Connecticut Weddings

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Outdoor Weddings Tented

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Blowdry & Styling Room Opening Party

From Sara Wight Photography… Being an NYC girl, I have a special place in my heart for Northwest CT. The beauty and the charm that encompasses this area is breathtaking. So when Emily contacted with me about shooting her wedding at the private estate known as Four Winds in Salisbury, I was over the moon. Pair the amazing views of the Berkshire Mountains with the brilliant event styling Pete Hathaway and the floral design by Felicity Bontecou and you have nothing short of perfection!

From the Bride… Much of our relationship centers around the outdoors. We live in New York City and escape on most weekends to the Berkshires in Connecticut. When Andrew and I set foot on the grounds at Four Winds, the estate of a family friend, we knew it was the perfect spot. An expansive lawn and an incredible view overlooking a lake and the Berkshire mountains were exactly what I had imagined for our wedding.

Shortly after finding the perfect location I found the perfect partner to make my vision a reality. Pete Hathaway of Hathaway Young completely understood the “modern, country chic” look I wanted. Lots of white, elegant flowers and lighting and a ceremony that would highlight the natural surroundings.

Never being one to turn down a good party, I’m secretly sad to have missed this one. Dripping in pink, sparkle and all things delightful, True Event & Leila Brewster outdid themselves this time. An evening filled to the brim with girly delights is always good for ones soul. And if you, too, are experiencing a case of FOMO, you should join me in the gallery (we can at least pretend we were there).

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From Jennie… I have always been a huge fan of the professional blowout. When I lived in NYC, long before trendy dry bars even existed, I used to go for a weekly wash and blow at a small salon in midtown. To me, it’s the ultimate treat and saves so much time getting ready in the morning. I am so thrilled to finally offer this in-demand service to our clients!

When the time came to announce the launch of our new Blowdry and Styling Room here at Jennie Fresa, I knew we needed to throw a fun celebration! Sara True of True Event knows how to throw a fabulous party, so I didn’t need to think twice when she offered to plan a summer soiree introducing our newest service. With a slew of generous industry sponsors on board, I knew it would be a night to remember! And, that it was!

From True Event… We are a fan of a lot of sparkle and shine and anything girly! When Jennie asked us to help design the opening of her Blow Dry Bar we were pretty excited! What better way to spend any evening with gals getting all glammed up!
For the design of this event we wanted to go off of pinks, golds, black and white. We brought in some of the best vendors to help with this event. Ryan Design hung amazing black chandeliers with white and light pink draping to add the softness to the framed tent. Hana Floral Design brought in the fun hot pinks, purples, greens for the flowers for the evening. Gourmet Galley Catering had a yummy and fun watermelon bar that was a perfect and refreshing for the night. Sassafras rentals brought in one of our favorite vintage lounge areas adding the perfect touch of vintage. As guest enjoyed some bubbly they listed to Jarrell Entertainment from Elan Artists. A big hug & kiss to Leila Brewster Photography and Caddywhompus for capture the evening fun!

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Hana Floral Design

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Jacquelyn Clark

Connecticut Wedding at the Salisbury School Boathouse from Love + Perry

We’ve seen a lot of unique wedding venues on SMP (take a parking garage wedding, for instance), but I think this Connecticut wedding at the Salisbury School captured by Love + Perry Photography takes the cake as the most charming. The couple upped the ante on adorable by carrying the school theme through the day, making this wedding so cute I would pinch its cheeks if I could. See why here.

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Spring Weddings

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Academic Venue Settings Ballroom Weddings

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Middletown Barn Wedding from Carla Ten Eyck

From Love + Perry… Karen and David got married at the Salisbury School Boathouse in Salisbury Connecticut on a gorgeous day in June. The couple live in New York, but David grew up in Salisbury and attended the all boy’s school as a child. The school is situated on a hilltop with incredible views of the surrounding mountains. The couple had their ceremony in the school’s boathouse, and the reception in the school’s cafeteria. All of the adorable details were school related, and the couple even included each of their school portraits from various years as the table centerpieces. Who knew cafeterias could look so chic?

I’m going to try my hardest to not be Miss Bossy, but really, you simply must save some time today for the rest of this absolutely stunning wedding (right here in the gallery). Julie Morawski of Carla Ten Eyck has brought me to goosebumps with her beautiful images of this perfect day. The bride could not be more stunning (thank you Dana Bartone & Company), the groom’s happiness level is obviously at it’s peak, and the soiree seems to have been tied together with the prettiest of black and white striped bows.

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Connecticut Wedding from Michelle Gardella Photography + Everthine Bridal Boutique

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Rustic Weddings

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Romantic

From the lovely bride… So much of what made our wedding special was in the details. From the quintessential New England ambiance that reflected our upbringings (I’m from Connecticut; Ryan grew up on Cape Cod) to the level of color coordination, I spent much of our year-long engagement obsessing over all the little things. With the help of my parents, my husband, and many friends for the prep work, and then of course our amazing vendors, all of my ideas came together to truly bring the vision to life. Looking back, I am so thankful for all the details and for our fantastic photographer Julie who made sure none of it will be forgotten!

When looking for venues, we knew we wanted something a bit untraditional that could be a blank canvas for all of my colorful ideas. The Barns at Wesleyan Hills ended up being the perfect venue for us – minutes from my childhood home, surrounded by beautiful grounds, and full of potential. Despite the reception being held in a barn, I did not want the event to feel overly rustic. No mason jars, no twine, and certainly no burlap. Instead, I opted for bold black-and-white accents that helped strengthen and modernize the otherwise vintage space. I think the juxtaposition of elegant with rustic turned out so beautiful and also reflected our personal styles well. The peachy sunset colors offset by the stark contrast of blacks and whites made for a palate that was sophisticated, fun, and full of whimsy.

