It’s not every day we get to hear a love story straight from the Groom but this sweet wedding includes just that. From an invitation to lunch and eventual date six months later, these two were destined from the start and celebrated their Big Day with as much love to match. From whimsical design moments orchestrated by Tina Reikes of Bear Flag Farm to the vintage ferris wheel that ran through the night, there’s a million reasons to love this day and Elizabeth Messina captured them all to utter perfection.
From The Groom…Vanessa and I met in what really feels like a past life. We were friends and had an instant chemistry. The first night we met was at a holiday party. She was a cocktail waitress and kept my glass and interest full all night. We never got a chance to fully explore the possibilities that night which left a lot of unanswered questions. Who would have known?
She gave me a business card that I held on to for a time. I used to “check in” with her. She knew a little about where I was in my life and I knew a little about where she was, but we never fully knew about each other. Only just enough to raise more questions, and pique more interest.
Eventually, when the time was right, I asked her for a lunch date. She responded with “happy to have lunch, in 6 months would be best”. I wrote down the date and in 6 months I called and we went to lunch. We talked for hours and got caught up on seven years of life. We followed that with a couple dinners, and eventually an out of town get-away on the west side of Manhattan at the Mandarin Oriental Spa. The rest of the story writes itself with many twists, turns and most of the garden still left to grow.
We met Tina Reikes, the owner and lead event designer at Bear Flag Farm, for lunch In New York City about 5 months prior to our wedding. In the end, she designed a unique and fabulous day that is hard to describe.
All of our guests raved about the location and the unique fairytale wedding that they were a part of. Bear Flag Farm illuminated perfection. Hosting an event at this elegant farm is a one-of-a-kind experience. Decor vignettes throughout the property artfully captured our passion and vision for the day. The table design was pure artistry; the food and the personal approach with which it was presented was flawless. The vintage ferris wheel, which was running the entire evening, stole the show! It was definitely a highlight for our guests. Tina took care of everything. The service was off-the-charts and the day, over the top with elegance and ambiance. The event unfolded in a seamless transition of events that you can’t describe in words, you can only feel it in the moment! We are grateful to have had our photographer, Elizabeth Messina, capture glimpses of perfection throughout.
Color palette was rich, ombre transitions throughout the wedding aisle, wedding backdrop and dinner table floral arrangements.
From The Bride…I woke up on my wedding day in such a calm state of mind, it made me worry that I wasn’t a worried enough bride! I had time to sit and reflect on the future course of the day. It brought to mind an early conversation I had with Tina about my wishes to “just show up to the most perfect wedding day.” (No pressure). One of the greatest reasons we chose to have a destination wedding was that we had the opportunity for someone else to arrange/manage the day. I didn’t want to oversee all of the little details going on. I wanted to be a “guest” at my very own wedding. (Is that rare?) Those must have been magic words to Tina, as I said I wanted to be surprised along with my guests. I did however have a creative vision in mind. That’s where Tina and I shared a Pinterest page full of expressive ideas. From that point, Tina, with her eye for high design and style, took over and I didn’t bat an eye! Perhaps this is why I could wake up and enjoy every moment of the day.
Photography: Elizabeth Messina | Wedding Planner: Bear Flag Farm | Flowers: Bear Flag Farm | Invitations: A Little Card Compnay - New York City | Ceremony Venue: Bear Flag Farm | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Vera Wang | Caterer: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering & Events | Hair And Makeup: Amanda Beczner | Favors: Bear Flag Farm Olive Oil | Groom's Attire: Armani | Mens Attire: Chuck Taylor-Converse | Mens Attire: John Varvatos | Officiant: Robert Insolia | Limousine: Vintage Packard | Bridal Gown Designer: Elizabeth Fillmore | Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Ceremony Musicians: Dolanc String Quartet | Cocktail & Reception Venue: Bear Flag Farm | Honeymoon Location/Lodging: Sea Ranch | Jeweler: Gypsy | Reception Musicians: Hip Entertainment