Connecticut Weddings

Ever since I saw The Notebook, I’ve had a slight obsession with row boat engagement shoots. It’s as hopelessly romantic as it ever, ever gets and this Connecticut e-sesh is just another reason why. Jasmine Balgobin captured each moment to storybook perfection and you can pin to your hearts desire in the gorgeous gallery right here.

From the Bride… John and I met like in most storybook fairytales, on an obnoxious zebra-print stretch Hummer one summer night in 2010 while both out for a mutual friend’s birthday. When the night ended, we sat in my car until the sun came up, talking, laughing and getting to know one another. My life changed on that June night. He was unexpected and for a girl who hates surprises, he has become my most favorite surprise. I had never met someone like John. He made me laugh like I never laughed before. We were so similar and yet so opposite, balancing one another. We were a perfect fit and we fell in love quickly.

We had been dating a little over a year when John proposed. Knowing how much I love Christmas, John took me on the train to New York City to see the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. We were standing in front of the gigantic, glowing tree unsuccessfully attempting to take selfies when a young couple near us offered to take our picture. As the lovely stranger snapped a few pictures of us, John dropped to his knee and asked me to be his wife. It was magical and everything I had always imagined it would be.

Finding a photographer was probably the most important as well as the most difficult part of the engagement/wedding planning experience. We searched for a very long time and even interviewed a few photographers. They were all wonderful and talented but we didn’t click with any of them the way we had hoped for. With less then a year to go until our wedding day we finally found Jazzy and all of our photography troubles disappeared. Her work is absolutely amazing but her soul is even more beautiful. We met her for coffee at Starbucks and after an hour of chatting it was as if we had known her forever.

I wanted our engagement shoot to be romantic and truly showcase our love and playfulness. Just a few minutes away from our home there is the most perfect and serene lake, surrounded by the greenest of trees and beautiful wildlife. We spent two hours rowing through the lily pads, joking, laughing and holding one another. The day began cloudy but just when finishing up the sunset peaked through the clouds, a perfect way to end the shoot. It was a dream date and one that we are thankful was captured so beautifully.

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck | Hair: Cakes To Di For | Beauty: Jennie Fresa Brow & Beauty Bar | Lace Dress: Free People

This wedding looks like soooo much fun.  A sort of nautical meets rustic meets garden party style affair with lawn games, fabulous DIY details and some of the loveliest bouquets from McQuade’s Market that you will ever have the privilege to see.  Add in an entire gallery of gorgeous images from CLY CREATION and you can bet you’ll be spending hours upon hours in the full gallery.  Guaranteed.

From the Bride… Daniel and I first met at work, and from the moment we laid eyes on each other there was an instant connection. At first this connection was nothing more than glancing looks from nearby cubicles, however eventually Daniel worked up the courage to stop by my desk for some passing conversation. These conversations were small at first, but eventually transitioned into poignant debates on a variety of important topics like what makes up the perfect sandwich, chip and drink combination for lunch.

While funny and light-hearted, these conversations represented a deeper connection than even we were not fully aware of. What has made our bond so strong over the past four and a half years is our mutual appreciation for, and adventurous spirit to find good food and good drink.

Eventually Daniel mustered up the courage to ask me to attend a happy hour with him, to which I agreed. Since then the rest has been history, and we have been enjoying good drink and good food ever since.

About our wedding planning:

Simple. Rustic. Good food. Good drink. This was the wedding we set out to create – everything else would work itself out.

From the very beginning we wanted our guests to have a great time in a setting that truly represented our personalities and our relationship. Light hearted, fun, and always on the look out for a great party, our vision came to life in Mystic, CT through an amazing waterside ceremony, tented cocktail hour, lawn games, great food and flowing drinks.

We started our wedding planning journey back in October of 2012, passing through the small New England beach town of Mystic, CT. After touring many venues in NYC (too expensive) and southwestern CT (also too expensive) we finally found Latitude 41 in Mystic which had everything we wanted: a great outdoor space, a romantic and rustic party room, and a chef who we met with and who personally guaranteed an amazing meal – a key deciding factor. After locking down the venue we knocked off a few of the necessary and essential to dos: great photographer – check, florist – check and DJ – check. We also planned to incorporate a bit of our differing cultures by holding a Jewish wedding ceremony, and a Chinese family style dinner for our rehearsal.

Once the essentials were taken care of that’s when the real planning began – given our conservative budget we embarked on a DIY journey that neither of us could have anticipated, but one that was worth every ounce of effort in the end – it really gave our wedding the personalized, natural and rustic touch we were aiming to create.

Everything from handwritten chalkboards, to hand-stained corn-hole boards were built and designed down to the smallest detail. Our table centerpieces were created from of store bought and recycled mason jars. Cocktail menus, signature drinks, and even lawn signs were all in a days work for us during our final stretch before the big day. The two biggest endeavors were the place cards and party favors, which we designed to reflect both our personalities. As avid tea drinkers, we used individual tea pyramids with heart-shaped name tags to both let our guests know what table they were sitting at, as well as give them a little piece of us to take home and enjoy. Finally our party favors took 12 straight hours to design, hand print, stuff with our favorite potato chips (salt and vinegar), as well as candy – dark chocolate, peanut butter and spicy combinations and tie with ribbon. Every detail was meticulously thought through in order to express something about us as a couple, as well as add a bit of personality to every experience our guests partook in throughout the night.

All in all the wedding was an amazing experience that both of us will never forget. We were able to reflect our personalities and cultures to our family and friends while having a great time in the process.

Photography: CLY Creation | Floral Design: Trish Of McQuade's Market | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Wedding Cake: Mystic Market | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Make Up: Naomi's Studio & Salon | Groom's Suit: J.Crew | Wedding Venue: Coastal Gourmet | Bride's Accessories: J.Crew | Rob From Aria Melod: Aria Melody DJ

Weddings like this beauty captured by Charlotte Jenks Lewis are pure perfection to me. In every sense of the word. The timeless style and breathtaking details carefully placed by Stacie Shea Events move this soiree into a league of its very own, making every image in this gallery jaw-droppingly-gorgeous to say the very least. Get lost in all the lovely here.

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From the Bride…Taylor and I met in college as blind dates to one of my sorority’s events. Despite that most unlikely of starts, we knew we had something special. We dated all through college, and even when I left campus for my semester abroad in Paris, Taylor traveled to visit me. We had an amazing time in Paris and always considered it a very special place for us.

Seven years later, now living in New York, I had planned to take some time off for the 4th of July to escape the city by way of my parents’ lake house. Little did I know, Taylor had completely different plans. I woke up early in the morning with the intention of catching the first train out, but Taylor stopped me and told me that we instead were going to the international airport. I was so confused that Taylor had to abandon his plans to keep our mystery destination a secret until we got to the airport. Instead, he told me right there that we were going to Paris. I’m so glad he did, because I would have ended up in Paris with only flip-flops and cut-off shorts! Taylor planned an amazing trip for us, complete with romantic dinners and opera tickets. The day after we arrived, he took me on a walk along the Seine. We tried to find the same bench where we had picnicked during his visit seven years ago. When we found it, I sat down, but Taylor went down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. It couldn’t have been more perfect!