Since I spend my free time putting together a baking blog, I knew all of our guests were expecting fantastic desserts and creative touches throughout the night. Although I left most of the baking up to the professionals, I actually did make the 100 escort card cookies myself. My Dad helped me build the wire frame to hang them for display, and all together it made for an extremely personal and delicious element to our guests’ experience. The dessert table itself – thoughtfully assembled in our colors and favorite flavors – was titled “Ryan and Erica’s Sweet Tooth” as a fun reference to my blog’s name.

Some people may question why brides put so much effort into an event that only lasts several hours, but I learned that the planning, especially when it involves family and friends, is almost just as special as the wedding itself. My husband and I are planners at our core, so we definitely were in our element the past year making our massive wedding to-do list and slowly but surely crossing off every item. But my favorite part of the wedding ended up being the ceremony, which actually involved the least amount of planning. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t have planned Ryan’s eyes tearing up as he read his vows. The stripes, flowers, and touches of gold were beautiful, but in the end, it was the immense amount of love and emotion surrounding us that day that I’ll remember the most. Thank you Style Me Pretty for inspiring me to create the wedding of my dreams and for letting me share mine with you today!

It’s kind a party in the SMP offices today because one of our (super gorgeous!) LBBers just tied the knot and we’ve got the amazing images from Michelle Gardella Photography right here. Chelsea of Everthine Bridal Boutique married her sweetheart in a soiree that has our hearts racing and the butterflies in our stomaches doing flips!

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Mystic Wedding from Lynette Boyle Photography

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Estate Weddings

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Vintage

From the beautiful bride… When planning our wedding, we truly focused on making sure it felt natural. We didn’t anything to feel too perfect. The grounds at Harkness are so beautiful, we wanted to magnify it in the wedding details. Harkness State Park was actually the only venue we looked at! My husband and I both grew up on the CT Shoreline, so we knew that no matter where we got married, it had to be on the water. It felt so right, there was no reason to look any further!

By using a very soft color palate of peach, light green, and creams we were able to highlight natural elements and romantic details. I come from a family who treasure hunts on a weekly basis, so we used lots of pieces that were from our own antique collection. We used about 50 different vintage bottles that my dad collected throughout his lifetime. They made the perfect centerpieces for tables without larger arrangements. Our table numbers were potted herbs that also doubled as favors. A big hit among the guests! I wanted to be able to send our guests home with a memory and they loved them! My dress was a bit daring with the low cut and open back, but i paired it with a long cathedral lace veil to play with some tradition. I’m all for unexpected details, so my dress could be none the less! I happen to own Everthine Bridal Boutique, which is where my dress is from. My heart was set on Jenny Packham and I instantly fell in love with the old hollywood feeling of my gown.

Overall, our wedding was everything we could have imagined and more. It felt effortless, timeless, and irreplaceable.

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Jenny Packham

Bridal 2016 Catwalk

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This wedding has amazing written all over it. The kind of amazing you can only see in a sea-inspired shindig with bursts of vibrant poppy hues and one of the most adorable duos you will ever virtually meet. I’m talking a Jim and Pam-esque adorable with smiles for miles and one serious ability to throw a pretty party. In other words, they are awesome, their wedding is breathtaking and the full gallery of beautiful images captured by Lynette Boyle is simply stunning. Click here for all of the pretty.

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Outdoor Weddings

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Southern Military Wedding from Coleman Photography

From Lynette Boyle Photography… This wedding and couple is very near and dear to my heart. Kaity, Kevin, and I all met through work several years ago in Boston. I witnessed Kaity and Kevin’s romance blossom over lunch hours and coffee trips, like Pam and Jim’s on The Office. Eventually Kaity and Kevin started dating, and we all moved on to new places, Kaity and Kevin to San Diego, and I to San Francisco. In the Spring of 2012 while visiting San Diego, Kevin told me he bought a ring and was planning to propose. I was absolutely elated for them. A few weeks later he popped the question on a trip to Santa Barbara and the wedding planning and a cross-country move back to Boston began.

They chose to host their wedding at Latitude 41 at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. They liked the casual vibe and flexibility of what the venue had to offer. While the forecast threatened torrential downpours and flooding leading up to the day of their wedding, the rain passed through the night before and we had surprisingly abundant sunshine when it was time for the ceremony! The couple chose to expand upon the already present maritime theme at Mystic Seaport. Kaity chose green (her favorite color) and poppy for the wedding palette. Kevin, a designer and creative director by trade, designed a fun and colorful suite of wedding stationery to match the color palette and sea theme. The bridesmaids all chose their own dresses in a shade of green or tan. They made little lime sea-salt containers as an escort card and favor for their guests, and of course brought plenty of polaroid cameras for their guests to have fun with! The signature cocktail of the night was named for Kaity’s sister and Maid of Honor, Holly… it was fittingly called the “Holly-Would.”

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Lynette Boyle Photography

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Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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This wedding is literally dripping with Southern elegance. And when I say dripping, I mean that a cool sophistication is seriously bursting from every nook and cranny… the kind of day where glamorous stylings and vintage details collide with lush blooms from Gardenia Floral Design and a mesmerizing Vera Wang standing front and center of all of the pretty. Oh, and the gallery of gorgeous images from Coleman Photography? Simply amazing. Join me there NOW for all of the pretty.

