Willowdale Estate has got to be one of the prettiest places in Massachusetts to get married. Not only are the grounds amazing and lend for a breathtaking outdoor ceremony, the stone craftsman style house is to die for! This adorable couple knew right away that this was the perfect place for them to say their I Do’s and by looking at the pretty images by Alexandra Roberts Photography, you’ll totally see why. Click here for even more!
From the Bride… Our wedding took place at Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts. When we first visited the site, we knew right away this was the perfect spot for our wedding. The grounds are breathtaking, and the stone house is perfect. Following the venue’s advice, we timed the ceremony to coincide with the setting sun, which worked out perfectly. We were bathed in beautiful, warm sunlight, and it felt magical.
In keeping with the vintage feel of the estate, we kept our decorations rustic and fun, using mostly antiques, including birdcages, old frames, urns, soda crates, chests and fun beaded bird napkin rings that doubled as favors for our guests. (We had extras so that everyone could have a complete set.) My mother sewed the table linens from bold, orange-patterned fabric that helped tie together our kelly green and dark orange theme. (No pink at this wedding!) In lieu of a guest book, we created a “message in a bottle” table, where our guests wrote little notes to us, tied them with twine and dropped them into a vintage water jug. We’ve had such a blast over the past few months shaking them out gradually and reading the sweet, touching, wise, and often hilarious messages that people left us throughout the night.
My husband and I LOVE food and drinks — we are huge foodies, and our wedding certainly reflected this! Both of us grew up on the coast in New England (me near Boston, Ira in Maine), so a raw bar was essential! Our signature drink was a delicious and refreshing vintage-inspired Honey Lemon Sidecar. We also featured a late-night ice cream bar and fry cones with dipping sauces. After dancing and drinking for hours it was a great treat to end the night.
Wedding Photography: Alexandra Roberts Photography / Wedding Venue: Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Stephanie’s Floral Design / Event Design: DIY by the Bride / Event Planning: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister / Wedding Invitations, Programs + Menus: DIY by the Bride / Ceremony Music: The Goodtime String Band / DJ: Beat Train Productions / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Necklace: Kate Spade