I’ve always known that I wanted to get married in my home state of Connecticut, but other than that, I had never really thought through how my wedding would be. But then, I found my blush pink lace wedding dress, and it inspired the rest of the wedding design. Stacie from Stacie Shea events helped us plan a beautiful event inspired by the blush color and lace on my dress. I’m so thrilled with how everything turned out.

Above all, we wanted to have a really fun party, and that’s what we got! Our band, Character Zoo, got everyone on the dance floor and the photo booth was a major hit. My mom and I designed a guest book where guests would stick in a photo from the photo booth and write us a message. Now, after the wedding, it’s a fantastic photo album for us to have!

Photographer: Charlotte Jenks Lewis Photography | Videographer: Vantage Point Films | Event Planner: Stacie Shea Events | Florist: Blush Floral Design Studio | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Ana Parzych Cakes | Church: Stanwich Congregational Church | Reception Venue: Riverside Yacht Club | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Caterer: Riverside Yacht Club | Makeup: Simply Gorgeous By Erin | Hair: Fredrick Fekkai | Calligraphy: Brown Linen & Co. | Band: Blaire Reinhard Band | Vintage Car: Private Owner | Tent: Northeast Tents | Bridal Boutique: The Plumed Serpent Bridal Salon | Cocktail Tables, Dinner Tables: Nuage Designs | Cookies & McDonald's: Sweet Lisa's | Furniture Rentals: New England Country Rentals | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Linens & Lace Runners: Nuage Designs | Napkins: Wildflower Linen | Paper: Coral Pheasant Stationery + Design | Photobooth: Brooke Courtney Photography | Vintage Mercedes: Antique Autos | Vintage Rentals: Patina

The best part of waking up on Valentine’s Day? The line up of pretty we’ve got for you celebrating our favorite day of the year. First up is a brilliant photobooth (a vintage, beautiful VW Bus) from Photobooth Planet and the ridiculously romantic shoot from the likes of Hana Floral Design, Maggie Conley, Gourmet Galley, and so, so many more – which was 100% inspired by that boho bus!

Buzz Media Company captured this beauty in motion, and it’s coming your way in 3, 2, 1… [iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/81228617 600 338]

From the floral designer…. Where to begin on one of the most fun shoots we’ve had in Connecticut recently! It all began with the debut of “chloe” the classic VW bus converted into a fully functional photo booth bus! Owner Geoff Gordon can literally drive it up to your venue and have guests climb in for what will no doubt, be a certain crowd pleaser. We are tight knit group here in CT and several of us more than just industry friends, so when Maggie Conley wanted to do some promo shots for Geoff, it was a no-brainer that we’d all hop on board to participate! Maggie and I wanted a bohemian vibe for the shoot – flowy dresses, long locks of hair, whimsical flowers, flower girls and a location that was dreamy. We lucked out with a most gorgeous sunny November day on this amazing property. White Gate Farm is a privately owned farm with greenhouses, lush pastures and a darling lake front cabin! Exclusive planner to the site, Josh Chalmers, not only was our ‘go to’ for the day, but cooked us the most amazing lunch by the lake. Yummy brownies and all. When I think of boho chic, I think flower halos! Since it was November, we wanted color. Coral charm peonies were available and I just adore them! Those, along with peachy ranunculus and bright pink garden roses, were the focal flowers. We arranged them casually in various vintage vases for the table and provided a loosely arranged bouquet as well as accents for the dessert table. Make up perfection was from Ms. Jennie, who cast rosy cheeks and dewy coral lips and nude eyes on the models. Emily Reale of Jennie Fresa created lovely loose waves for one set of looks, as well as beautiful tightly wound braids. From Jennie: “To create these boho-chic looks, I used a variety of bright colors and textures to achieve the flushed cheeks, glossy poppy-pink lips and ultra feminine eyes. False lashes were used on both models to give them a dramatic lash line, which I really loved. I also filled in the arch of the brows to create a much fuller look, very reminiscent of the 70’s. Both gals had gorgeous porcelain skin, making the vibrancy of the blush and lips colors really pop. Yumiko’s flowers were a huge source of inspiration for creating these looks, I pulled hues from the floral crown she created and implemented them into the statement lips and exaggerated blush colors. For hair, we wanted to keep it simple, with soft, flowing waves and a few braids, nothing to structured. Overall, really fun looks to created. I loved working with this team!” From Chelsea McNamara of Everthine Bridal Boutique: “When styling the looks for this shoot we wanted to keep elegance and class in mind while also feeling a bit bohemian. There were gorgeous natural elements that encompassed the day in which the gowns complimented perfectly. The soft and flowy chiffon of “Vega” by Elizabeth Dye was effortless. The gowns movement in the lakeside wind was breathtaking. Any bride looking to feel the slightest bit bohemian can look no further then Claire Pettibone. “Alma” and “Constance” provided the organic details and jaw dropping qualities every unique bride craves”. Finally, the gals from Gourmet Galley set our tables, starting with an intimate table for two in the greenhouse. The table was dressed in a vintage lacy linen, mismatched china and a mix of gold mercury glass votives. Outside we had a tempting dessert table adorned with a vintage piano shawl that matched the peonies perfectly! Apple desserts were the theme with mini naked cakes artfully displayed under glass cloches. Maggie’s own girls were our darling flower girls, wearing matching velvet Boden dresses and running around in their bare feet. Jaw dropping gorgeous photos from Maggie and super fun video taken by Mike Cyr of Buzz Media Company wrapped up our long day perfectly. We had a blast working together on this photo shoot inspired by CHLOE!

Photography: Maggie Conley Photography | Planner: Josh Chalmers | Floral Design: Hana Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Everthine Bridal Boutique | Food: Gourmet Galley Catering | Beauty: Jennie Fresa Brow & Beauty Bar | Photo Bus: Photobooth Planet | Video: Buzz Media Company- Wedding Films

This is a wedding that would make Jane Austen proud.  The kind of wedding where romance and pretty merge seamlessly in vintage chic details to create moment after moment of pure amazing.  I’m talking a gorgeous bride, a gorgeous groom and the stunning Lord Thompson Manor coming together in a day of celebration that will take your breath away.  See it all captured by Katie Slater Photography right here.

