Rhode Island Weddings

When I think of Newport I think of unpretentious elegance, seaside glamour and classic beauty and this wedding by SNAP! Photography embodies all of those qualities and so much more.  I am in la-la-land over the lavender palette with metallic accents and subtly sophisticated pineapple motif especially in the stationery by Paper Moss.  It is classic with a twist of chic and a dash of modern merriment and, needless to say, I am just smitten.  The full gallery is bursting with even more stunning photography and breathtaking details so click here to see it all!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

What could make this day even better?  How about the highlight film by Mike Picard Videography!

From the bride… On July 16, 2011, Sarah and Zack were married at Belle Mer’s ocean-side lawn with one of the summer’s most beautiful sunsets as their backdrop. An event nearly two years in the making, Sarah and Zack’s vision of a romantically glamorous and chic evening affair came to life. With the help of an all-star team of vendors, Sarah’s love for all things pretty and Zack’s love of being near the ocean were blended together perfectly. Sarah and Zack did not need to look far for inspiration; from the start, they knew they wanted to welcome their guests to Newport with a fun-filled weekend they would never forget. Enter the pineapple, a traditional symbol of Newport hospitality that was delicately carried throughout the event, from the invitation suite to the refreshing signature pineapple mojitos. A beautiful blend of white flowers with fresh lavender and crystal accents filled the salon with a modern, elegant atmosphere, making for an evening that Sarah and Zack feel was nothing less than “pineapple perfection.”

Wedding Photography: SNAP! Photography / Wedding Venue: Belle Mer in Newport, Rhode Island / Wedding Invitations + Paper Goods: Paper Moss / Flowers: Village Arts & Flowers / Videography: Mike Picard Videography / Wedding Cake: Confectionery Designs / Bride’s + Bridesmaids Attire: Allegria Bridal / Entertainment: DJ Raffi Professional Music Production / Cigars: Boston Cigar Factory / Lounge Furniture + Linens: Rentals Unlimited / Hair + Makeup: Breanne, Kristen + Marie of All About You Salon and Day Spa / Ceremony Officiant: Honorable Frank Camera / Ceremony Musicians: Martha Niemiec with Upstairs Quartet (781-640-5980) / Wedding Gown: Judd Waddell / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Jewelry: Haute Bride / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jim Hjelm

Welcome back to another fabulous week here at SMP Massachusetts. We’re taking a short trip south to Newport, Rhode Island this morning to share with you this pretty, ocean front fete by Kristin Spencer Photography. We’re talking gorgeous florals, pretty paper and calligraphy, and a totally stunning dress. Click here for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… I scanned dozens of bridal magazines looking for inspiration but ended up finding my inspiration in a bit of an odd place — a dressing room! While I was bridesmaid dress shopping at J.Crew, one thing that really caught my eye was the room we were sitting in. It was was warm and traditional like our venue but also felt modern. I took photos of the dressing room and used the images as my inspiration. We didn’t follow the exact look but looked to the decor as guidance. The dressing room brought in crystal and gold for a modern feel. Similarly, we brought in black, white and pewter to complement the warmer tones of the venue.

Artie and I were married outside on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We lined the aisles with silver buckets of pink flowers and scattered white rose petals throughout. In the front, we added two large silver vases topped with wire spheres and light pink flowers woven in creating a unique and modern look. Cocktail hour also took place outside and we moved the ceremony flowers to our cocktail tables so to bring in a bit of color. We had custom gray napkins made with our names on them as well as wooden stir sticks with our initials. To make things even more personal, we had “Bride” and “Groom” specialty cocktails — mine was a spiked pink lemonade (with a purple flower as garnish) and his was a Dark and Stormy. As the sun set and guests entered the indoor reception, they were greeted by a more modern and elegant look. The room was lit with purple lighting and highlighted beautiful white floral centerpieces. We also used dusty millers to bring in silver into our floral arrangements. For our menus, table numbers and escort cards, we incorporated black and white by using black paper with white calligraphy. We also re-purposed the large silver wire spheres from the ceremony and placed them behind the sweetheart table. Following dinner, guests were surprised by a spread of desserts and candy. We tried to stick to our colors in the layout, using pink, black and white. As New Yorkers, we were excited to bring in some of our favorite desserts including Momofuku truffles and black and white cookies. Artie and I both have a big sweet tooth so we wanted to have items we loved and could share with everyone. We also love cupcakes and cookies so we had a huge display of various flavors. Design-wise, I wanted to keep the set up to look modern, so we found mirrors and lucite trays, which we thought would be an interesting touch.