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Spring Weddings

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Outdoor Weddings Tented Weddings in Historical Venues

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Couture Bridal Event at White Dress by the Shore

From the Bride… This Georgia Historic Landmark created the perfect atmosphere of rich Southern charm and Georgia history I was looking for in my military wedding. The venue is a historic governor’s mansion nestled among grand Georgia Oak trees located in the middle of downtown Monroe, Georgia. A vintage chandelier dripping with crystals hung from a linen draped arbor envisioned and built by myself and my family for a simple, yet dramatic backdrop where my husband-to-be (dressed in Marine Corps dress blues) and I exchanged vows. Inspiration for the centerpieces came from the mansion’s book-lined library and masculine glamour reflected throughout the rooms inside with mixed mercury glass votives and tea cups filled with delicate flowers floating among stacked vintage books. Lace wrapped votives made by me were scattered amongst tables that were covered in ivory lace overlays for an extra chic touch. The bridal party table was designed by me with vintage china plates laid atop large vintage doilies on farmhouse tables to create unique place-settings. Coleman Photography captured the details of our day perfectly. Amy Reed with Amy Reed Events was beyond phenomenal in allowing everything to flow smoothly from start to finish.

Being a military wedding, there was a certain level of class and style I needed to attain. Choosing the perfect location was the hardest part about planning for our big day, because I desired for the venue to reflect both of our personalities. Alex, my groom, was in flight school throughout our entire engagement, so I was left to make most decisions such as this. A true Georgia peach (born and raised), I often drool over plantation homes with large columns and old gorgeous oak trees decorating the property . While touring our venue, there were little reminders of the beautiful things I love in life screaming out that this was the perfect place: vintage tea cups scattered throughout the house, a grand library full of old books owned by the historic governor, crystal chandeliers in every room, I swooned. Very carefully, I picked out details of the venue we fell in love with and incorporated them into our decor to create the chic vintage feel of our wedding day. A few of my favorite things from the wedding day: seeing how beautiful my bridesmaids looked in their soft blush colored chiffon dresses, sipping on mimosas while being pampered by Flawless Finish, the anticipation of seeing Alex’s face for the first time that day as I walked down the aisle, my father’s happy tears as he had his first glance at me in my white dress… The most perfect part of our day however, all details and decorations aside, was that I became married to the man of my dreams.

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Photography: Coleman Photography, Athens, Georgia | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Hair + Makeup: Flawless Finish | Floral Design: Gardenia Floral Design | Event Coordination: Amy Reed Events | Wedding Venue: McDaniel-Tichenor House, Monroe, Georgia | Bride’s Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: I DO I DO Bridal, Athens, Georgia | Flower Girl Dress: Marchesa for Target | Farmhouse Tables: Wedding & Event Rental, Oconee, Georgia | Vintage Rentals: (Chandelier, Tea Cups, Vintage Plates, Doilies) Ooh La La Vintage Rentals, Watkinsville, Georgia | Other Rentals: (Tent, Tables, Chairs, Lights): Barron’s Rentals | Arbor: Built by Bride’s Family + Bride | Unity Candle: Waterford | Catering + Wedding Cake: Trump’s Catering | Cake Bar: Cecilia’s

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Wedding Dresses

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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Hello there lovelies. You know we look out for you here at SMP, so when we hear of an event you simply must check out we have to shout it from our virtual rooftops. It’s out duty. So listen up pretties, this Couture Bridal Event at The White Dress by the Shore is worthy of clearing your calendars for. Trust me. We’re talking 10% off some of our favorite designers all sitting in one oh-so-pretty shop. And just because we love any excuse to bring a little inspiration to your computer screens, Beth of The White Dress by the Shore and Sarah of True Event are lending their wisdom on how you can bring fashion to fête in a seriously stylish way…

Words of Styling Wisdom from Beth of The White Dress by the Shore…We selected the Chelsea gown from Amsale as the perfect look for the Ocean House. The classic silhouette is ideal for the quintessential New England setting. The silk faille fabric is crisp and clean and possesses a timeless quality, that lends itself beautifully to this venue.

Inspiration from Sarah True of True Event…The dress is one of the most important details for the wedding day and one every bride dreams of. And I would say for most of our brides it is the highlight of the planning process. It captures a moment in time and a feeling for guests that not only will they get when they arrive at the venue but a feeling we hope to carry through all of the details starting with the dress.

This dress by Amsale defines timeless elegance. It is classic and sophisticated in a subtle way, as is the Ocean House. It has a warmth about it without being over the top, it is simply gorgeous! Using this dress and the Ocean house as inspiration I’d create a color palette of blues (cool tones)for the linens/bridesmaids dresses etc, that would play on the colors of the ocean and bring in a mix of metallics silver and gold in the candles and china and glassware on the tables, and in the florals bring in soft peach, whites, and greens. Softly weaving into the details accents of the beach. Using capiz shell chandeliers throughout the tent, lined with soft white fabric. I think this coastal wedding would be the perfect blending of coastal timeless elegance. With one of the most gorgeous backdrops on the east coast the Ocean House is the perfect venue to create this sophisticated elegant, coastal affair!

Receive a 10% discount off of gowns priced between $3,500 and $3,999 and 15% off gowns priced at $4,000! (Designers include Amsale, Anne Barge, David Fielden, Modern Trousseau, RIVINI, and Romona Kevez!)