From the Bride… For our wedding day, we knew we wanted something unique with a vintage twist. After visiting the Lord Thompson Manor, we knew we couldn’t imagine having our wedding reception anywhere else. The décor already at the Manor was perfect for me: mismatched antique silverware, lanterns, twinkly lights, candles everywhere… all of my favorite things! We ended up choosing a color palette of light pink, creams, and a soft peach hue. Since we were getting married in the summer, we wanted to go with light colors close to the neutral variety. While we were planning, I was inspired by vintage touches that added a little whimsy to our theme. We didn’t want anything too over the top, but we wanted our wedding to be elegant and memorable. Other than that, we knew we wanted a top-notch photographer, great music, delicious cupcakes, and for and all of our guests to have fun!

Even though the Lord Thompson Manor has a distinct beauty all on its own, we still wanted to add some personal touches to our wedding day. Being a Pinterest and Etsy junkie, I opted to be ambitious and take on a few DIY projects myself. One of the things we created were the table numbers for the centerpieces. We used twigs that we found from hunting in nearby bushes and bought paint stirrers that we sanded down and stained. We glued Scrabble tiles onto the stirrers and assembled them onto the twigs… voila! Scrabble table numbers. The dessert table was also another Pinterest-inspired creation. I purchased several different cake stands from HomeGoods and ordered the chalkboard frames from Etsy that I used to display each of the cupcake flavors (which were a huge and yummy hit!). We also used the frames and scrabble tiles to let everyone know we had a “guest quilt” for them to sign instead of a traditional guest book. I am so glad we chose to use a quilt as our “guest book” because it is something that I am able to look at all the time and it’s also warm… Another item we wanted to include were the scarves on the chairs that our female guests could take home; we thought it added a soft touch and really tied all of the other table elements together. We scoured street fairs in New York City and haggled with vendors until our arms with laden with pashminas!

In lieu of traditional favors, we chose to make a donation to Classes4Classes, which is a non-profit organization that helps to raise funds for classrooms that need additional school supplies. Being a teacher, this was a natural, but significant choice for me. To present this information to our guests, I purchased a vintage-looking frame and used a free template that I printed on stationery and displayed in the frame. We picked out a vintage-looking mailbox from BHLDN that I painted with the phrase “Signed, sealed, delivered” for our friends and family to deposit their cards. I also decorated over fifty kraft brown paper bags and filled them with welcome treats for the guests staying at the nearby hotel.

Since the goal at the Lord Thompson Manor is to create the most memorable wedding experience possible for both you and your guests, they really go above and beyond to accommodate your every wish. We worked closely with Jackie, who handles the style portion of weddings at the manor, on our design concepts for the wedding and she delivered everything we wanted and more. I loved how unique every table looked with weathered books, antique eyeglasses, and other vintage-inspired decorations. One of my absolute favorite things that Jackie was able to pull off was the tulle-decorated sweetheart tables and cake table. The addition of the tulle added such a whimsical element that was exactly what we envisioned. All of these choices we made for our wedding, on top of the gorgeous décor of the Manor, truly made the day feel that much more special and personalized. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful and one-of-a-kind the Manor and their presentation was!

Photography: Katie Slater Photography | Floral Design: Lord Thompson Manor | Cake: NoRa Cupcake Company | Church: Most Holy Trininty, Pomfret, CT | Reception Venue: Lord Thompson Manor | Bride's Shoes: BHLDN | Bridesmaids Dresses: Donna Morgan | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Bridesmaids' Dresses: ASOS | DJ: Chad Valk | Groom's Attire: Kenneth Cole Reaction | Groomsmen Attire: Kenneth Cole Reaction | Limo: Lindsey Limousine | Bowties And Pocket Squares: April Look | Bride's Dress: Pronovias | Dress Store: Mariella Creations | Hair/Makeup: Kiss Spa

My favorite kind of couples are the ones that don’t take themselves too seriously. The couples that aren’t afraid to buck tradition and infuse a little whimsy into their special day. They craft weddings filled to the gills with personality and flair, and this beachside affair from Catherine Rhodes is all that to T. It’s precisely what we need on a Friday morn’, and the gallery far lovelier than you’d ever believe!

From from Bride… My and Ted’s beautiful vintage inspired East Coast wedding was set along the picture perfect Oceanside of Connecticut! From lush green marshes to blue ocean waters, this area of the East Coast was something straight out of a movie and the perfect setting for My and Ted to say I Do! Along with 85 or so family and friends, they chose to celebrate their fun filled day at their family Shore house that was built by Ted’s Great Grandfather many years back. This home has such a sentimental meaning to the entire family, it was brought back to working order from quite a bit of damage in the last hurricane all for My and Ted’s special day!

Their simple and sweet ceremony, facing the sea, was absolutely perfect. Their close friend officiated the I DO’s while one of My’s bridesmaids played a few tunes on the acoustic guitar. My wore a fantastic blush dress that just fit this Oceanside wedding to a T and Ted followed suit in his festive attire.

From there we ventured to the beach for portraits along this gorgeous coast. The sun was bright and the air was warm. My and Ted joined me for a few more portraits along the beautiful docks. Then it was off to the reception to celebrate the night away! The evening carried into a tent reception filled with wild flowers and fantastic food (which included a complete roasted pig!)! They danced the evening away to the sounds of a live band and a surprise serenade by one of My’s bridesmaids! Between the views and the decor, this wedding was breathtaking but it was truly My and Ted and their sweet sweet love that made it such an amazing day.

Photographer: Catherine Rhodes Photography | Event Design: J. Splendid | Wedding Dress: Claire La Faye | Cakes: Sweet Harmony Cafe And Bakery | Catering: John Brown BBQ | Groom's Attire: Cole Haan | Groom\'s Attire: Brooks Brothers | Lollipops: The Groovy Baker

The fashion in this wedding is just my style. The Romona Keveza gown from The Plumed Serpent, the stunning Alfred Sung bridesmaids gowns… perfect for this English garden inspired wedding from Double G Events & Wedding Design and Landino Photo. The perfect warm up to your chilly day!

From the beautiful bride… I haven’t been planning my wedding since I was a little girl; I started planning when I met my husband. I knew he was THE ONE from the day we met. We dated long distance from Houston, Texas to Connecticut for nine months before I took the plunge and quit my job to move to so we could be together. I was told by many a concerned friend not to move unless I had a ring on my finger, but I went anyway, certain our engagement was imminent. Little did I know I would wait a year and a half for a Christmas morning proposal! The next day I shyly showed my fiance the document of inspiration pictures (this is pre-Pintrest) I’d been collecting for a year. He was impressed and shared my vision. We plunged into planning, and our first step was to find a wedding planner. As a transplant to the area and a busy fifth-grade teacher with friends and family thousands of miles away, I knew an amazing wedding planner would be invaluable to us in finding vendors and executing our vision. Thankfully, we found Maggie Brucker of Double G Events right away. She was my wedding fairy godmother.