Our goal was to throw a fun and beautiful celebration that truly represented us as a couple and most importantly, fit within our budget. Artie and I were paying for the wedding ourselves, and while Artie wanted nothing more than to give me the wedding of my dreams, we both agreed we wanted to start our life together on the right foot by making smart financial decisions. Most people we have spoken to have been surprised at how many ways we were able to save money by combining an element of DIY with help of professionals to create a more affordable version of what we were trying to achieve. A perfect example are our menus. They were round black menus with white script. Initially, I reached out to someone in the wedding industry to help me but when I received the pricing, I realized I would need to find another route. I went online and found a calligrapher who was willing to design a sample and then help me digitize the file. From there, I sent the file to an online printer, which was very affordable. The only problem was that they couldn’t do a round cut within my budget so I ordered a regular cut and then purchased a circle cutter. Sure, it cost me hours of sleep, but I actually loved the DIY projects, and they made the process that much more memorable. When else will I see my now-husband helping me with arts and crafts?

Wedding Photography: Kristin Spencer Photography / Wedding Venue: OceanCliff Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island / Wedding Cinematography: Newport Wedding Films / Wedding Flowers: Stoneblossom Floral & Event Design / Entertainment: Victor Events / Desserts: Momofuku Milk Bar, Cupcake Charlie + Fatulli’s  / Ceremony Music: Sukada Trio / Linens + China: Rentals Unlimited / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Invitations: Kelly Hicks Design

When you think of Newport, Rhode Island visions of sailboats and sunny beach days may dance in your head – but after swooning over every gorgeous image of this winter beauty captured by Snap! Photography, you might think of that pretty little city by the sea a bit differently. With this couple’s sophisticated seasonal style all on display at the oh so lovely Belle Mer, the next time you think of Newport I guarantee you will have visions of this winter wedding waltzing around in your head! See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… We spent our first “real date” in Newport, Rhode Island, at a small, cozy bed and breakfast during winter. Newport in winter is truly a unique experience. Historic mansions, cozy restaurants, quiet streets and empty beaches create the setting for a perfect romantic getaway. It became a regular trip for us so when we got engaged, deciding on a location and a time of year to get married was easy. Selecting our venue was also easy. Belle Mer is absolutely stunning. We used white, gray and black accents to create our winter wedding theme. The bridesmaids wore soft gray dresses and the groomsmen wore classic tuxedos. To complement the tuxes, the girls wore black faux-fur shrugs purchased on Etsy. I found my vintage fur stole in my grandmother’s closet and thought it would tie in nicely with our winter backdrop. However to our amazement, we had an absolutely beautiful, fall-like day, which made our photos absolutely breathtaking. For our reception, we wanted to keep it elegant, romantic and most of all, fun! Our escort cards were attached to custom ornaments filled with personalized paper hearts. I used clear glass ornaments, card stock and a heart punch put them together. Flowers by Semia created several types of beautiful high/low arrangements using all types of white flowers illuminated by a variety of candles. In addition to the candles, we used up-lighting throughout the room to add color. The lighting changed color throughout the night to depict transition between cocktails, dinner, and dancing. Also, I added a little sparkle of my own by wearing an embellished belt for the reception, which was inspired by the gorgeous chandeliers at Belle Mer. As for dessert, we decided on cupcakes because it allows guests to select their personal favorite, and more importantly, I’m a cupcake fanatic! We wanted to be playful with the cupcakes and stick to our winter theme so we brainstormed flavor combinations and came up with fun types such as “gingerbread” and “sno-cap.” Confectionery Designs put their elegant spin on everything and created the most delicious cupcakes. If that wasn’t sweet enough, we also gave guests chocolate nonpareils as our favors because the white pearls reminded us of snow.   I have always loved DIY projects, and weddings are the optimal platform to create fun and unique items of your choice. A lot of my inspiration came from browsing through wedding and photography blogs such as SMP and Snap! I would save all of my favorite pictures to my own vision board, which inspired the design of our invitations, ceremony cards, menu cards and escort cards. Using fonts downloaded from dafont.com, products from Paper Source and the help of family and friends, we created our own unique designs for all of the printed items. I think back on how many hours went into these personalized items and how rewarding it was to see the final product – I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Wedding Photography: Snap! Photography / Florist: Flowers by Semia / Wedding Venue + Catering: Belle Mer in Newport, Rhode Island / Cupcakes: Confectionery Designs / Wedding Gown: Angelina Faccenda via La Reine / Bride’s Belt: Enzoani “Fabi” / Brides Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Earrings + Fur Wrap: Antiques Owned by the Bride’s Grandmother / Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Black Faux-Fur Shrugs: Alexbridal / Hair: New Leaf Salon / Makeup: Kristina Jones of Alayne White Spa / Invitations, Ceremony Programs + Holiday Ornament Place Cards: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Favors: Chocolate Delicacy / Transportation: Newport Wedding Trolley + Viking Tours / Lodging: Pearls of Newport

