One of my favorite things to do is to share the weddings of our beloved LBBers. They’re like family to us and we love them all to pieces, so when one of them ties the knot and sends it our way, it’s just as exciting as opening up a beautiful Smock invite, covered in Belles Lettres Calligraphy. In this wedding, captured phenomenally by Images by Berit, Stacey of Peony Events married her love, and we’ve all gone a bit misty eyed over the photos!
From the gorgeous bride… Nicholas planned a day trip on his client’s private plane, which he played off really well staging it for months. He mentioned a few times that Ben would like to take us through NYC to see the skyline then down the coast to Atlantic City for breakfast and back. One November night, he said oh by the way, Ben called and said tomorrow will be the perfect day, low winds, clear skies.
It was a gorgeous day to fly: sunny skies, glistening water as we flew just the three of us. Upon our arrival back to the Teterboro airport, I stepped off the plane last and the door to the hanger was opening, walking towards I see Nicholas on his knee and tears began flowing. My answer was YES and he promised to always go ‘above and beyond’ for me.
We knew exactly where we wanted to get married, Crystal Springs Resort in Hardyston, New Jersey, surrounded by rolling hills and natural beauty. It’s also right around the corner from the quaint little town of Warwick, NY where Stacey’s sister and her family reside. It’s a beautiful venue that feels like a destination location to us with only being 45 minutes to where we reside in Morristown, NJ.
Chic, vintage, elegant and romantic were the words that came to mind when event & wedding planner, Stacey Sainato owner of Peony Events, began planning her wedding to soul mate Nicholas Sainato. Stacey wanted to create a chic and romantic feel with a color palette of ivories, peach and soft charcoal gray. We both knew we wanted a fall wedding, just not with the traditional fall palette.
On Friday, October 21st, 2011, with 200 guests standing by them, they said their I do’s outdoors with the beautiful fall foliage in peak season. Stacey wore a Monique Lhuillier gown, at times wore her Grandmother’s vintage fur wrap and carried a simple bouquet of ivory cabbage roses. The nine bridesmaids wore long crinkled chiffon gowns in slate. The Groom wore a classic black tux with ivory tie and vest and his groomsmen all wore tuxedos with charcoal ties/vests. Stacey walked down the aisle to a magical, instrumental piece composed for her by her husband-to-be who is a pianist, there was not a dry eye in sight.
Guests were greeted into the cocktail hour with champagne filled flutes with berries while enjoying the raw seafood bar, pasta station, sushi bar to name a few while listening to the tunes of a trio by The Blaire Reinhard Band. The sit down dinner was a combination plate of surf & turf, guests enjoyed tunes from the entire band – Jack Johnson, Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan during dinner. For dessert, guests enjoyed truffles and vanilla wedding cake filled with fresh strawberries and topped with her Grandparents wedding cake vintage topper that is passed on throughout all the cousins as a tribute to their grandparents, it was from their wedding cake and is a family tradition from her Mother’s side. Guests danced and laughed the night away.
In lieu of a traditional favor and to honor their Maid of Honor, Danielle O’brien, Stacey & Nicholas made a donation to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (near Stacey’s hometown). The donation was for her niece, Emma O’brien, who has been in remission from stage 4 cancer. Beautiful fondant covered wedding cake cookies were also placed at each place setting as a fun favor for guests to enjoy.
The decor was simply stated, custom ordered vintage lace table linens, mercury glass votives, mix-n-match peach, ivory and vintage silver colored frames for their table names which were “what marriage means to them,” floral centerpieces filled with ivory hydrangeas, soft peach and ivory cabbage roses.
Some guests stayed the entire weekend at the resort with Stacey and Nicholas, after the post wedding brunch, guests enjoyed the biosphere pool and local wineries. Stacey and Nicholas took off on Tuesday to the five star Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort and spa in Mexico.
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Photographer: Images by Berit | Dress: Monique Lhuillier, The Wedding Shoppe | Tuxedos: Cozy Formalwear | Event Planner: Stacey Sainato, Peony Events | Day of planner: Sarah Mugavero | Junior Bridesmaids dresses: Dessy Group, Rita Rosa Bridal Boutique | Flower girl dress: Bella Bridesmaid | Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Band: The Blaire Reinhard Band | Venue: Crystal Springs Resort | Favors: Fondant Wedding Cake Cookies, Leslie Ruth Sweets, Treats & Events | Make up Artist: Kathy Genchi | Hair: Gina Imperati, Ciao Bella | Florist: Dale Kiroff | Letterpress Wedding Invitations: Smock, Cambridge Street Papers | Calligrapher: Belles Lettres Calligraphy | Brides Jewelry & clutch: Model Bride | Bridesmaid Jewelry: Nordstrom