Tuesday, August 13th-Saturday, August 24th
The White Dress by the shore | Clinton, CT 06413
By Appointment 860.669.4596

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Dress: Amsale from The White Dress by the Shore | Event: Couture Bridal Event | Inspiration: Sarah True of True Event | Venue: The Ocean House | Ocean House Photo by: Lelia Brewster

New Haven Lawn Club Wedding from Raw Photo Design

We recently lost a treasured member of our SMP Family, Eric Langlois. A beloved photographer, father and friend. But his work at Raw Photo Design continues to inspire, and his gorgeous family still gets to see his passion unfold through every stunning image he’s snapped up with his talented eye. Today we are lucky enough to be inspired by he and his wife Amber’s stunning work at the New Haven Lawn Club. They captured images these two newlyweds (who celebrated their anniversary yesterday) will treasure forever, and that is just such a gift. See all the gorgeous images here. You can also donate to the beautiful Langlois family here.

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Ballroom Weddings Weddings in Historical Venues

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Old Saybrook, Connecticut Real Wedding

From the Bride… James and I met in the fall of 2004 while attending Fairfield University in Connecticut. Both of us were renting out neighboring beach houses on Fairfield Beach, CT. After several years of dating, James proposed on Rowland Road in the middle of our two beach houses where we first met. From the very start of the wedding planning process we both knew we wanted a Connecticut wedding. Having a wedding where we met and where we could envision our wedding day only left the feeling as if it was meant to be. We planned a summer wedding and picked July 7, 2012 as our wedding date. We wanted to combine the best of our worlds and somehow we pulled it off. We were able to have our CT wedding and add some New York City style into the details.

James and I both went into this process knowing that we would be 100% involved in the planning process. We wanted to do everything together and pick everything out ourselves. We jumped right in and enjoyed every single moment of the planning process. We chose the New Haven Lawn Club as our venue, which was by far our favorite. We loved how elegant the ballroom was, and the old classic feel of the venue, the amazing chandeliers. The entire venue is beautiful. It was the perfect canvas for our wedding day. Although we never had a theme, everything was seen to be very elegant and romantic looking. I knew from the beginning I wanted soft colors of whites, greens, pinks, touches of gold, lots of candles, and a warm glow throughout the room. It all came together with the help of New Haven Lawn Club wedding coordinators and our Floral Designer, Jack Colestos.

Planning all the little details was our favorite part. We knew we wanted Raw Photo Design and Pennylane Productions to capture us and our bridal party at spots in Fairfield that were very meaningful to us. We chose Fairfield Beach where we met and where James proposed, The Sea Grape bar where we have so many memories with our college friends, and Fairfield University which brought us together. We were blown away when we got to see how beautifully they captured all these moments. The antique taxi cab was a perfect NYC touch that my Dad and I were driven to the church in.

I didn’t walk down the aisle to your typical wedding melody; I walked down to “All This Time” by One Republic. It is a song James and I have always loved. After the ceremony finished we walked down the aisle as husband and wife to “Beautiful Day” by U2 playing. Our cake topper was a replica of the Love sculpture located in NYC very close to my office. James is an FDNY firefighter in Brooklyn; I knew I wanted to incorporate that into his groom’s cake. The very talented Erica O’Brien who also created our wedding cake made it look exactly like James’ helmet. He was so surprised. My mom even had the idea to put pictures of us as toddlers on the bathroom doors. We chose a signature drink of sweet tea vodka and lemonade and called it the “Tiki Tea”. The confetti was by far my favorite moment of the reception. We got that idea after seeing The Fray perform at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. During one of their songs they shot off pink confetti and I loved it. We knew it would be such a neat touch to our wedding. It really got everyone up and dancing all night, thanks to our Band ETA Music and DJ Danny Estrella we had a non-stop dance party.

When we look back on our wedding day we know we wouldn’t change a single thing. Our wedding day was everything I dreamed it would be. Most important, it was our day just the way we both envisioned it to be. All of our vendors did an amazing job and we couldn’t be more pleased with them. Our pictures and video sure do tell the entire story of our day, and that makes both of us very happy. I can’t tell you how much love and happiness we were surrounded by that day.

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Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

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Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

Amsale Bridesmaids Spring 2014

Additional Styles by Amsale

Amsale Bridal Fall 2014

Amsale Bridal Spring 2015

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Amsale Bridal Blue Label

Amsale Bridal Spring 2016

Amsale Bridal Fall 2016

Amsale Bridal Spring 2018

Amsale Bridal Fall 2018

Amsale Bridesmaids

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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True Event has said it best. This wedding is filled with absolutely rad personality. Oh and color. Loads of that too. It’s an explosion of prints, sequins, and modern furniture by Ryan Designs, ombre blooms by Stoneblossom and all grounded in old world Connecticut charm with pretty water views to boot. It’s a lot jam-packed into one wedding but with the prettiest images by Leila Brewster Photography to pore over and even more in the full gallery, plus a film by Vantage Point Films, you won’t miss a beat.

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DIY Inspired Connecticut Wedding from Hales Studio

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Lakeside Tented

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Modern

From True Event…We were so thrilled to be part of this wedding, not only because it was filled with rad personality but also because Kacie and Chris were such a fun couple to get to know and work with throughout the planning process. Set at the beautiful Island Cove Marina on the Connecticut River, the couple wanted a sophisticated yet festive atmosphere, perfect for showing their guests a good time. Kacie and Chris did their first look Dockside. Kacie and her bridesmaids prepared for the day at her parents’ waterfront home watching the parade of tall ships. Kacie’s something borrowed was her maid of honor’s crystal belt that was worn for her wedding. Kacie’s something blue was Crystal Louboutin shoes and a personal monogram was sewn in her dress. The bride wanted her bridesmaids to feel beautiful and look like guests at the wedding that’s why she chose the beautiful and elegant Amsale dresses. We used a soft pastel palette consisting of lilac, coral, butter yellow and blush and then accented, it with black and gold, which all played so nicely together. Missoni style patterns were seen everywhere, from the table linens and pillows used for the lounges to their invitation suite and signage. We loved bringing in this stylish pattern as it complimented the pastels and textures throughout the decor.

