At SMP, we know just the right cure for the common Monday blues, and it comes in the form of this splendid wedding courtesy of AMW Studios. The sheer classic beauty (um, hello gorgeous Monique Lhuillier gown) and flawless color palette are the perfect ingredients to create something so wonderfully traditional while still remaining modern in the most elegant of ways. Let’s be real – the ceremony at St. Joseph’s Chapel at Holy Cross with its jaw-dropping altar in blue and gold hues and the perfectly rustic and charming reception at The Barn at Gibbet Hill with its wagon-wheel adorableness and lofty ceilings have got me totally head-over-heels in love. Head on over to our gallery for your dose of Monday morning goodness, right here.
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From the Bride… Ivan and I met during our senior year at Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. After a few pub nights and games of thumb war (Ivan’s signature pick-up move), we became inseparable. Despite me moving to Manhattan after graduation and Ivan moving to Dallas for medical school, we stayed together, seeing one another about every six weeks based on Ivan’s exam schedule. Three years of long-distance passed before I made the move to Dallas to be with the man I loved. As a graduation gift from medical school, we went on a trip to Croatia, where a very nervous Ivan got down on one knee along the coast of the Adriatic Sea and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. We knew from the moment I said yes that we wanted be married at Holy Cross, where our love story began. Saint Joseph’s Chapel at Holy Cross is a truly stunning space, and The Barn at Gibbet Hill, where we held our reception, is such a unique, warm and quintessentially New England setting. Together they created the perfect blend of tradition, elegance, charm and whimsy that we were seeking for our big day.
We wanted our wedding to be intimate and personal, and we knew that it would be the small and hand-crafted touches that would make the day so special: creating a custom map of the Holy Cross campus to enclose our invitations. Tying my father’s college ring into my bouquet (it’s blue!). Wearing my sister’s gorgeous veil as my something borrowed. Framed photographs of our parents and grandparents on their wedding day decorating the entrance to the reception. Our signature cocktails crafted with handmade Texas vodka. Cocktail straws with Cheers! flags written in the languages of our families – English, Croatian and Gaelic. Naming our tables after our favorite places. Jars of saltwater taffy in our color scheme. The bridesmaids’ bright yellow dresses (my favorite color) and a black version for our “groomswoman.” A clothesline of pictures of us with friends and family over the years. And who could forget the cows! One of my favorite memories of the day is taking pictures on the sprawling lawn at Gibbet Hill with the cows mooing at us in the background.
We were so fortunate to have people we love play an integral part of the day, including Ivan’s favorite teacher from his Jesuit high school presiding over the ceremony and my college roommate singing a gorgeous rendition of our song, “Mellow Mood” by Bob Marley, with our band for our first dance. We are so grateful to the magnificently talented people who helped us create our perfect day. And it was absolutely perfect.
Wedding Photography: AMW Studios / Ceremony: St. Joseph’s Chapel at Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts / Reception: The Barn at Gibbet Hill in Groton, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Faxon Green — Elegant Floral & Event Design / Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister / Wedding Invitations: Paper Source + InviteMe / Band: Search Party / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Jewelry: Tiffany & Co. / Hair: Lindsay Griffin / Makeup: Cynthia Klocek