Picturesque Newport, Rhode Island, a long and lace-lined veil, a beautiful gown just begging to be twirled in, a perfect pink color palette, pretty blooms from Sayles Livingston Flowers – these are a few of the things I am currently swooning over. And when I swoon, I swoon hard so Snap Photography is making my day today with this elegant party. It’s the definition of classic elegance, and there is more pretty to swoon over in the full gallery of images!

And because we just cant get enough of this lovely wedding, we just had to share the GORGEOUS film from the fête by David Bettencourt…

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/32050608 601 338]

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Nick and I both attended the same high school in Ridgefield, CT but we weren’t friends at the time. It was not until college that we would meet again through mutual friends and quickly become best friends and then in 2006 we began dating long distance (Nick in Pennsylvania and Maria in Florida) while in our senior year of college. We spent almost four years doing long distance until Nick proposed under the Brooklyn Bridge at The River Café and soon after moved in together in Jersey City finally putting an end to the long distance.

When I started planning the wedding I knew I didn’t want any kind of theme. I knew I wanted to focus mainly on the color pink and stick to a traditional and classic wedding. My mom and I did most of the planning together, ripping pages from wedding magazines, and of course often visiting etsy.com and of course stylemepretty.com for inspiration.  When looking for my wedding dress I knew I wanted a timeless look which I could look back twenty years from now and wouldn’t be out of style. The Lazaro ballgown was perfect because it was simple and elegant and the jeweled belt added sparkle without being too much. My veil which completed the look was made by Provnovias in Barcelona. My veil was one of my favorite parts of the wedding, it really made me feel like a bride!

Newport, RI is one of those most beautiful cities in the United States. It is surrounded by water and the cliff walk and mansions emit the classic New England charm. Nick and I both had many friends and relatives coming from all over the country and overseas so we wanted our guests to not only enjoy our wedding day but also enjoy our wedding location as they would probably be spending a few days in the area. We were married at Trinity Church, one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Newport. When we visited Belle Mer I knew immediately it was “the one”. Three words describe Belle Mer: location, location, location! The views are breathtaking and it has a very modern and sophisticated feeling. The Island House at Belle Mer is surrounded by a sprawling lawn where our guests enjoyed cocktail hour looking over the Narragansett Bay. Belle Mer also provided croquet and bocchi ball. The lawn games were a great way for guests to relax and have fun. One of the best parts of the wedding reception was definitely the photolounge by Snap Photography. Our guests were taking photos all night long and they were able to take them home as a favor.  The photolounge pictures are also a great way for Nick and I to laugh and see how much fun our friends and family had on our wedding day.

Our wedding day was a dream and one we will never forget. We had beautiful weather, a beautiful location and celebrated with our loved ones. Who could ask for anything more?

Wedding Dress: Lazaro / Veil: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Make-up: Sandra Downie / Maid of Honor Dress: Jenny Yoo / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Ceremony Location: Trinity Church / Reception Location: Belle Mer / Wedding Photography + Photolounge: Snap Photography / Floral Design: Sayles Livingston Flowers / Cocktail Linens: Rentals Unlimited / Macaron Favors: Confectionary Designs / Wedding Cake: Scrumptions / Wedding Videography: David Bettencourt / Lighting: High Output / DJ: DJ Derek Holtie / Transportation: Viking Tours / Limousine: A1 Limo

Newport is such a fab little destination wedding location for New Englanders. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from Boston and the likes, and full of style and history – Newport produces loads of pretty. And this wedding by Lisa Rigby Photography at Belle Mer is most definitely pretty. SUPER pretty. Overflowing with flowers from Stoneblossom and stylish details around every corner, it’s pretty and THEN some! See it all for yourself in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…John proposed one year to the day after our first weekend away together at our favorite NYC hotel. I was completely surprised and over the moon happy. On our way home from celebrating our engagement that evening I found myself in front of an all night news stand buying wedding magazines. I couldn’t believe it was my turn to not just pass by this section but to finally start the fabulous adventure of planning our wedding. Being that John and I are both originally from NY but currently live in Boston we decided on a location that was half way between our two homes and Newport, RI was the perfect fit. We decided to do a mini-destination wedding in this beautiful seaside town. Belle Mer was our first appointment and we fell in love.Our wedding theme came easily to us since the venue was on the ocean and we booked a summer date, we wanted a modern seaside chic wedding filled with lots of personal touches that reflected our style. After securing the color scheme and choosing the bridesmaid dresses we went with a navy, bright purple and white color palette with accents of aqua.

