You followed her adventures from “I will” to “I do,” and today our blogger bride, Colour Bloc’s Amelia’s SMP journey is coming full circle. She’s giving us an inside peek at her summer garden nuptials designed by the pretties of Bash, Please and spoiler alert – it’s the stuff wedding dreams are made of. We have First Mate Photo Co. to thank for every snap of the day and there’s so much eye candy + one epic love story sitting right below.
ABOUT US
When Michael first met Amelia on a date to the South End Buttery, they both knew that they had met someone very special. Their early dates were spent exploring new restaurants around Boston, but soon they found themselves happiest when making each other homemade dinners and talking late into the night about life, friendship and family.
Michael excitedly took Amelia to his favorite places in New England; Crane Beach, Maine, and sailing to the Cape and Islands. Amelia would tell Michael she was genuinely impressed with his boogey boarding and surfing skills. And, it was there on the rocky cliffs of the Maine coast where Michael first told Amelia he loved her.
Amelia also loved exploring—and showed Michael the beauty of the South; Savannah, Kiawah, and Amelia Island. Amelia shared her passion for contemporary art with dates at the ICA, LACMA, and the South End Studios. For his 35th birthday, Amelia surprised a sick and jetlagged Michael with a surprise party at one of their favorite Mexican restaurants in Boston—Michael was deeply touched by the thought and effort Amelia put into it.
Amelia and Michael quickly became a couple on the go–be it for work, friends’ and family weddings, or weekends spent exploring. Reading a questionnaire in Vanity Fair on a flight to Palm Springs, Amelia asked Michael, “Who or what is the love of your life?” and without hesitation, Michael replied, “you are!”
PRELUDE
This courtship begins the old fashioned way. Boy meets girl on OKCupid, and hatches an elaborate multiphase plan to convince girl to go on a first date. Girl reluctantly agrees and wows boy with Southern grace and charm. Girl and boy spend increasing time together talking late into the night about art, travel, and family life. Girl travels to France with family, boy misses girl. Girl and boy travel together to their favorite places and explore new ones, girl starts her own company and wows boy with her immense talents, families are met over the holidays. Things start getting serious…
THE ENGAGEMENT
Nothing could be more intimidating than meeting your future father-in-law and asking for permission to marry his daughter. After receiving a big bear hug and a “welcome to the family!”, Michael knew that he would not just be marrying his best friend, but he would add a whole new family. Michael had always envisioned them getting engaged by the sea on a warm sunny day, because it was on the shores of Maine where he first told Amelia he loved her. A Southern belle, Amelia always spoke fondly of her family vacations to Amelia Island, Florida. After a weeks’ long search for the perfect emerald cut solitaire, Michael had found his ring—off the Florida they went! Once they checked into their seaside hotel, Michael insisted they take a long walk on the beach. It was there that he fumbled his way through the proposal, asking Amelia if she’d like to spend the next 65 years together. Tears streaming down her face, Amelia happily accepted!
DESIGN APPROACH
A modern southern belles approach to a summer solstice garden party. It was important to us to compliment and enhance the natural outdoor setting. We wanted to draw inspiration from the different gardens of the Elm Bank space using lush, feminine elements with a mix of modern and living materials. We wanted the wedding to feel romantic with each garden full of summer blooms and greenery, personal with hand written vows and toasts by the people closest to us, and like a reflection of us as a couple with signature cocktails and a customized wedding ceremony.
A few of my favorite visual details included the green moss A & M that hung on the entrance gate to Elm Bank, handkerchiefs with our monogram for each guest during the ceremony, and on either side of the aisle we had various garden flowers “sprouting” from the ground. It was also very important to transform the Sperry Tent into a garden type space, complete with delicate ferns wrapped in the chandeliers to a living wall that became the backdrop for the band. Another special touch was an assortment of family heirloom sterling silver vessels, complete with monograms of my family from generations passed, which held delicate garden inspired flower arrangements. The flowers lined the crisp white hemstitched linen table clothes. A perfect nod to a bygone Southern romantic era.
FAVORITE MOMENTS
My favorite moments from the day was reciting my heartfelt and handwritten vows to my husband in front of our favorite people in the world, my husband’s sweet groom’s toast, the moment we took to walk outside of the tent and just be in the moment of our wedding night, and our first dance as husband and wife!
Photography: First Mate Photography Co. | Videographer: Caravan | Event Design: Bash Please | Floral Design: Foret Design Studio | Cake: Oakleaf Cake Bake Shop | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Baker's Best | Make Up: Dani Wagener Beauty | Lighting: ALPS | Wedding Venue: Massachusetts Horticultural Society | Tent: Sperry Tents | Bride's Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Bride's Hair: Kate Winsmann | Cocktails : Pharmacie | Groom's Tuxedo : Hugo Boss | Lounge Furniture : Sassafras Vintage Rentals | Music : Elan Artists | Paper Goods: Bash Please | Rentals: Rentals Unlimited