Fun personal details, such as a sunglasses table and a tequilla and champagne bar, really set the tone for the reception. The tented party showcased a draped fabric ceiling with black chandeliers created by Ryan Designs, a black and white dance floor and chic lounges set up along the perimeter. The tables were set with champagne linens, gold rimmed dinnerware, gold flatware, and black chargers and stemware. The head table sparkled with gorgeous blush sequin linens, just perfect for the fun bridal party and newlyweds! The flowers, creatively designed by Stoneblossom finished the space, adding pops of color and romance throughout the decor. The bride’s background in the fashion industry showed in her use of color, texture and details throughout the weekend. She wanted the wedding to be romantic and chic with a glamorous edge. She created this look by incorporating soft pastels with gold and black accents. From custom invitations, with the sophisticated elegance from Coral Pheasant, cookies and linens all in the Missoni print to personalized gold napkin rings over black bowtie shaped linens and a monogram dessert plate for each guest. The bride changed into the Missioni romper she used as inspiration for the wedding at the after party.

“Nonnie’s cookies” were handed out at the end of the night for guests to take home in traditional packaging. The bride also had the waiters hand out breakfast sandwiches as the guests exited the tent in a monogram wrapper. The menu was created by the bride and groom. They wanted their guests to experience some of their favorite foods. It was important to the bride and groom that their guests be pampered from the moment they arrived in town for the celebration weekend. Thoughtful and personalized welcome bags were given out to all guests with treats from the bride and groom’s home states, keepsakes and itineraries. The welcome night beach party allowed guests to meet each other and set the tone for the weekend. The bride and groom kept the intimate rehearsal dinner fun by providing a different cuisine based on the groom’s travels in each room at the historic Old Lyme Inn. The bride surprised her soon to be husband with a giant size replica cake of the groom dressed in his favorite NFL’s team, sneakers and a bottle of Patron.

As the party continued into the evening, the lanterns scattered around the tent and the hanging glass globes around the bar added a warm intimate ambiance to the summer night. After a quick dress change into a stunning getaway dress for Kacie, the happy couple were bid adieu with a dazzling sparkler send-off! Thank you to the incredibly talented Leila Brewster Photography for capturing all the magic! It was such a joy to be a part of your big day, Kacie and Chris!

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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DIY has come such a long, lovely way. Don’t you agree? Brides (and their families) just keep getting craftier and we get to reap the stylish rewards through weddings like this one captured beautifully by Hales Studio. Weddings where, if you didn’t tell us it was DIY, we would have absolutely no idea – because each detail tucked in this gallery is just as gorgeous as it gets. See it all here.

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Classic Weddings Whimsical

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Religious Institution

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From Rebecca at Hales Studio… The couple lives in Brooklyn but got married in Connecticut. This was a very traditional Jewish wedding. Sarah, the bride, designed everything including her wedding dress, (from Modern Trousseau) table decorations, huppah, and invitations. The mother of the bride assisted as she is a professional artist and has been making ketubahs, huppahs, and wedding invitations since her wedding in 1984.

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Wedding Photography: Hales Studio | Wedding Venue: Congregation B’nai Jacob, Woodbridge, Connecticut | Event Design: Judy Skolnick | Event Planning + Invitations: Bride + Mother of the Bride | Catering: Abel Caterers, Woodbridge | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau

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Modern Trousseau

Spring & Fall Classics

Spring 2015

Fall 2015

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Chamard Vineyards Wedding from Anna Sawin Photography

Through the years, the vendors that grace the pages of SMP have become dear friends of mine. It’s one of the truly special things about what I do. And the team of talents behind this wedding at Chamard Vineyards? They are simply the sweetest, and seriously talented to boot. So it’s no surprise to me that with TRUE Event behind the design, Lindsay of Jennie Fresa in charge of all the beauty, a gown from The White Dress by the Shore, catering from Gourmet Galley and Anna Sawin capturing all the pretty, that this wedding is just Connecticut perfection. Top it all off with one adorable, could-not-be-more-in-love Bride and Groom…and ladies and gents, we have a winner. See it all here.

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Tented Weddings in Wineries

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Casual Romantic

From the Bride… When Paul & I got engaged we were both on the same page. The most important thing for us and our guests was that the wedding reflected who we were: sophisticated, but not too stuffy, romantic, but not overdone, down home yet classic. And the most important thing… that everyone had a blast.

As we started to plan we noticed a theme coming together. A celebration of Connecticut! When I first moved to Connecticut I thought it was only temporary, a stop on the way to wherever else I was going, but it grows on you. No place has quite the combination of city & country, the ocean & the woods, the well-to-do & the down-to-earth. It is a place that has all four seasons, amazing restaurants, lots of places to visit & things to do. Best of all – it is the place where Paul & I met each other and have so many great memories. Since many of the guests were from out of town, it was important for us to showcase the best of what Connecticut had to offer.

