One thing we LOVE about Carrie & Steve’s Big Day? The fact that they used only their favorite local vendors. That’s right, it’s the ultimate small business lovefest and we’re smitten with every single second of it. Thanks to Whim Events, Mayflour Cake & Confections, Gus And Ruby, Pretty Plum Sugar, Haute Bride, Jenny Yoo, White Dress By The Shore, and Jenny Moloney Photography this is one gallery you won’t want to miss. See it all in The Vault!
From the Bride… Steve and I met in AmeriCorps 8 years before tying the knot at the beautiful Barn at Gibbet Hill outside of Boston, MA. We built our relationship on the shared experience of traveling the country and volunteering together in small towns and cities across the country, learning to appreciate the beauty and character of the communities in which we worked and explored, as we got to know all of each other’s strengths, quirks, and goals.
When it came time to plan our wedding, Steve and I knew we wanted our day to feel really personal, special, and reflective of who we are and what’s important to us. Part of that meant choosing vendors and small businesses with whom we felt a true connection, who shared our values and heard our vision, and who could help us attend to the many details of our day. After scouring four states, we finally found our our farm-to-table, rustic-chic venue, the church, and the inn where we would get ready for our big day. We found comfort in knowing that all parts of our wedding would reflect what we had chosen together with the help of the WHIM team. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the brilliant and talented Natalie Pinney and her team at WHIM Events and Floral Design to help us with the planning, coordination, and event design for our big day. We drew inspiration from Pinterest to handcraft our Save the Dates, used Canva to create our ceremony programs, and worked with Gus & Ruby Letterpress to design the most gorgeous watercolor invitation suite. We searched for various Etsy artists to create a custom wedding stole to be worn by my brother/ceremony officiant, make personalized mugs, tote bags, and scarves for the bridesmaids, and create a photo charm for my bouquet in memory of my dad. Our hotel bags were designed by my sister/maid-of-honor, filled with treats and necessities, cookies made by my mother, popcorn from a vendor we met at our community farmer’s market, and stuffed by a team of aunts, uncles, cousins, and even my 95-year-old grandmother! Favors included beer we brewed a couple months before the wedding at Hopsters, coldbrew coffee made in our neighborhood, and local flowers and produce. Our cake was made on Boston’s North Shore by a one-woman-owned business, the day-of calligraphy and extras were crafted by area artists, and of course my gorgeous Modern Trousseau dress was custom made for me in my home state of Connecticut. Some of my favorite moments included having our ceremony officiated by my older brother, the trio sung by close family friends, the thoughtful toasts by my mom, sister, and brother-in-law, and dancing the night away to the incredibly talented band. Steve loved sharing our handwritten vows before friends and family, watching me ring the church bell at the end of our ceremony, and dancing with his mom to a duet sung by my sister and me. All of the fun was captured by the powerhouse husband-and-wife duo of Jenny Moloney Photography.
While it took many, many months, endless to-do lists, and some stressful nights to get everything done, it was well worth it to see everything come together just exactly the way we had imagined it.
From the Planner & Design Team… From the moment we met Carrie & Steve, we knew they were one of the most thoughtful couples we had ever worked with. These two are such kind-hearted folk, always putting others needs before their own. This was not only inspiring, but a true testament to how the couple met each other in AmeriCorps!
So, we were not surprised one bit when they mentioned one of their biggest wedding priorities (aside from creating a welcoming environment for guests) was to “shop small” – to support local businesses, artists, farmers and american-grown flowers for their wedding day. They were avid attenders of the Newport Folk festival, and hoped their wedding would host a similar vibe: organic, light, lively, sustainable, musical and welcoming. We instantly connected to this and worked with them to curate a wedding day full of “local love.”
Carrie and Steve chose our team for Full Planning & Design. While we helped them find their ideal vendors, they took careful consideration of who they felt a true connection with. It was a key part of the welcoming environment they wanted. When it came to design, the couple chose a blush and dusty gray color pallet, highlighted by small elements of gold, for a rustic yet refined look. And, Carrie’s love of dahlias became the frontrunner of every design aspect thereafter. She loved its organic nature, colors and texture. Throughout the design process, Carrie would even send us pictures of her favorite dahlias she came across at flower shops! We knew this vibrant little flower was going to make a big impact.
When choosing invitations, we worked with Portsmouth letterpress designer Gus & Ruby to create a custom watercolor letterpress invitation, highlighting the flower that Carrie loved so much. Each element, including the calligraphy and watercolor florals were hand-painted by artist Poppy & Scooter.and brought to life on paper. The vibe was organic yet elegant, and set the tone from the start.
On the wedding day, we aimed to keep the vibe earthy yet polished, understated yet well thought out. The tablescape featured simply ivory linens with a small hint of gold china for a graceful look. The water color menu (also created by Gus & Ruby and Poppy & Scooter) featured simple greenery that complimented the farm-to-table meal. And of course, the centerpieces designed by Moira Thompson from Whim Events featured local dinner plate dahlias, American-grown hydrangea, and local, seasonal blooms. Wood signage and day of paper featured more hand-painted floral design & calligraphy for an artistic touch.
One of our absolute favorite elements to dream up for Carrie and Steve’s day was the”Local Love” farm stand favor concept. For months, Carrie and our team could not decide on a gift to thank guests. Succulents? Local treats? Cold Brew? (their favorite thing to drink on lazy Sundays!). One day, we realized why we could not decide…because we did not have to pick just one! From there, the farm stand idea was created. We picked bunches of local flowers from Herritage Flowers, scored Cambridge Cold Brew, bundled native peaches and blueberries from Wilson Farm in Lexington, and added local beer brewed by the couple! It was a huge hit! And to be honest, we have never seen a favor table so empty as at the end of the evening. Guests were beaming ear to ear picking out their bounty.
While we handled much of the logistics and design, Carrie and Steve were not afraid to tackle DIY projects on their own as well. It was an important part of their creative planning together and helped keep their family and friends involved!
We loved being a part of their day. As a vendor, it truly felt like a wonderful community working together and giving back, while celebrating new journeys to come! Congratulations Carrie & Steve!
[dotted]
Photography: Jenny Moloney Photography | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Wedding Cake: Mayflour Confections | Stationery: Gus & Ruby Letterpress | Reception Venue: The Barn At Gibbet Hill | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Makeup: Alexandra Dale Makeup Artistry | Hair: Caitlin Murphy Stylist | Band: Hip Pocket Orchestra | Favors: Local Flowers From Heritage Flowers | Favors: Wilson Farm | Favors: Cambridge Cold Brew | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Wedding Venue: John Gibbons of First Parish in Bedford | Bridal Bouquet Charm: Delaney Jewelry | Bridal Earrings: Haute Bride | Bridal Gown: Modern Trousseau | Bridal Shoes: BHLDN | Bridesmaid Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Bridesmaid Shop: Flair Bridesmaid Boutique | Bridesmaid Tote Bags: Z Create Design | Bus: Able Limo | Ceremony Musicians: New England String Quartet | Cookie Bar Calligraphy: Extras By Alaina | Dress Shop: The White Dress by the shore | Escort Cards Calligraphy: Yennygrams | Planning + Design + Floral: Whim Events | Rentals: Rentals Unlimited | Ring Bearer Handmade Ties: Molli & Bean | Wood Signage + Calligraphy: Poppy And Scooter