AL Fresco Garden Party Celebration at Middleburg's Famous Salamander Resort
Emilee & Connor wanted their wedding day to be a relaxing oasis and summer vacation experience for their guests, which is the exact vibe they achieved! Choosing the Salamander Resort set the initial tone for the style and design, with the couple electing to have the dinner portion of their celebration under the stars in the resort's stunning garden. From there, the design of the day highlighted the outdoors and stuck to minimal color and lots of creams and whites, ensuring that the beauty of the garden could shine.
Connor and Emilee’s first date took place at Ampersand, a quaint cocktail bar tucked away in the quiet Gramercy neighborhood of New York City. The dim lights and cozy atmosphere sparked an instant connection filled with laughter, easy conversation, and the beginning of their love story. Just days later, Connor asked Emilee to an early Sunday morning brunch where they soon discovered in a city as vast as New York, their lives had been intertwined for years. From having shared houses in the Hamptons only three doors apart for multiple summers, to living just two blocks away from each other on 18th Street, all while frequenting the same NYC haunts every weekend for years; it seemed almost unfair that it took so long for their paths to cross in person. Shout out to dating apps (The League)! Their relationship deepened over the years following, and only grew stronger as they navigated an empty NYC together during the global pandemic. The challenges of those times brought them closer together than ever, and they soon after settled into their new chapter of life, living together in Gramercy. On August, 3rd 2023, what Emilee thought would be a simple dinner out in the neighborhood the night before they would drive to Maine for a family vacation, turned out to be anything but. With zero groceries in the house, it was a reasonable ask and nothing out of the norm. However, little did she know Connor had much bigger plans. He brought her back to the same restaurant where they had shared that first brunch together years prior, having reserved the exact sun-drenched table where they first fell in love. Following dinner, Connor suggested a walk around their neighborhood and Emilee agreed with the caveat of getting the ice cream she'd been craving from Cafe Panna. But as they walked toward Irving Place, she quickly realized what was happening when he stopped and took out a key to Gramercy Park. And in that moment, just steps from where they call home, Connor knelt down on one knee and asked Emilee to be his forever. She said "YES!" without hesitation, so excited in the moment that she gave him the wrong hand to put the ring on (..a memory that was luckily captured on film by a friend hiding in the bushes outside of the park gates). A surprise celebration followed with friends and family at the bar where they ended their second date, rounding out what was the most perfect night of their lives and the beginning of a beautiful new chapter together.
Emilee's stunning mermaid wedding gown matched the garden party style perfectly, with floral embroidery covering the entire dress.
The bridesmaids wore long black gowns to give the celebration a sophisticated edge. The style was refined and glamorous, while the differing dress designs added a fun, original touch.
Cocktail hour was served in the garden, with a focus on red and white wine and champagne. During dinner, each guest was served wine at the table.
The whimsical and wild floral design enhanced the day's celebration and underlined its carefree, free-flowing nature. The florals were minimally colorful, mostly creams and whites, with a few pale yellow blooms scattered throughout. The design intentionally matched the garden party atmosphere, and the neutral colors allowed the beauty of the garden to shine through.
Emilee & Connor's wedding cake had a crisp, understated design with sleek lines and minimal color. A feminine fondant bow added a little extra touch of something pretty.
Guests dined al fresco in the stunning gardens behind the Salamander Resort. The dinner party was the essence of summer and the weather was absolutely perfect for such an occasion, with blue sunny skies and low humidity. After dinner, the party moved into a tent for dancing.
When guests moved to the tented dance floor, Emilee changed into a second look which was perfect for dancing. A pleated mini-skirt dress, covered in white sequins with a strappy backless design, was a surprise to guests and so fun to dance in!