Maggie assisted us in selecting our venue. We visited several, and by the time we visited the Gwyn Careg in Pomfret, Connecticut I had already mentally committed to another venue. Though I went there with the intention to confirm that the Gwyn Careg wasn’t it, I could tell from the questions my fiance was asking that he was very interested. I opened my mind and eyes to see what he was seeing, and we left that day knowing we would be married there. The grounds are magnificent; there is a walled Spanish-style garden for the ceremony, a place for reception tent adjacent to the inn’s sun room, and extensive lawns to set up lawn games. Plus, there were just enough rooms for our families and the wedding party to stay for the weekend.

An English garden party was the inspiration for the wedding—an abundance of garden roses, lawn games for kids of all ages, and Pimm’s Cups to sip. Brian and I are both morning people and breakfast lovers, so we decided to be unorthodox and have a Sunday morning ceremony followed by a brunch reception. We wanted the ceremony and reception to be very “us” (it couldn’t be just anyone’s wedding, but Brian and Greta’s) with a relaxed vibe that made the day feel like a family and friend reunion. We chose long tables to give the reception a family feeling. We decided to forgo the DJ and dancing and instead had an A Capella group and lawn games to encourage conversation and mingling. To fit with the Sunday morning theme, our favors were personalized crossword puzzles and pencils to encourage friends and family to get to know each other and us better. We both love to work on crosswords and often do puzzles together. I loved the color combination of apple green and coral pink and added navy blue to give the color palette sophistication.

My favorite part of the day was our intimate ceremony. We chose to exchange traditional vows and to write our own, which we did not share with each other until the ceremony. A college A Capella group sang our ceremony and reception music; the processional song was “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz and the recessional song was “Good Life” by One Republic. We kept the pop-song music selection a surprise, and though it was definitely outside the box, everyone loved it. The Blessing Stones part of our ceremony was a way to include every guest. Each guest took the stone that was given to them with their program in hand, meditated on a warm wish for our marriage, and deposited the stone into a vase at the end of our ceremony. The vase of stones is in our home, and when I see it, I think of all of the love and support our friends and families have given us.”

Photography: Landinophoto Studio | Photography: Romona Keveza | Floral Design: Braach's Flowers | Shoes: BHLDN | Bridesmaids Dresses: Weddington Way | Caterer: Mansion At Bald Hill | Hair + Make Up: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Groomsmen Ties: The Tie Bar | Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Officiant: Sal Fiore | A Capella Band: Completely Different Note | Cake Design: Cake Suite | Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Gwyn Careg Inn | Custom Lawn Games: Klocks Woodworking | Custom Piece Necklace: Bejeweled Bespoke | Customized Crossword Puzzles: Sea of Love Studios | Invitations + Programs: We Heart Paper | Moss Letters: Featherie Design | Romona Keveza Dress: The Plumed Serpent Bridal Salon | Table Numbers: Lazy Caterpillar | Wedding Design + Planning: Double G Events

This wedding right here?  This is a wedding that is dripping in romance.  A wedding that, from start to finish, is all about the breathtaking details and love-filled moments.  From those gorgeous gowns from twobirds to the awesome Sperry Tent to every second styled to perfection by Sixpence for your Shoe, this is a day that is all about the pretty.  See it captured by Orchard Cove Photography right here.

And a little something special from Myther Ganibe…

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From Sixpence for your Shoe… The overall inspiration for the wedding decor was a New England seaside meets California sunshine fanciful soiree. Amelia and Ryan are a young and fun-loving couple who chose to infuse their playful sides into the overall design of the wedding while still maintaining a sophisticated backdrop, pairing with Ryan’s parent’s gorgeous home. The original color scheme of “no color scheme” evolved into neutrals of gray, taupe and blush, all blending seamlessly into the setting, with accent pops in Victorian Lilac and Vibrant Lemon.

Amelia’s gorgeous Rivini gown and Jimmy Choo shoes were a nod to her love of fashion and a bit Hollywood, while Ryan and the guys were dapper in taupe suits and colorful Vineyard Vines ties. The couple wed in a personalized and intimate marriage ceremony in the quaint Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church, and then departed to arrive at the reception by boat, as Ryan’s family loves the water and lives on it.

As guests gathered poolside for the cocktail hour, they were greeted by whimsical and sunny yellow and blue pinwheels with Amelia and Ryan’s monogram attached, along with Foxon Park sodas, a Connecticut product they love. In addition, guests picked their escort cards hung on classic New England shutters and stopped to sign the guest book, Amelia and Ryan’s surfboard, which they had flown back with from California! Guests sipped on raspberry mojitos, the signature cocktail a favorite family recipe, and noshed on classic New England raw bar fare, served from the family’s kayak and a sate two-way station, a tribute to Amelia’s heritage.

As guests entered the soaring Sperry Tent, elevated from the landscape, overlooking the Connecticut River, vibrant and eclectic florals in mix and match vessels, silver saturn chargers and rich purple lamour napkins sat atop finely dressed long tables in muted yellow and gray. As the night progressed, guests danced to tunes from the Men in Black band, under Amelia and Ryan’s monogram projected onto the tent canopy, before the evening came to a close with an Asian lantern release, dockside. The night ended in a splash as the entire bridal party took to the pool in one big leap.

Amelia and Ryan’s wedding day could not have been more fitting for them, their personalities, and their love of both their East and West coast homes and lives.

Photography: Orchard Cove Photography | Videography: Myther Ganibe | Event Planning & Design: Sixpence For Your Shoe | Floral Design: Elements Flowers | Ceremony Venue: St. Ann's Church | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: twobirds Bridesmaid | Catering: Coastal Gourmet | Makeup: Jennie Fresa Brow & Beauty Bar | Band: Men In Black | Tent: Sperry Tents | Bridal Gown: Rivini | Lightin: Shindig Lighting | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Linens: Linen Hero | Rentals: Party Rental LTD

You know what I love?  When a bride and groom want their wedding to be one fantastic party; a party that is chock-full of yummy food, great wine and fun-filled celebrations with their closest friends and family.  This, my friends, is just that wedding… a crazy gorgeous day filled with all of the aforementioned, set against one seriously stunning Saltwater Farm Vineyard setting.  See it all captured by Justine Yandle in the full gallery.

From the Bride… From the start of our engagement all the way up until the night before the wedding – we knew we just wanted to have a really fantastic party. Great venue, great food, great cocktails, and great company to share it all with. One thing we wanted to make sure of was that the day was really personal and a reflection of us. Since our first vacation together four years prior (and still one of our favorites) was to Napa Valley, we knew we’d really love to get married at a vineyard. After stumbling upon Saltwater Farm Vineyard by accident, seeing the amazing space they had created out of an old aircraft hanger, with one of the most amazing views of the Connecticut Shore – we knew this was the spot.