Following Style Me Pretty religiously throughout the planning process I was inspired by so many beautiful weddings and took details that I liked and then put our own spin and style on them. I learned what I wanted our photographs to look like and knew I wanted both photos and film to capture our emotions on the big day. Lisa Rigby and Still Motion were the two best vendors who really understood that. Flowers and paper goods were my next obsessions. I wanted peonies & hydrangea everywhere an Stone Blossom seemed as giddy as I was planning out an all white floral palette with the only color being my wedding bouquet. Miss Pickles Press worked with me over the course of a year designing all the paper items and dreamed up the exact look we wanted for our modern wedding. Details were so important to us and we really felt made the wedding special to John and me. I envisioned beautiful pillows, frames, apothecary jars, mirrors, vases everywhere and was able to find them all on Etsy. Every Etsy vendor I worked with was amazing and really gave me custom items to match our wedding. I was constantly surprised when everything came out better then I had imagined.

On the day of the wedding we had the most beautiful weather and everything went as we exactly as we had planned. It was the best overwhelming feeling of love and happiness we have ever felt and will always remember. We will be forever grateful to everyone who helped make all of our dreams come true on our special day!

Wedding Photography: Lisa Rigby Photography / Film Makers: StillMotion / Venue: Belle Mer / Floral Design: Stoneblossom / Wedding Cake + Groom’s Cake: Confectionery Designs / Wedding Dress: Anne Barge via Kleinfelds / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale via L’Élite / Band: Night Rhythm / Cocktail Hour Band: Steel Rhythm / Save the Date: Cheree Berry Paper / Wedding Invitations + Day of Paper Items: Miss Pickles Press / Navy + Aqua Pillows: Willa Skye Home / White + Navy LOVE Pillow: Wrap it Up LLC / Table Frames: Frame it by Jill / Hammered Silver Items: West Elm / Bridesmaid Rings: Toosis / LOVE Dishes: Say Your Piece / Wedding Mugs: Timeless Creations / Ring Pillow: Giggle Room / Silver Urchin Escort Card Holders: Gallery 360 / H&J Wood Letters: Compulsive Collection / Vases for Drink Stirrers: CB2 / Tote Bag Design: QA Design

What do you get when a few of Massachusetts’ most talented wedding vendors head on down to the Belle Mer in Rhode Island for a fabulous Newport soiree?  Magic.  A fuchsia, purple, modern and uber-chic kind of magic.  Yes, these New England nuptials have cast quite the spell on me with those gorgeous florals by Raspberry Bouquet (Hello peonies!) and the end-all, be-all of color palettes.  And these ah-ma-zing images by Lexi Photography?  They will most definitely have me swooning for days.  So, let’s get started, shall we?  Join me in the gallery for all of the fabulousness!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Lexi Photography… Marthé and Ryan were married on a beautiful June day at the fabulous Belle Mer in Newport, RI. They got the most stunning weather and the pops of fuchsia in the bridesmaids dresses and bouquets were beautiful against the modern white facade of Belle Mer’s Water Salon. Marthé wore an amazing Vera Wang belted gown and Ryan was in a traditional black tux with a pink tie and suspenders. The girls wore pink Amsale dresses and donned silver shoes, the guys were in the same black tux/pink tie attire as the groom. The reception room was decked out with amazing florals done by Lauren Perkins of Raspberry Bouquet, out of Charlestown, MA. The chairs were dressed with pink leis and the tables each had one of three exquisite centerpieces. The guests carried takeout boxes with their names on them filled with candy that doubles as both a seating card and their favors.

Wedding Photography: Lexi Photography / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Jewelry: One World Designs / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Hair + Make-up: Sara Faella / Groomsmen Attire: Read & White / Flowers: Raspberry Bouquet / Wedding Cake: Sweet Tooth Boston / Venue: Belle Mer / DJ: Victor from Party Time / Uplighting: Boston Uplights

Krystal and Paul at Studio Foto captured this classic Newport, Rhode Island church wedding with a stunning reception at Belcourt Castle.  We’ll be back on Monday with the full wedding feature, but first a quick peek and the link to Studio Foto for more gorgeous imagery!

So many beautiful shots from Taylor and Jeff’s wedding at Belcourt Castle … Studio Foto continued it right here!

See you later with the full feature on Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book Blog!