My dress was made by Modern Trousseau. A designer who sells dresses in over 30 countries, but makes their dresses in Woodbridge, CT. I was able to go there and meet the woman who handmade my dress. Gourmet Galley, our caterers, were local to CT too and we had a farm-to-table menu that mostly included food from all over the state. The venue, Chamard Vineyards, in Clinton, not only offered the ambiance we were looking for, but also celebrates CT by growing grapes and making wine there. Our photographer, florist, make-up & hair, wedding coordinator, string trio, Justice of the Peace, cake & pastry makers were all based in our great state. We welcomed out of town guests with gift bags that celebrated the state where we began our love story. They included Pez, Deep River potato chips, Poland Spring water & Trim accessories all items made by companies in CT.

We wanted it to feel romantic yet laid back and comfortable. Much of what we decided on reflected this. From the outdoor rustic chic farm tables, to the dreamy floral arrangements of peonies, hydrangea & dahlia, to my Chantilly lace dress and fingertip lace edged veil.

Fun was high on our priority list. It was important that the Justice of the Peace reflected our style as well as kept the audience engaged. We worked with Victoria Burdick who met with us a few times for dinner & then created a ceremony that we didn’t review. We heard it for the first time when our guests did.

We wanted to keep the wedding moving along so that no one got bored & so that everyone felt that there was something to do. Fun for us meant that no one would be sitting at their tables when the music came on. We hired The Nerds. We planned the date for our wedding around their availability because we have been following them for about 10 years and knew that they would make it a real party. We also had s’mores & cotton candy to close out the night to add that extra bit of whimsy.

We knew that we did our job because we have been to a few weddings since and all the people could talk about was how great our wedding was and how they have been telling all their friends that it was the most fun they’ve had!

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Wedding Photography: Anna Sawin + Nicki Griffith for Anna Sawin Photography | Wedding Venue: Chamard Vineyards | Officiant: Victoria Burdick | Event Coordination: TRUE Event | Floral Design: Flourescent, Milford, Connecticut | Catering: Gourmet Galley | Cakes: Gourmet Galley + J Cakes | Lighting + Tent Rental: Sperry Tents | Music: O’Brien Strings + The Nerds | Hair + Makeup: Lindsay of Jennie Fresa Makeup & Skincare Boutiquerie + Timothy Pamment Salon | Transportation: STA Transportation + Post Road Limo | Accommodations: Saybrook Point Inn + Comfort Inn, Old Saybrook | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau via The White Dress by the Shore | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Coren Moore via The White Dress by the Shore | Save the Dates: Pear Tree Greetings | Calligraphy (Escort Cards, Table Numbers, Chalkboard Menu): Kristen Henderson Calligraphy

Backyard Connecticut Wedding from Carla Ten Eyck

If you’re a nature lover, this wedding is going to be so up your alley. Heck, I’m not really an outdoorsy type unless it involves cocktailing on the deck but I still adore every inch of this beauty. It’s moody forest romance with the perfect person to photograph all that fern infused love, Carla Ten Eyck. She captured the design of Earth2 Events + Ariel Dearie Flowers in such a beautiful way. See for yourself right here.

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New Haven Wedding from Raw Photo Design

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Backyard

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Casual Rustic

From Carla Ten Eyck…When Josh from Earth2 Events reached out to me about Catherine and Joe’s wedding I was excited! Josh is such an amazing person, designer and coordination innovator I knew this wedding was going to be amazing! And I was not disappointed! Catherine and Joe were both so laid back and easy going it made our job so easy. Which was great since the weather was not really cooperating with us… there were some spotty but super crazy rain showers headed directly for us! We were monitoring our radar on our iphones steadily to see if we could determine whether the ceremony would be outside and where we could do our portraits! It was super touch and go, and man the rain was torrential while Catherine and Joe were getting ready… but just look at the expression on Catherine’s face as she sees the clouds part and the sun break through!!

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Photography: Carla Ten Eyck | Floral + Event Design + Planning: Earth2 Events, Josh Chalmers + Ariel Dearie Flowers | Catering, Cake + Bar + Tabletop Rentals: A Thyme To Cook | Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Residence | Invitations: Mr. Boddington’s | Hair + Makeup: Joe’s Salon & Spa | DJ:DJ Jonny Sollis | Rustic Wood + Decor Elements: Earth2 Events | Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Band: Rick Snell Bluegrass Trio + The Five Deadly Venoms | Tent Florals + Environment Props: Earth2 Events | Ceremony + Personal Florals: Ariel Dearie Flowers | Tent + Rentals: Cartwright & Daughters | Transportation: Durham School Services

One of the best parts of my job is sharing weddings with you. Weddings that I know are going to make your jaw drop. It’s my favorite thing ever. This one was set in The New Haven Lawn Club and the building alone is enough to drop that jaw, but the bride, her gown, the flowers (I could go on and on)… let’s just say Raw Photo Design had something extra gorgeous to capture on this October day. It’s all sitting pretty right here!

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Fall Weddings

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Ballroom Weddings

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Connecticut Estate Wedding from Melani Lust Photography

From the stunning bride … My wedding day was a day girls can only dream about. When I started the whole planning process, so many different ideas were running through my mind. Do I want a modern wedding, do I want a traditional wedding, should we get married by the water, should we get married in a church? All the basic questions a bride asks herself when planning out her big day. When venue searching, my husband and I visited so many, but both fell in love with the first venue we looked at – The New Haven Lawn Club in New Haven, CT. It has such utter beauty and class to it with its swaying palm bushes in the cocktail area, and its black and white tiled floor, it makes you feel like you in a 1920’s Cuban Cigar Lounge. And then you enter into the Grand Ballroom, with its enormous palm crystal chandeliers and its welcoming fireplace and large windows, it takes your breath away even when it is not set for the night. Immediately, I knew my wedding was going to take on the image of timeless beauty with a modern flair.