September can still be pretty warm in southern New England, so we decided against jackets for Ken’s extremely large wedding crew. Picking a printed bridesmaids’ dress was a risky choice, but after seeing their dresses online and in the perfect neutral tones with a pop of peach and mint green, I knew I couldn’t say no. Ken and I also have two dogs, who we treat like children, that simply had to be part of our big day (complete with homemade dog leashes and bows). I had wanted a keyhole back dress from the start, and with some minor adjustments, I was able to find exactly what I was looking for in my Maggie Sotterro dress. And having worked in the athletic footwear/apparel material design industry for the past 10 years, it was also a MUST that I represented my current employer on my feet!

As for décor – my fiancé and I, as well as quite a few members of our wedding party and family, are all quite handy and knew DIY would be a big part of our day. With a location as beautiful as Saltwater Farm, there isn’t a lot that needs to be done! Having a graphics background certainly paid off in terms of creating such a large part of our wedding, from the invitations to the table numbers to the menus and thank you cards. My maid of honor, who is a master at antiquing, was able to find vintage lanterns at flea markets up and down the east coast, which proved to be absolutely amazing with a little bit (well, a lot…) of sanding and an array of gray spray paints. My mother is an amazing baker (and an even more amazing cupcake decorator), and a very good friend of ours simply has a knack for floral design. And finally, all the woodworking tools my fiancé and I purchased over our years together finally went to good use in making all the chalkboards, signage, birch accent pieces, as well as our amazing guestbook – three chalkboard wine bottle cut outs mounted on barnwood (yes, actually pulled off the walls from my MOH’s barn…) signed by all our guests, and now hanging on our living room walls to remind us every day of what an amazing time we had on Sept 7th.

Photography: Justine Yandle Photography | Catering: Coastal Gourmet | DJ: Scratch Weddings | Venue: Saltwater Farms Vineyard | Kennel: Tipping Rock

About a month ago, I had the privilege of heading down to the stunning setting of the Connecticut River Museum for a delicious (and absolutely lovely) brunch catered by Gourmet Galley to speak about SMP. It was the definition of a perfect morning. Planned to perfection by the lovelies at True Event complete with take-your-breath-away florals from Hana Floral Design, it was a fabulous way to get to meet some of the vendors right in my own backyard. Thankfully the darling Julia of Julia Jane Studios was on hand to capture all the pretty for us to devour, and you can see it all right here. Thank you for having me! xoxo

From True Event …The view over-looking Essex Harbor was gorgeous despite the chilly weather when the Connecticut River Museum debuted their new property, the 1732 Samuel Lay House, at a wedding “industry” brunch organized by True Event on November 20th. The special guest was Abby C from Style Me Pretty Rep who shared the secrets of getting photos posted on the site. Fifty top caterers and wedding planners were rapt listeners as they warmed themselves in a heated Sperry Tent and fortified themselves on Gourmet Galley’s creative breakfast feast. Special thanks to Julie Jane Studio for the photos and to the Ladies at True Event for giving the Lay House wedding venue such a splendid reveal!

Photography: Julia jane Studios | Event Planning: TRUE Event | Flowers: Hana Floral Design | Cakes: Essex Cake Company | Catering: Gourmet Galley Catering | Lighting: Ryan Designs | Wedding Venue: ct river museum | Tent: Sperry Tents | Coffee: Ashlawn Farm Coffee | Paper: Tie That Binds | Rentals: Rentals Unlimited

It’s not often I get to feature a wedding on SMP where I was actually a guest, but when it happens, I can barely contain my excitement. Mostly when it was a wedding like this. One where I  literally walked around with my mouth open in awe from the ceremony to the last dance because Lindsay, the Bride (and talent behind Woma Design), had picture perfect details tucked in every corner. She teamed up with some of my favorite vendors (Stoneblossom Floral and Event Design, Ruffles and Tweed and Sperry Tents to name a few), and created a day dreams are made of (for guests and Brides alike). It’s all made even better because the lovely Erin McGinn was on hand to capture every fabulous moment, and you can see it all right here. Congrats Lindsay and Matt! xoxo

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From Erin McGinn…Elihu Island, just off the coast of Stonington, CT, is one of the most special places I can imagine for a wedding. Not only is it absolutely beautiful, but with its multiple accommodation options, guests get to stay together, mingle, and bond before the big day. Bride Lindsay’s background in floral design and graphic design came together perfectly to create an air of elegance with a fresh farm feel for this early fall wedding. Also notable, Lindsay chose a color palette based around the farm and the farm houses on property, allowing for an organic feel to the design where nothing felt out of place. It was a spectacular event to be a part of, made even more amazing by Lindsay and Matt, two of the nicest and sincerest people I’ve met and whose love is truly tangible.

From the Bride, Lindsay…Most of the summers of my life have been spent boating around the waters of Little Narragansett Bay. Growing up on the water shaped my life, and is something that Matt and I immediately bonded over when we first met. When it came time to choose a venue to gather friends and family for such an important day, one of the first things that came to mind was wanting to include the ocean. Elihu Island is right around the river bend from where I grew up, has a unique, laid back charm, and is a place that we could show our out of town guests why we love the area so much. It just felt like the perfect fit!

Working within the wedding industry, you’d think that I would have dreamed up my fantasy wedding long ago…so not the case! I didn’t really have a plan, so I put all my faith into my favorite vendor clients, who have really made this day so special with their extra touches. We are blessed to have such talented friends who have made us feel so loved on this special day.

Photography: Erin McGinn | Event Planning: Adrienne O'Connor of Ruffles and Tweed | Floral Design: Stoneblossom | Wedding Dress: Andria Bird Bride | Cake: Mystic Market | Catering: B&M Clambake Co. | Hair and Makeup: Natural Creations | Transportation: First Student | Tent: Sperry Tents | Bridesmaids Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Dress Designer: Nicole Miller | Generator/Sound: Power Possee | Invitations and Paper Design: Woma Design | Music: The Honky Tonk Knights | Raw Bar: Behan Family Farms | Rentals: Rentals Unlimited | Tent Decor: Exquisite Events | Video: Tyler Ray

“Girl crush” doesn’t even begin to describe the way we feel about Bobbie Thomas. As Style Editor of TODAY, she’s the queen bee of fashion and beauty, yet would be the first to tell you she just considers herself a professional girlfriend. We got the chance to chat with Bobbie one-on-one about her gorgeous wedding (planned in just four weeks!) and she opened up to SMP about every detail along the way. Don’t miss her wedding gallery captured by Swell Wedding and Rebecca Davis plus an exclusive fashion 101 interview on SMP Living that’ll leave you loving her even more.

Style Me Pretty: Congrats on your wedding! Tell us about your planning process.

Bobbie Thomas: I’m not your typical bride. I hadn’t even considered a wedding. I had been married to my job, like so many modern women, and it was a challenge trying to plan. As much as I love fashion and beauty and just drool over that stuff, I had never stopped to consider the details of my own day. I feared over what people would expect. 

SMP: Looks like it turned out pretty gorgeous! How did you plan it all in just four weeks?