I just want to wrap myself up in the ethereal feel of this Rhode Island wedding by Melissa Robotti Photography. The beiges, creamy whites, and soft pinks just speak to the elegant and chic part of my soul (and of course that is a good part).  It’s all that is wonderful about a classic Newport wedding, yet modern at the same time – which in my eyes makes it perfect. While I am going on and on about how much I love this wedding, you should check out the full gallery for even more images to fawn over.

click here for even more elegant excellence!

While Ari and I love the excitement and exhilaration of living in NYC, we have visited and fallen in love with Newport, RI every year since we began dating 4 years ago.  The beauty and serenity of this historical sailing town just captured our hearts from the start.  Knowing that this was a special place to both of us, we decided to take a spontaneous visit on a hunt to find a perfect venue for our special day. When we arrived at Belle Mer, it felt like we stepped into a mélange of chic NYC elegance and serene Newport charm with stunning views overlooking both the Harbor and Narragansett Bay.  More importantly, it was large enough to host all of our family and friends who always love a good party!

The inspiration was a blend of vintage elegance and modern, romantic touches so as to surround ourselves and our guests in a warm, ethereal setting. Neutral colors of light beiges and creamy whites with highlights of soft pink helped to create the overall feel. There were amble amounts of candlelight– lanterns that flickered with subtle light during the ceremony, hundreds of tea lights throughout the room, and tall white pillar candles enhancing the beauty of the long staircase and cozy fireplace.  Creamy white and beige roses and fluffy hydrangeas centered the tables and highlighted the ceremony.  One of my favorite elements was an idea that our lovely event coordinator, Venessa put together at the last minute for us! With the cool ocean breeze that was chilling the air that day, we offered our guests hot cider and donuts as they arrived for the ceremony.  It was a wonderful addition to a chilly Fall day!

It was important to us to make certain elements of our day very personal: two of my brothers played their guitars and used their amazing voices to perform acoustics with specially selected songs during the reception, the mother of the groom wrote out beautiful gold calligraphy on all of the place cards, white cakes from our favorite NYC bake shop were brought in and our favorite candies were offered at a candy bar throughout the evening.  My late grandmother also had a meaningful presence in my special day.  I wore her favorite broach on my vintage fur shawl and the pearls from the veil she wore on her wedding day adorned my veil– all as a thoughtful gift from my mother. In lieu of favors, we made a donation to the American Cancer Society to honor of my beloved grandmother and all of our friends and family that have been affected by the disease.

The hours flew by before our eyes with our guests glued to the dance floor, to heartfelt and witty speeches, and an all around fantastic evening.  Our wedding was a story of the love we have for each other and being surrounded by our friends and family made it complete. It was truly unforgettable! Thank you to all of our vendors for making it so perfect!  Special thank you to Melissa Robotti and Kristen Teig of Melissa Robotti Photography for capturing the wonderful emotions and telling the story of the best day of our lives through photographs!

Photography: Melissa Robotti Photography / Flowers: Broadway Florist / Ceremony Location: Belle Mer / Reception Location: Belle Mer / Save-the-dates: BeforeYourParty.com / Invitations: Oblation Papers & Press / Menus and Thank You Cards: William Arthur Stationery / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Dress: Modern Trousseau / Cake: Billy’s Bakery / Band: Synergy / Hair and makeup: Jennie Kay Murphy

A classic Newport Rhode Island wedding never goes out of style, particularly when styled by Raina Dawn Events with the gorgeous floral design of Sayles Livingston Flowers. This fabulous summer affair contained everything endearing about the timeless beach town including a sunset sail for all the guests around the harbor. If that doesn’t scream Newport, I don’t know what does! So for a moment put away your winter boots and put on your boat shoes because each image in the gallery by Carrie Rodman Photography will have you dreaming of sweet salt air and warm summer days.

click here for full wedding gallery!

Sarah & Jeremy were married August 7, 2010 in Newport, Rhode Island.  Sarah and Jeremy live in NYC and hired Raina Dawn Events to coordinate their destination wedding weekend.  The weekend kicked off with a rehearsal dinner at The White Horse Tavern on Friday night after guests checked into the Hotel Viking.  Newport was buzzing that weekend with the Jazz Festival in town and everyone was lucky because come Saturday there was the most perfect summer Newport weather!

Working closely with the bride and groom, the wedding day started early with all 75 guests arriving at 11:00 a.m. ceremony at The Kay Chapel.  Sayles Livingston, a fellow Little Black Book Member, designed all of the beautiful florals on the wedding day, while Carrie Rodman Wedding Photography captured every detail and moment with such beauty.  Sarah and I worked closely on both the wedding day events, as well as all of the fabulous details that were incorporated into the weekend.