I am a very traditional girl when it comes to wedding details, meaning I wanted the church wedding, and to arrive in a limo and wear the cream dress, but I am also very modern and am obsessed with fashion, so knew that both styles needed to come together. Finding my dress and shoes was the most fun part of planning my entire wedding. I didn’t try on many dresses at all, the minute I put on the Monique Lluhlier Sunday Rose dress, I just knew it was the one. It is so couture, and so fun, yet so absolutely stunning; it was the perfect dress to show my true personality. And then finding my shoes… well that was easy. I love high high heels, and I love color, so when I found my six inch heel Giuseppe Zanotti peep toe booties at his boutique in NY, I knew I didn’t need to look any further. The bow on the front of the booties matched perfectly to the roses on my dress, and the bright yellow gave it just the pop I needed. So many store sales people kept telling me to get a low heel, boring color, because that’s a wedding shoe. Clearly they didn’t know me, because those were not the wedding shoe for me. My bridesmaids wore Amsale dresses in a slate, bronze color to keep the elegant style flowing and the groomsmen all wore black tuxedos. Our wedding was truly going to be a Black Tie Affair. My mother, also known as my wedding planner, made sure to take care of other details, like making sure me and my bridesmaids all had paisley robes to get ready in the morning of the big day, and she found the perfect jewelry for all my bridesmaids to wear, along with ensuring that all my jewelry and my purse were perfect collaborations to go along with my dress.

At the actual ceremony, our church was European in style, and took your breath away. It was so elegant, flowers were not even needed at the alter. I wanted a different approach on entering the church, so my vocalist sang some of my favorite love songs as everyone walked down the aisle. My bridesmaids walked down to “Today I Met the Boy I’m Going to Marry,” from Father of the Bride just as an example.

Then at the Lawn Club… the flowers that draped the entire venue were so unique, breathtaking and truly original as was the designer herself, Jennifer from Fleur de Lys. She used cymbidium orchids as the accent flower to give the pop of green fun throughout the classic ivory flowers used. The entrance to the cocktail hour was inviting with a piano player that set the tone to a black and white theme with green palms adorning the space. In the corner was an authentic Cuban cigar roller that gave the cocktail hour a feel of a tropical paradise. Upon entering the ballroom, we had a place card table that was candle lit with crystal pillars and three dimensional candle adorned with rose buds and pearls. The most unique and original moss urns adorned with flowers were also place for gift cards. The ballroom was the most eloquent, soft, candlelit and romantic atmosphere any bride could dream of. With it’s floor length linens in black, it’s chevere chairs in ivory, the chartreuse napkin and the most exquisite crystal pillars adorned with ivory and chartreuse flowers. It was a truly magical atmosphere that all of the guest felt.

To put a truly great spin on things, the DJ introduced the wedding party to a variety of songs chosen my husband and I to create a fun and lively atmosphere all based on the 80’s. He created custom entrance that we all danced into and all the members of the bridal party wore their ray-ban sunglasses given by us as one of their gifts. The cake was a truly exceptional creation done by (Hope of J-Cakes). It mimicked my gown of a three dimensional rose of fondant which adorned the four tier round wedding cake with different flavors in each tier.

My wedding day was the most memorable day of my life so far. It turned out to be a gorgeous October day, one that took a lot of research, from bridal magazines, GO was my favorite, to Pinterest, to looking at different websites online for ideas. I took many different ideas from many different places and combined them together to make my own unique day. And of course, I had my mom, the most creative and stylish women out there, she wore a Vera Wang, Emerald Green dress as her mother of the bride dress, absolutely stunning. The most important part though, when actually planning the big day, is to make sure it represents you and who you are. Because after all, that is your big day.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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It’s not always fun to start the 9 to 5 after coming off an extra long weekend. We totally get it. But to make this Tuesday transition a wee bit easier, we’ve planned a lineup of weddings that take “pretty” to whole new level. Weddings like this New England affair that’s classic elegance to the very core. Designed at the hands of KDJ Botanica, it’s everything I dream of when “backyard wedding” comes to mind, layered with formality and tradition. Melani Lust was there to document the day, and you can get lost in it all right here.

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Estate Weddings

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Stonington, Connecticut Real Wedding

From Melani Lust Photography… One of the most beautiful weddings I have ever photographed, thanks to the incredible work of Katherine at KDJ Botanica, whose genius transformed the grounds of the home of the bride and groom into a fairy tale wedding, understated and elegant. The ceremony took place in the side yard, where urns of flowers created a beautiful space, furniture, flowers and potted trees – brought in and made for the occasion, encouraged guests to lounge. Sperry Tents provided two tents, one of which took a week to construct over unstable land. The other tent covered a pool, which had a plexiglass cover over lights that were placed in the pool by scuba divers, transforming it into a dance floor. The couple met on a blind date arranged by their parents. The party had 70 guests, intimate, but large enough to feel like a party. Peter Callahan’s miniature hors d’oeuvres delighted all who were there. The groom’s cake, an Audi R8, thrilled us all, especially when the groom exclaimed “This goes against everything I believe in,” as he had to cut into it (he owns the local Audi dealership, as well as an R8.)

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Photography

Melani Lust Photography

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These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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When it comes right down to it, there’s little I love more than a fun pop of color. And when that punchy little hue happens to be yellow layered atop a gray and ivory color scheme, you know the wedding will be something special. And let’s face it. With such a killer color combo, design by TRUE Event and blooms from Hana Floral, this wedding was bound to be nothing less than fabulous. Let Maggie Conley’s photos inspire the start of your Wedding Wednesday and see even more right over here.