BT: Michael proposed in February and we kept it quiet for about 30 days. I was under so much pressure to set a date, but things were crazy with work and my book release. I thought about doing a pop-up wedding, I just didn’t want to deal with the production of it. Finally at a TODAY Show party, Kathie Lee pulled me aside and asked what was going on. I told her how stressed out I was, that I was barely sleeping and she said, “just get married at my house,” and announced it to the crowd. I decided I didn’t want a color palette, I didn’t want bridesmaids, I just wanted it to be special. It was so much more personal for me to let go. Planning it in four weeks made it much more about the love. 

SMP: We HAVE to ask. How on earth did you decide what to wear?

BT: I wore a Le Spose di Gio gown (chosen by the TODAY show viewers) from Kleinfeld’s. I added a lace bolero for the ceremony, which was a nod to my mother’s wedding dress. For the reception I pulled my hair up into a big bun with a headband and added a peplum flare to my dress. The peplum is totally detachable and an easy way to switch up a look!

SMP: Any favorite details or DIYs?

BT: I had become obsessed with Connie Cupcake. She makes cake jewelry, and her work is like food art. Have you seen her glitter donuts?! It was sort of my one ridiculous splurge, and so much fun. For DIY, I spray painted and glittered my own vases and table numbers.

SMP: After going through the process, any advice for other brides planning the Big Day?

BT: Although it’s good to figure out what’s important to both you and your groom, remember your guests. Your favorite people in the world. What touched me the most about our wedding day was seeing everyone in one place. In that moment, surrounded by love and support, I wished I had more than four weeks to pull together an evening exemplary of how much they all meant to us. That night, I realized that a wedding is just as much about the love of the close friends and family that support you as it is about the love between the couple. So my advice is to find ways to show these people how much you appreciate them. Maybe forgo the ice sculptures in favor of food you know everyone will like, or nix the doves so the DJ can play longer and everyone can get in some extra dancing. Lastly, your wedding should be easy in every single way. If something stresses you out, it’s just not worth it.

Photography: Brian Ach + Michelle Enfield of SwellWedding.com + Rebecca Davis | Desserts: Connie Cupcake | Ceremony Musician: The Devonshire Players | Wedding Dress: Le Spose di Gio via Kleinfeld Bridal | Bobbie’s Shoes: Coloriffics via Amazon | Bobbie’s Hair Accessory: Jennifer Behr | Groom’s Attire: Sebastian Grey

Say the words “Greenwich, Connecticut” and it’s almost impossible not to let your mind wander to perfectly styled soirees filled with preppy meets classic details and elegant parties just made for dancing the night away.  That’s because in Greenwich, they really know how to throw a wedding… and it’s days like this little gem from the talented team of Stella Day Events and IRIS Photography that prove that point whole-heartedly.  From the pretty blooms from Something Special Flowers to the gorgeous gown from Gabriella New York to all kinds of amazingness from Laura Hooper, it’s a non-stop day of pretty.  See it all in the full gallery.

And a little something extra special from Generic Brand Human?  Yes, please.

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From IRIS Photography… A touch of the Riviera on the CT Gold Coast: Dinner Jackets and Jenny Packham bride’s dress set a stylish tone for this seaside wedding with lots of nautical details for this tented wedding at the Riverside Yacht Club in Greenwich, CT. Abundant paperie and a color palette ranging from pastel pinks to bold oranges, ending with a romantic send-off on a 1950’s wooden Riva Italian powerboat.

From Kerri-Lynn of Stella Day Events… It’s hard to say what I loved most about this simply stunning June wedding in Greenwich, CT. The couple, Maddie and Dave, both attended Georgetown University and our custommade dance floor was filled with Hoyas all night long! It was clear as day that family and friends are one of their main priorities and the goal was to have a carefree and memorable day.

When the planning began, we realized they would be married on the longest day of the year, so we wanted to make sure the day was filled with lots of bright but classic vibes. From the tablecloths to the signature cocktails – rum punch and vodka lemonade – we were able to mix in the right amount of color and fun while still remaining elegant. We teamed up with Lisa Salley of Something Special Flowers to create a colorful candy bar filled with all orange, pink and yellow candies. In addition to the candy bar, she created centerpieces and boutiques filled with both bright and soft pinks, whites and greens. Laura Hooper of Laura Hooper Calligraphy created the invitations, menus and custom maps of the town of Greenwich that were left for guests when they checked into their hotel rooms at the Delamar.

With the reception being held at the bride’s longtime family club, Riverside Yacht Club, we incorporated a bit of ocean flair. From the men’s cufflinks, to the napkins, to the seahorse ice sculpture and stunning topper to the cake created by Sweet Lisa’s Exquisite Cakes, it was just enough flair to a day already filled with so many details.

Maddie wore a stunning Jenny Packham dress from Gabriella NewYork Bridal Salon, while Dave and the groomsmen wore classic off-white dinner jackets. Dave’s custom suit was made by Lord Willy’s in New York and the bridesmaids looked radiant in their Amsale dresses from The Wedding Library.

Social Décor dramatically changed the look of the already spectacular Northeast Tent. We worked with them to create a cheerful, elegant vibe. In addition to the colorful lanterns , they added a mirrored disco ball over the custom dance floor that sparkled throughout the night. Guests enjoyed a steel drum band during cocktail hour before Hank Lane’s Kevin Osborne Band took over and the dance floor was filled all night.

Maddie’s dad and stepmom got married at Riverside Yacht Club when she was a little girl, so it always held a special place in her heart. When it came to looking for wedding locations, Maddie knew it would be the perfect place to start her future with her now husband, Dave.

As the night came to an end, the couple made a mad dash through sparklers and jumped on an antique Riva Italian powerboat owned by a family friend of the bride that once belonged to JFK.

In addition to all the colors and details, this day was filled with such vibrancy between the couple and their family and friends. It was a very special day to be a part of! Thanks to Iris Photography for these incredible images and Generic Brand Human for capturing all of Maddie and Dave’s special moments throughout the day!

Photography: IRIS Photography | Videographer: Generic Brand Human | Planner: Stella Day Events | Wedding Planner: Stella Day Events | Florist: Something Special Flowers | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Cake: Sweet Lisa's | Invitations: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Reception: Riverside Yacht Club | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale | Band: Hank Lane Music | Men's Attire: Lord Willy's | Tent: Northeast Tents | Bridal Boutique: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Bridesmaids' Dresses via: The Wedding Library | Decorations: Social Decor | Guest Hotel: Delamar

This is what casual wedding goers dreams are made of. No need for a stiff tie or ball gown, but just as beautiful as anything you’ve seen in a hotel, and with a dance floor beckoning barefoot feet. A party and a celebration of the most exciting love, all rolled into one. With Experience Events behind the helm and E. Broderick Photography behind the lens, the gallery is quite possibly the most fun you’ll have all day!