Starting with a welcome galvanized tin of goodies representing Newport and Michigan, the bride’s hometown, the basket was full with everything from vintage postcards with history of all of the wedding weekend venues, custom designed maps of Newport, and much more.  They included muslin bags that Sarah hand stamped and filled with vintage style candies (i.e. “Eat at your own Risk” FireBalls, Lemondrops,  Fun Dip), along with vintage looking candles and matches.  In addition to the fabulous gift baskets in every guests hotel room, Sarah also had a number of other DIY projects she took on, like her vintage picture framed Menu Card Board and Escort card board.  Sarah also collects vintage McCoy vases so each table at the reception at OceanCliff had a large white McCoy vase along with a miniature animal McCoy vase that held the table number letterpress cards. Sarah also loves paper, so when it came to her invitations she had Mika 78 produce gorgeous letterpress invitations with a “Welcome to Newport- Wedding Weekend Events Guide” and Tara Jones provided the beautiful calligraphy.

Once the guests witnessed Sarah and Jeremy tie the knot at The Kay Chapel, the bride and groom got in The Hotel Viking London Cab and all the guests headed to OceanCliff for their afternoon wedding reception on the breathtaking coast of Newport.  As the sailboats went by, guests had cocktails out on the lawn and then were ushered into the ballroom for the wedding reception.  For something sweet the Sarah and Jeremy didn’t want the traditional wedding cake, so they opted for the fabulous whoopee pies from Cranberry Island Kitchen.  They were flown into Newport from Maine and Sarah had another DIY project, she color coated with adorable little flags  so guests knew which flavor of whoopee pie they were choosing on the whoopee pie buffet.

The wedding day festivities didn’t end there.  All the guests were then whisked away for a sunset sail on the Schooner Aurora.  Sarah and Jeremy met on Match.com, so when Sarah told me she saw this cute card by Snow & Graham that said “Perfect Match- Caution This Is One HOT ITEM”  I went right to work to have custom made napkins done up with this logo for their sail.

It was such a joy working with Sarah and Jeremy on their destination Newport, RI wedding.  Thanks to all the vendors, Sarah’s DIY vintage projects, and months of planning and coordinating with Sarah and Jeremy, the outcome was a beautiful, fun, intimate, personalized wedding with their own style and flair that truly shined through!

Event Planning and Design: Raina Dawn Events / Photography: Carrie Rodman / Flowers: Sayles Livingston Flowers / Ceremony Location: Kay Chapel Newport, Rhode Island / Reception Location: OceanCliff Newport, Rhode Island / Reception Sunset Sail: Schooner Aurora Newport, Rhode Island / Invitations: Mika 78 / Invitation Calligraphy: Tara Jones Calligraphy / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Dress: Carolina Herrera, Kleinfeld Bridal / Entertainment: Melissa Woolverton and Rick Costa Band / Hair: LaLaLuxe Salon / Makeup: Makeup by Maggie Leonard / Whoopie Pies: Cranberry Island Kitchen / Perfect Match Napkins: Snow and Graham; ForYourParty.com / Accommodations: Hotel Viking Newport, Rhode Island

Be prepared! We had a tough time choosing our favorite photos sent to us by Laura at Lark Photo from Colleen and Drew’s spring wedding! Lots and lots of really pretty details and lots and lots of gorgeous girls (and boys!). To begin, the beautiful bride, Colleen …

Colleen, the wedding dress, was custom designed by Coren Moore for her sister-in-law, Colleen, the bride! Pretty fun, right? To know that your gown is now is a part of a famous designer’s line!?!

Colleen and Drew were married in May in Middletown, Rhode Island ~ and although rain forced the ceremony inside, it didn’t seem dampen anyone spirits! {gallery}

Coren also designed the bridesmaid’s dresses and the flower girl’s dress as well …

The guys turned out pretty snazzy as well …

Colleen and Drew look so immensely happy in all of the photographs, but this one is my personal favorite.

The little guys peering in the windows, too cute!

from their wonderful photographer, Laura …

I was honored to photograph Colleen and Drew’s wedding in Middletown, RI on May 8th, 2010. Colleen and Drew met at Harvard University and have so much in common. Not only are they both extremely athletic, smart, and talented they are also kind, loving, and sincere! Their family and friends acknowledged that as amazing as they each are as individuals, they are even more so together as a couple! The wedding day was flawless and filled with joy! It was suppose to storm all day and the ceremony was moved inside (was suppose to be on the beach), but despite the weather this couple just shined. It rained all morning and right as we were about to start pictures after the ceremony the sky started to clear up and the sun came out like a gift to the couple!

