time deciding what I love more about this wedding but that perfect shade of red lipstick is definitely at the top of the list and paired with the prettiest ballet flats makes for an ultra romantic bridal style. We are definitely all about romance around here. And then there’s the wedding…the gorgeous garden wedding in the middle of New York City with scrumptious florals by Denise Fasanello Floral Design. Yep, if I had a wedding redo, you bet your bottom dollar it would look EXACTLY like this pretty number. See the rest of the gorgeous images captured by A Couple Of Cameras in the gallery.

see the FULL wedding here!

From the Bride… We wanted to have an outdoorsy wedding with lots of trees and greenery, which is not so easy to find in New York City. Fort Tryon Park and New Leaf Restaurant (located in the park) were absolutely perfect. The New Leaf Restaurant is such an amazing place to have a wedding reception. Not only is the staff amazing, but the food is fantastic. There are so many trees in the park – you can’t believe you are still in Manhattan. Kevin, his dad and his best man took the subway to the ceremony, so we ended up with some cool photos from that. Overall, we didn’t want anything to be too perfect or polished, so we went with decorations like mismatched vintage books and bottles, and wildflowers. I have a longstanding obsession with Alice in Wonderland so we used cards featuring Alice characters and quotes on the Save The Date postcards, table and seating cards, gift table, and dessert table. We also had vintage Alice in Wonderland books incorporated into the centerpieces. Kevin has a love for the novel Dune, so a few of those sneaked into the table settings, too, and his favorite cartoon (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) ended up as cupcake toppers. Instead of a traditional guest book we put out an assortment of antique and vintage postcards for people to leave messages on. I wouldn’t change a thing about our wedding — everything came together perfectly and our guests had a blast!

Photography: A Couple Of Cameras / Flowers: Denise Fasanello Floral Design /  Ceremony Location: Fort Tryon Park / Reception Location: New Leaf Restaurant / Invitations: A Printable Press / Save The Dates: design by Joe Krause / Shoes: Lanvin / Dress: Sarah Seven / Hair: Rubi Jones at Whittemore House Salon / Makeup: Mary Schook / Groom’s attire: Alton Lane suit; Freemans, Sporting Club tie / Maid of Honor dress: Pinky Otto / Table and seating cards: Pink Cherry Mama on Etsy (we added charms and stamped them ourselves) / Desserts: Baked / DJ: DJ Seep

It is easy to fall in love with this next wedding. The amazing florals from Denise Fasanello Floral Design make it so. They provide a could-not-be-more-perfect jumping off point for the deep, rich colors of this Brooklyn affair. Add views of the Brooklyn Bridge, a ceremony as culturally rich as those flowers are perfect, and a bride with a stunning smile, and what you have is an absolutely perfect wedding. Make sure to feast your eyes on even more beauty in the gallery!

From the Courtney Davidson Photography … Everything about this wedding was perfect– and not just because I walked to it from my apartment in Brooklyn, camera bag in-tow. Because Zena and Ronald were so excited to marry each other, all the other details of the day fell into place. From the beautiful waterfront ceremony at sunset, to the flowers which were nothing short of works of art, this wedding was reminder of why I love shooting weddings. Other than capturing the wonderful details, I focused half my time capturing the love Zena and Ronald have for each other, and the other half capturing the love they have for their friends and family. Having recently moved to Nashville, I look back on this wedding with fond memories of my old neighborhood and the pure joy of the day, grateful to have been a part of it.

From the beautiful bride … We met at a café and, hours later, found ourselves lost in Central Park, and not anxious to find our way out. Eager to make an impression on his accomplished date, Ronald regaled me with the concept that a German woman can obtain the same designation by marrying a doctor as by earning a doctoral degree. When he proposed, it was therefore on a prescription, inquiring if I would become “Frau Doktor Tamler”. The lifetime of refills won me over.

We needed to make sure that we had a trilingual wedding to accommodate our international guests. We also had to bridge Ron’s desire for a traditional Jewish wedding with my more “reform” sensibilities. We were very lucky that we found Rabbi Michael Dick, who speaks German, Hebrew and English and who, despite being traditional, allowed us to make the ceremony our own.

It was very important for us to make our guests feel at ease, and part of that was not having groomsmen or bridesmaids, but leaving our guests responsible only for enjoying the day. We did have an entire wedding weekend: A bachelor party on Friday night, a rehearsal dinner with 30-something family members and guests from out of town on Saturday night, and then the actual wedding on Sunday of Labor Day weekend.

Photography: Courtney Davidson / Floral Design: Denise Fasanello Floral Design / Event Design & Planning: Adrienne Colosimo, Bespoke Affairs / Ceremony Location: Giando on the Water / Reception Location: Giando on the Water / Invitations & paper products: Ajalon Printing & Design / Linen rentals: La Flor Events & Designs / Band: East Coast Band