From the beautiful bride… When my husband proposed, there was never really any question as to where we’d tie the knot. For four generations, my family has spent its summers in the woods of Salisbury, Connecticut, the foothills of the Berkshires and this is where we wanted to be. The reception was on the site of an old iron forge, just steps from the lake.

The real question was how to blend our backgrounds and very disparate geographies- I was born in Texas, grew up in Connecticut, and my family has deep Louisiana roots, while my husband is from New Hampshire- to give our guests a true experience of what the merging of our lives means.

The setting: quintessential New England woods. The flowers: soft peach hothouse roses, thistle, and ferns. The food: New England farm-to-table meets Louisiana soul (think: alligator meatballs, grilled watermelon, collard green egg rolls, my family’s crawfish etouffée recipe and tons of local vegetables, cheeses, and breads, and cinnamon sugar cider donuts to top it all off). The music: my dad’s favorite Cajun band, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, who miraculously agreed to fly to Connecticut from Louisiana for the reception.

We wanted to be sure that the decor wouldn’t overpower the setting so we chose soft colors and fabrics and tried to keep things organic. We also wanted to be sure that our guests felt that they were at a celebration, not just an event. We wanted them to have some truly good fun. We encouraged an informal atmosphere. We hoped that if they wanted to dance barefoot, they would. We set up a fire pit with marshmallows for roasting and chairs for resting tired feet in case they needed a break from dancing. I turned around at one point to watch three of my young cousins rolling down a hill together and I felt that we’d accomplished our mission. By the end of the night, the dance floor was packed and our guests clapped and stomped until the band agreed to play an encore. It couldn’t have been a more perfect night.

So many people will tell you not to sweat the details when you’re planning your wedding- that the day will arrive and you’ll wonder why you were obsessing over what type of silverware to use in your place settings. I don’t know that it’s possible to truly understand and appreciate that advice until your day arrives, but it’s true. It’s impossible not to give in to the love you feel in the moment. It’s a feeling of impenetrability and invincibility that I have never felt before. That is what a wedding- and maybe life – is all about. The people you love, the memories you make, and the perfection in all of the imperfection.

Photography: E. Broderick Photography | Event Planning: Herberger Event Co. | Flowers: Thornhill Flower | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza | Cake: Sweet William's | Invitations: Gus & Ruby Letterpress | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Oliver Kita Fine Catering | Hair & Makeup: Sonya Heimann | Band: Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys | Photobooth: Blacklight Photobooth | Rentals: Mahaiwe

If there’s anyone who’s able to find the silver lining amongst chaos it’s our dear friend Beth Chapman. When an old oak tree all but destroyed their former bedroom during Hurricane Sandy a few years ago, Beth took the opportunity to create her dream bedroom (one she had been planning in her mind for years). Infused with shabby chic elements of the loveliest kind, you can see her vision come to life right here.

And if you know us at all by now, you know that we can’t resist a good ol’ shopping guide. Here are a few shabby chic inspired pieces to to help bring a slice of cozy, uber-feminine comfort into YOUR home!

From Beth Chapman, stylist and owner of The White Dress by the Shore… My husband Mark and I have wanted to redesign our bedroom ever since we moved into our house 10 years ago! Unfortunately, it always fell to the back burner and other house projects took precedent. Last October we were forced into a bedroom redesign by a pesky lady named Sandy! During Super Storm Sandy, an 80 foot oak tree fell on our house and landed on one of our bedroom dormers. Thank goodness the dormer was there, as the tree would have fallen straight through to the first floor! The dormer collapsed into the room bringing part of the ceiling with it and collapsing the built-in book case that was below it. We were unable to live in the bedrooms for 6 months until the structural work could be done to repair the roof, the dormer and the ceiling in the bedroom. During that time, I worked with Hartley and Hill to put into place a design that my friend Sara Hartley had created for me years prior.

From Hartley and Hill… After getting to know Beth, we thought it was important to design a space that truly represented her both style and functional necessities in her master bedroom for her and her husband. Knowing that she’s a bridal boutique owner and stylist, we knew right away that she loves texture! From ruffled linen to chenille, we thought that fabrics friendly to cuddling with up with the rest of the family (and pets!) were a must. Keeping the room in the original green hue, as selected by Beth and Mark, we wanted to incorporate soft blues, taupes and creams, with the occasional pink accent. As business owners, having a small working area in their room was essential. We had this beautiful antique secretary refinished in a grey puddy tone with new antique brass hardware to allow them to close their work space at the end of the day.

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck | Design: Hartley and Hill Design | Chaise: Belle Escape | Chandelier: Belle Escape | Chandelier: Eloquence | Dining Chairs: Belle Escape | Distressed Mirror: Nordstrom | Duvet: Anthropologie | Floral Stool: Alexander and Pearl | Floral Towels: House of Fraser | Headboard: Home Decorators | Kensington Clock: Pure Home | Side Table: Belle Escape | Side Tables and Dresser: Lillian August | Sideboard: Kathy Kuo Home | Throw: Terrain at Styers | Throw Pillow: House of Fraser | Tuffted Footstool: House of Fraser | Wooden Trays: Amara

This post is like two fabulous things in one. First, a drop dead gorgeous (and I mean, gorgeous) wedding at the beautiful Connecticut River Museum captured by Julia Jane Studios from some of our favorite vendors including True Event, BLUSH Floral Design, Ryan Designs, and Sperry Tents (just to name a few). And it’s also a little invite from me to you asking you to join the ladies of True Event and me at this very venue next Wednesday for a yummy breakfast where we can chat about all things weddings, or anything else you can dream of! Details are below, but we’d love, love, LOVE to see you there!

And you can see this gorgeous venue in person, and ask little ol’me all the questions you could possibly dream of on Wednesday, November 20th! Here are all the deets! Hope to see you there!

Event Information: 

Date: November 20, 2013

Breakfast: 9:00am- 9:30am

Style Me Pretty Q & A: 9:30am-10:00

Open House/ Tour of the property: 10:00am -11:00am

* Park at the Museum at 67 Main St,…and walk up the stairs to the tent.

RSVP by 11/15 to caitlin@trueevent.com

From Tie that Binds Wedding…Lauren wanted the paper details of the wedding day to be romantic and chic, but not too modern, not too rustic or vintage, and not too formal. She asked Tie That Binds to create programs, menus, table numbers, escort cards, and an escort board to coordinate with her dreamy wedding concept. Their designers specialize in creating custom paper goods that embody the client’s vision. They presented delicate blush water color illustrations with peach, gold and cream accents, and it couldn’t have been a better fit. (optional further details:) Each program was delicately hand-folded and tied with satin ribbon, and the escort board was custom-painted and slightly distressed to reflect the overall luxe and laid-back feel of the wedding day. Paired with clean table numbers and shimmer-paper menus at each place setting, the entire wedding from ceremony to reception had thoughtful details throughout – exactly as envisioned by the bride.