Our thanks to Laura at Lark Photography for sharing this couple’s beautiful day!
You can see even more of the fun times and love that abounded on Laura’s blog and in the SMP gallery.

To see more of Coren Moore’s wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses,
take a look at her website, her blog, and the SMP fashion Look Book

Photography: Lark Photography
Flowers: Natural Surroundings, Hull MA
Event Coordinator: Elaine Holder
Ceremony & Reception: Atlantic Beach Club
Cupcakes: Mad Hatter Bakery, Newport RI
Wedding Dress and Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Coren Moore

There are so many stunning weddings out there we could literally do this every week! I have a new favorite wedding just about every other day. But the fun part about this (besides of course, the amazing weddings) is seeing the all different choices and styles the SMP staff really connected with, everyone had something different to share…

From LBB research colleague, Alicia…

I am completely smitten with this wedding! I grew up in New England, so when I think about getting married in Rhode Island, Newport is the first thing that comes to mind. It is the quintessential sailing town, with a mix of quaint boutiques and upscale restaurants.

The pictures of this wedding make it seem like just that, the perfect mix of elegant and fun. Besides the fact that the bride is stunning and her gown is to die for, this wedding to me, looks like one that you wish you had been lucky enough to attend. The venue is Belle Mer which is located on Goat Island, alongside the Newport Bridge.

I am loving the sophisticated black and white color scheme, those cute little fingerprint details, and that amazing ballroom drenched in warm up-lighting! Everything is just so elegant. You can absolutely tell this couple has great style and created one truly spectacular event! So fun!!!!

Vendor Credits: Venue: Belle Mer, Newport RI / Photographer Kristin Spencer / Floral Design by Stone Blossom / Lighting Ormonde Productions / Planner: Donna Kim of The Perfect Details / Gown, Ramona Keveza from Kleinfelds

Love this wedding? There is so much more eye candy on Kristin’s blog, just click right here to see all the amazing details.

The wedding that we are featuring today is CRAZY beautiful. It’s shockingly simple and yet every detail completely gives me butterflies…from the sweet favors that add depth and dimension to the room, to the tote bags and perfect centerpieces. I love every bit of it. Photographed by Corbin Gurkin, I am completely blown away by this stunning wedding.

From Corbin…

Wendy and Mike were really great sports – it absolutely poured buckets on their wedding day. I’ve never seen so much rain in my life!! They benefited from it being a midday wedding in a very well lit venue so in spite of the rain, I was still able to achieve the light and airy shots that I was after. Luckily (for both of us!), they are having a reception in Hawaii in January where we’ll get to do another photo session and make up for the rain. When the weather acts up, I always encourage my clients to plan a “day after” session or throw the dress back on after the honeymoon. It’s worth getting those portraits after the fact if the wedding day weather just doesn’t cooperate.

This wedding is complete eye candy and although I am not normally a fan of overly matchy matchy weddings…I heart this palette in a big way. The blanket of white from the space just creates the perfect canvas for little pops of color. The clean lines, the sheer draping, the chic logo threaded through every part of the wedding. It’s a completely edited approach to wedding design and it resonates in a big way with my own sense of style.

And the details that I mentioned earlier…well, just look at how cute they are!

Corbin has blown it out of the park with this wedding and I just can’t thank her enough. It’s pure inspiration and will definitely be used in style boards from now until forever. Make sure to check out Corbin’s fab blog that is overflowing with eye candy.

I am literally DYING over this wedding. It’s so different from most of the weddings that come across my desk…the style is pristine, totally and completely clean, fresh and innovative. The color palette alone, of whites, oranges and grays, will be enough to send most of you clear over the edge but then when you dig a little deeper, you’ll see that it’s the details that really shine.

And the photographer behind the day, the completely loved Corbin Gurkin (seriously loved), took a minimalist approach that allowed each and every element to completely shine. I am head over heels for this one.

From Corbin…

This wedding took place at the Bell Mer in Newport, Rhode Island. The bride, Wendy, had an amazing sense of style and I really loved the unusual palette she used – orange, white, and silvery gray. Having a very specific “look” in mind that only a perfectionist like herself could execute, Wendy designed everything herself and even opted for making some paper flowers as an alternative to fresh cut ones.  She even hand cut her own confetti circles to match the décor!

Here are a few details…

The bride wore a stunning Vera Wang gown and perfect, blue Valentino shoes. Wendy actually designed the invitations herself, all centered around a Hawaiian quilt motif, then had Studio on Fire print them. The ring pillow was also designed by the bride using a paper flower that was inspired by a backdrop she spotted at a recent fashion show. All of the flowers were…get this…done by the bride and her friends. Talk about DIY Luxe!