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Traditional Hindu Wedding with a Modern Twist from Trent Bailey Photography

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Weddings in Wineries

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Casual Vintage

From the Bride…On August 17, 2012 my dream wedding came to life! With a unique and gorgeous setting, an amazing team of professionals, and the perfect man everything came together to make a magical wedding day. I knew right from the start that I did not want to be married in a wedding hall or country club. Since we were not going to be married in a church, I looked for a setting where we could say our vows in nature…I wanted something rustic and romantic- someplace truly “us.” Saltwater Farm Vineyard was that place! We were married right in between the vines, had a lively cocktail hour on the patio overlooking the vineyard and partied into the night inside the transformed wooden airplane hanger. Perfection! I knew the key to having a stress-free day was assembling the perfect team of vendors and wedding professionals, the type of people I would want as friends in my everyday life! My dream team included event planner Sarah True, photogropher, Maggie Conley, florist Yumiko from Hana Floral Design, caterers Gourmet Galley and DJ Doug from Power Posee to name a few! Each and every one of these people was kind, calm, professional and so very talented! I also hoped that my obsession and attention to detail would make our wedding something really special and I believe we pulled it off without a hitch! Everyone commented on how personal, warm and unique our day was. Many even said it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever been to! With a gray and yellow color scheme, a lot of vintage lacey details, homemade elements, framed photos of loved ones, etc. we were able to create our ideal atmosphere!

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Hana Floral Design

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Taking inspiration from Chanel’s Bombay-Paris collection, these two sweeties created a day that was not only drop-dead gorgeous, but rich in warmth and tradition. From the stunning ceremony held at the beautiful Delamar Greenwich Harbor to the “understated opulence” of the L’Escale Restaurant reception, it’s moment after moment of pure beauty, all wrapped up in a plethora of take-you-breath-away details created by some of the finest vendors you will ever come in contact with. I’m talking the amazing Trent Bailey Photography, Loli Events and Elegant Affairs (among others) joining forces to bring this couple’s breathtaking vision to fruition. See every shining moment right here.

And a stunning film from Kiss The Bride Films to send you off into the weekend… enjoy.

From the Bride… Our wedding concept was an inspiration in evolution. We wanted to embrace the ancient tradition that surrounds an Indian wedding but infuse it with a modern, opulent flair. It was serendipity that Chanel’s Bombay-Paris collection was designed for Fall 2012, coinciding with our September 2012 wedding season. The concepts, details, and depth from the collection directly complemented our vision. We extracted a few particulars from this Chanel inspiration and found ourselves with descriptors such as “purposefully mismatched,” “lavishly textured,” “understated opulence,” and “jeweled.” We tried to blend those descriptors with what we understood of romance, warmth, and tradition. Our chosen venue location on the Greenwich Harbor, Connecticut provided us with a unique backdrop to help transform this inspiration into a reality. Our end product was everything we could have imagined and more!

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Cinematography

Kiss The Bride Films

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Connecticut Wedding from Clean Plate Pictures + Sixpence For Your Shoe

Call me crazy, but I’m the kind of person who thrives on gray, rainy days. I was made for late fall and early winter, before the snow falls, but just as the air is turning chilly and heavy. I seriously can’t think of a more romantic time of the year. So when Sixpence For Your Shoe does a fabulous wedding and Clean Plate Pictures shows up with the camera – AND it’s late fall in Connecticut? Well, it’s over. Done. Finished me in a gallery of my kind of romance.

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Fall Weddings

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Weddings in Wineries

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Connecticut Wedding from Jubilee Events + Carla Ten Eyck Photography

From the lovely bride … We met in law school – although we went to college together we were a year apart and didn’t know each other. That’s pretty funny because our undergraduate school is fairly small. In any event, we met one day when Lauren was diligently working in the office of the student journal and John popped his head in to find a mutual friend. They continued their budding courtship playing soccer together, after their mutual friend invited them both to play on the same intramural soccer team.

We chose to have our ceremony and reception in the borough of Stonington, CT. This location allowed us to blend traditional wedding elements of an early afternoon ceremony at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church with a more modern, casual and festive fall evening soiree, beginning with cocktail hour overlooking the Long Island Sound on the patio and continuing the celebration in the adjoining vintage hangar at Saltwater Farm Vineyard. All in all, we wanted our celebration to be filled with unique personal touches leaving our guests with a lasting impression of an unforgettable Connecticut winery celebration.

The inspiration for our wedding stemmed from a more casual, festive, rustic, yet romantic and Parisian flea-market inspired setting. Our tables consisted of country chic place settings, a variety of lazy deconstructed seasonal best flowers arranged inside in shades of greens with accents of apricots and natural elements, as well as an eclectic assortment of lanterns and softly flicking candles in between the flower arrangements on each table. The set-up was warm, inviting and allowed guests to kick back and enjoy a cozy New England fete.

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I’m new to the East Coast, but one thing I’ve learned quickly is that when it comes to style, these New Englanders don’t mess around. So when this charming little wedding came my way, I wan’t surprised to learn it was hosted on the coast of Connecticut. It’s a preppy chic soiree planned out by the lovelies behind Jubilee Events. With a host of nautical-driven details plus photography by Katie Slater, I know this wedding will become a new fave after a bit of time spent in the full gallery right here.

And the wedding day video Vantage Point Films? Don’t dare miss it!

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