From True Event …A beautiful fall wedding holds little to the romantic and magical night that lay before Lauren and Adam on their special day. The day turned from overcast skies to clear heavenly ones, the moon and the stars twinkling above as the overabundance of candles twinkled below. Lauren wanted a warm, modern, and romantic wedding filled with lots of natural beauty all around, and the newly acquired Lay House property at the Connecticut River Museum encompassed all the natural beauty she could desire. Located along the Connecticut River, The Lay House offers a spectacular waterfront view along with an amazing flat green canvas to meet the wishes of any wedding couple! The crystal chandeliers, the blush and soft tones of the flowers and linens embraced the design that Lauren envisioned. Ryan Designs captured the lighting perfectly with these amazing crystal chandeliers of varying sizes. Elisabeth from Studio Blush brought out all the soft tones by using garden roses, dahlias and ranunculuses in the floral arrangements. The chuppah was the epicenter of all things beautiful as it was overflowing with gorgeousness down to the ombré aisle of pink rose petals. Warmness filled the ever so perfect Sperry tent with the subtle gold touches in the décor. And to top it off, an Ana Parzych cake that looked too good to be real with its sweet pink and gold accents, made everyone gawk at its beauty. Seriously, how could you not?! And if that wasn’t enough for you dessert connoisseurs, Del’s Lemonade served up some of it deliciousness too! A beautiful starry wedding filled with romance and magic, yeah, that’s what this wedding was, and we couldn’t wish this for a more wonderful and deserving couple. Congratulations Lauren and Adam!

Photography: Julia jane Studios | Videographer: Hart Pictures | Wedding Planner: TRUE Event | Floral Design: Blush Floral Design Studio | Cake: Ana Parzych Cakes | Reception Venue: ct river museum | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Gourmet Galley Catering | Makeup: Kai Pitchard | Hair: Mia Moore | Lighting: Ryan Designs | Ceremony Music: Juhasz Music | Tent: Sperry Tents | Del’s Lemonade: Del's Lemonade | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Music: Jerry Kravat New York | Paper: Tie That Binds | Port O Potty: Country Portables | Rentals: Rentals Unlimited | Trolley: Jolly Red Trolley

I’m here to let you know Carla Ten Eyck Photography has a handful of super talented photographers. I’m talking, capture the emotions, bottle up the details, freeze the love, photographers. And Julie Morowski is one of them. As you can plainly see by her take on this ridiculously beautiful wedding, she gets lucky with the couples who are drawn to her… but considering her style is pretty much the epitome of perfect, I’m not sure how much of that is really luck.

From the photographer… Natalie and Scott are just darling, and so was their Lace Factory wedding. I had so much fun with these two lovebirds, and of course my sidekicks Erik and Ryan Lambchop. There was lace, and trains, and smiles, and love, and family, and friends. And it was just perfect.

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck | Flowers: Ashleigh's Garden | Ceremony: Mount Saint John's School | Reception: The Lace Factory | Catering: Cloud Nine Catering | Hair and Makeup: Rina's Beauty Center | DJ: Scratch Weddings

This wedding had me at three words: Saltwater Farm Vineyard, aka, the pretty little Connecticut locale perfect for celebrating some downright awesome nuptials.  Because this is a place where gorgeous outdoor ceremonies play hand in hand with amazing receptions literally overflowing with lovely, and today’s shining example is this beautiful gem of a day captured by Eric Brushett Photography.  It’s natural + glamorous stylings meets all kinds of happy and you can see it all right here in the full gallery.

From Eric Brushett Photography… Jenn and George got married at the incredible Saltwater Water Farm Vineyard in Stonington, CT. It was a hot, sunny, and beautiful day for a wedding. The day started in the vineyard’s bridal suite that overlooks the entirety of the property. From there we went down into the vineyard for the ceremony, and then moved into the old airplane hanger turned wedding venue.

Jenn and George’s love for each other really came out during two very emotional speeches before the dinner service, and carried all the way through the rest of the night.

My favorite moment of the day was when I caught Jenn and George dancing with each other off to the side of the wedding in front of a wall of wine bottles. I clicked on a long lens and snapped three photos before I left them alone to enjoy each other. It was a truly candid moment, and I was honored to be able to photograph it.

Photography: Eric Brushett Photography | Catering: Coastal Gourmet | Wedding Venue: Saltwater Farms Vineyard

Every so often, we come across a wedding that could have made even Jackie O jealous, and today is one of those days. It’s so classically beautiful, it will forever live in Vogue, and it’s as stunning as stunning can be. Lucky for us, Melani Lust Photography was there capturing every single romantic, candlelit moment.

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From the photographer… Katelin & Matthew met in high school and have been sweethearts ever since, their wedding was a true union of families and there were many, many beautiful candid moments. The day was as perfect as it gets with classic glamour setting the stage for a memorable day. The bridesmaids were brilliant in their own style of dress, in a nude tonal range. We planned to visit the spot where Matthew proposed, the gorgeous Southport harbor, with Katelin’s family’s antique Bentley as a backdrop. The Lawn Club provided an ever-changing and elegant setting with its Georgian architecture and Art Deco/Colonial Revival Interior, a photographer’s dream. Katelin dazzled when she transformed her Monique Lhuillier dress by taking off the duster, revealing a chic sheath. The photo booth & incredible band had guest frollicking from room to room in a whirl of joy. Understated with impeccable gradients of rose, guests loved the cake and the fun cake ceremony! A sparkler exit was the perfect romantic end to a memorable day.

Photography: Melani Lust Photography | Cinematography: Fairytale Studio | Flowers: Fleur De Lys Floral | Invitations: CHATHAM & CARON | Church: Greenfield Hill Congregational | Wedding Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Makeup: Sandra Downie Beauty Studio | Band: ETA Music | Bridal Styling: The Plumed Serpent Bridal Salon | Country Club: New Haven Lawn Club | Photo Booth: Photo Booth Lounge | Wedding Dresss: Monique Lhuillier

This wedding has heart. It’s got that stop you in your tracks, grab the box of tissues, and maybe a cupcake to enjoy alongside the images, kind of heart. And a beautiful horse. Does it get any better? Dave Noonan of Carla Ten Eyck Photography captured these two in all their tenderness on the biggest day of their lives, and we couldn’t be happier that he sent it our way.

From David… Alyssa & Mark are awesome, I am so thankful to have such great clients. I don’t even know where to begin while trying to describe their wedding at White Memorial in Litchfield. So, I guess I’ll just let the photos tell the story of their day. I will say that Alyssa baked the amazing cupcakes herself and Mark handmade all the little rustic wooden details and displays. Sit back and take a look through some of my favorite photographs from the day.

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck | Flowers: Still River Gardens | Cake: Hannah's Bakery | Stationery: Of the Earth | Shoes: Toms | Hair and Makeup: Marinello School of Beauty | White Memorial: White Memorial