OK. If you thought that this set was as dreamy as I did…you are going to go NUTS when you see the next set of images. They are seriously as perfect as you can possibly get.

We featured Kerry and Dirk’s stunning Newport wedding on our Little Black Book Blog today. It’s the perfect blend of chic, modern …  creamy whites, full of warmth and emotion …

Their wedding venue, Belle Mer is positively exquisite! The photos from Images by Berit ought to convince die-hard “color” lovers that all-white weddings are simply awesome …

well … maybe just a touch of pink …

Berit’s striking images and the details of the day are on the LBB blog … just gorgeous!

Berit is such an incredibly gifted photographer. She has captured the sheer beauty of Belle Mer and all of the stunning details of Kerry & Dirk’s elegant wedding in a pure and powerful way! We really LOVE that each set of images is rich with the colors of the day … from the steely blue-grays in the first set of photos {here}, the creamy whites in the the second set {here}, to the golden browns  ~

Berit’s blog is filled with more gorgeous images from Kerry & Dirk’s wedding as well as MANY others! I swiped a couple to show you their ceremony and a couple of black and whites …

An enormous thank~you to Berit for sharing Kerry & Dirk’s stunning wedding with us!

And congratulations to Kerry & Dirk from all of us here at Style Me Pretty!

Kerry and Dirk were married last September at the absolutely beautiful Belle Mer in Newport, RI.

Kerry’s fabulous gown is a Christian Lacroix design…

An abundance of pale pinks and pristine white, tons of shimmering candles, two people so obviously in love … there is nothing that sets the stage for a romantic evening better than this!

And as evening sets … it’s pure magic!

Cake by Desserts of Distinction; Floral Design by Stoneblossom

A bit of Berit’s philosophy … “The best wedding photography is more than a series of still pictures. It is a kind of physical poetry, portraying the essence of both people and place. No matter where you exchange vows, Berit prides herself on being able to capture the romantic spark between a couple, as well as the mood, personality, ambiance, even geography of the wedding. Your individuality is her artistic palette. And your love and commitment to one another is what guides her in her photography.”

More to come of this exquisite wedding …

Naomi, of GENERATIONS videostories in Boston, is guest blogging today about some of her favorite weddings…and it’s so much fun to hear from someone behind the lens!

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I first heard about Rachelle and Josh when Rachelle’s mom, Patrice, contacted me from NYC, to tell me that she, her daughter, and her soon-to-be son-in-law all loved our “videostories” and asked if we were available for a June 7 wedding in Newport at the Belle Mer. As film makers, we LOVE the Belle Mer: With its white walls, floating white sheer drapes, rolling green lawn, and light-strung bridge arching across the Narragansett Bay, it reminds me of a mansion straight out of the Great Gatsby. After filming a few weddings there, I realized what a wonderful backdrop the site is for decor – there are so many different-feeling spaces at the site, and all of them feel open and flow effortlessly into one another.

I met Rachelle and Josh only a few weeks before their wedding and they struck me as like one of the happiest, most giggling couples I had ever known. When I showed up to film on the day of the wedding, Rachelle and her “girls” were full of smiles and giggles while getting ready. Truly, they were as sunny as the golden-yellow, flowing chiffon evening gowns they wore as maids of honor. In seeing how classic and gorgeous those gowns looked on all of the girls, I wondered why more brides didn’t try the evening gown department of their favorite stores for attendant’s dresses instead of limiting themselves to bridal shops. Mom, Patrice, wore a  stunning, turquoise chiffon gown that was couture designed and made in Paris, and the bride looked (but didn’t act!) like a princess in her off-white ball gown and diamond accessories.

Mom escorted Rachelle down the aisle where the couple exchanged simple vows under an arbor made of two, white- blossomed trees arching toward one another.  The bride and bridesmaids all carried golden calla lilies. The ballroom was filled with tall, fragrant floral arrangements and the band was lit with cobalt blue and fuchsia LED lights which were a joy to capture on film.  What was most wonderful about this wedding was the profound love shared by the couple and their families. You can see the passion between Rachelle  and Josh most clearly in their first dance, but the warmth and closeness of family surrounded the couple throughout the night.

As the wedding season slows down, I am reminded what a privilege it is to be invited into these most intimate moments of a family’s life. Not only do I get the opportunity to see amazing weddings, but I can also immerse myself in some of the most loving experiences anyone could possibly want to have. Every wedding is a blessing.