Connecticut Weddings

We’re total suckers for backyard weddings around these parts. They can be anything you want them to be…from casual to glamourous, and everything in between and we love them all. And right now we happen to be head over heels for this super romantic fete which was held at the bride and groom’s new home in Connecticut. Sent into us by the lovely Sara Wight Photography, this gorgeous soiree is sure to knock your backyard wedding loving socks off. Click here for more!

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From the Bride… Allen and I met waiting for a cab in the rain, outside the Mercer Hotel in New York. We shared a 15 minute ride, asked five questions each, and five years later in December 2011, Allen proposed in the back of another cab. Being the romantic he is the entire proposal was based around the ten-day weather report to ensure it would be raining. During this time, I moved my life from London to New York, and we took two of those years to build our dream home in Roxbury, Connecticut. It seemed very fitting to be married under the oak tree at the bottom of our garden, planting trees as part of our ceremony and concluding the celebrations with cocktails, dinner, dancing, a life band, DJ and pool party. The attention to detail was extremely important to us, wanting a very personal wedding that had a combination of elegance, romance, fun and humor. And the most important place to start in setting the tone for the entire weekend was the invitation.

The three-sided invite was a collaboration between the cartoonist Jamie Oliff and Mr Boddington’s Studio, and it proved to be a big hit with all our friends and family. Knowing I’d be out the country for four of the six months leading up to the big day, I started with an image board, a visual reference point for all the vendors that was particularly invaluable when collaborating with the very talented florist designer Loretta Stagen. Key vendors were sourced and booked locally by the end of January, and our wedding planner, Christine Eck, was brought on board in April, with us primarily communicating through Dropbox and email. The color scheme was based on pastels and grays to create a very soft, dreamlike and timeless feel. And in stark contrast, there was the yellow cab on top of the cake and yellow schools buses for the shuttle service. For personal touches, we had three trees inside the tent with escort cards hanging from the branches; sunset images taken from treasured trips as the table names; parasols and personalized fans to keep the guests cool; a collage board of photos of Allen and me when we were younger; and message cards for the guests. And let’s not forget the midnight snacks and pool attendant, who oversaw the safety of many a swimmer and left-over underwear!

The most important piece of information we had in the planning was a wedding budget spreadsheet given to us from a friend who also had their wedding at home. It was quite an eye opener on how much tents, toilets, lighting, generator and so forth were going to cost, but it proved to be invaluable when it came to the negotiations. The downside of having a wedding in your home is not only the added costs but the extra amount of work. The upside is that we get to look out of the kitchen window every morning and reminisce on what was for us, the happiest day of our lives thus far. Thank you to Sara Wight, our photographer, who really captured the weekend so artfully.

Wedding Photography: Sara Wight Photography / Wedding Venue: The Home of the Bride & Groom in Roxbury, Connecticut / Event Planning: Christine Eck of Eck Events / Floral Design: Loretta Stagen Floral Designs / Catering: Jordan Caterers / Wedding Cake: JCakes / Wedding Paper Goods: Mr. Boddington’s Studio / Wedding Invitation Illustration: Jamie Oliff / Entertainment: ETA Music / Wedding Dress: Carolina Herrera / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Hair : Joe’s Salon + Spa / Makeup: Katie Hollinshead / Bridesmaids’ Dresses + Necklaces: BHLDN / Groom’s Attire: Doyle + Mueser

Talk about an all star wedding team. Images from IRIS Photography, planning by Chocolate Creative Design, blooms from Hana Floral Design, a gown from The White Dress by the Shore, and SO many other all stars – all at a gorgeous wedding on Tyrone Farm. It’s a mixture for the most scrumptious of days, and only the smartest (and most stylish) couples could pull together a team so fab. This is a gallery you won’t want to miss!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

From IRIS Photography … A land of prep schools, horse farms and hilltop vistas–Connecticut’s “Quiet Corner” was the ideal spot for Eleanor and Matt’s relaxed and elegant Provençal country wedding. It really was relaxed, from their wedding ceremony held at the First Congregational Church of Woodstock where Eleanor’s brother Jed sang beautifully, to Tyrone Farm in Pomfret where guests grabbed a glass of Willimantic’s Hosmer Mountain Soda to cool off when they arrived. As for the elegance, these guys looked great with Eleanor in her Anne Barge dress from White Dress by the Shore, and Matt and his groomsmen sporting white dinner jackets.

Three such dashing groomsmen were brothers Patrick, Hamilton and Matthew–so nice to see them and their wives again (we photographed Hamilton and Matthew’s weddings over the past few years). While we’re talking bridal party…Eleanor gave her bridesmaids lovely engraved metal jewelry boxes and earrings, and Matt’s groomsmen received cool duffles made from recycled sails from Sea Fever…very nice!

This wedding featured an all-star team of vendors starting with the distinctive Tyrone Farm which is the real deal, run by Ian MacLaren with a commitment to going green (most all their electricity comes from their solar panels), free range chickens, a tent out back for dinner, gardens galore and a big barn for dancing. The très creative Lucinda Wesson of Chocolate Creative Design designed all the paper and decor in a button & feather theme (fun feather escort cards in a chicken wire nest, mother of pearl button mosaics of E and M adorning the long tables). Loved the French Country touches–lavender wreathes and menus with Toile linen wrap and button and tables cards with farm animals en français–just beautiful! And one of our favorite florists, Yumiko Fletcher of Hana Floral Design made gorgeous bouquets with dahlias, roses and feathers complementing the look so well.

Gourmet Galley catered their wedding, excellent as always, and as for music, Millennium Music who we’ve worked with several times played during cocktails and then Eight to the Bar kicked it up in the barn.

Photographer: IRIS Photography / Styling, Design & Paper: Lucinda Wesson, Chocolate Creative Design / Styling & Linens: Heidi Heublein / Venue: Tyrone Farm / Flowers: Yumiko Fletcher of Hana Floral Design / Dress: Anne Barge, The White Dress by the Shore / Bridesmaid Dress Designer: J.Crew / Farm table Rentals: New England Country Rentals / Ceremony Location: First Congregational Church of Woodstock / Catering: Gourmet Galley Catering / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited

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Hana Floral Design

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This wedding may be all about the romance, but that doesn’t mean that this beautiful couple doesn’t have a sense of humor or know how to celebrate in style. They surprised their wedding party by stopping at a dive bar after the ceremony and before the reception! Now that sounds like fun! Allegro Photography captured all the pretty and fun moments, like the Wedding Crashers quotes hidden throughout the reception. Click here for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We wanted a venue that felt unique, welcoming and charming in a rustic elegant kind of way. We had originally explored barns and vineyards but when we found Lord Thompson Manor, we realized it would be a lot easier to bring the rustic into that elegant setting than make a rustic barn look elegant, if you know what I mean. :) LTM is such a beautiful backdrop I didn’t want to take away from it by having some over-the-top theme or color scheme, so we stuck to neutrals, leaning towards burlap, white and moss colors, antique-looking elements and, to add a pop of summery color, we found the peach bridesmaids’ dresses and felt that would play nicely into our vision. Birch was another element I knew I wanted. LTM reminds me of the house I grew up in, and we had a ton of birch trees in the yard. I just love the bark and how it looked with the other elements of our planning. Plus, when I found my cake inspiration I was certain it needed to fit in. We were able to use real birch bark (thanks to Jackie) that was soaked and molded into things like the flower girl baskets, the cones that were used to throw petals on us while walking out the church, the CARDS sign on the antique suitcase we used to collect gifts, the flower pots used for center pieces, and then Jackie also placed big pieces of birch trees throughout to bring it home.

We wanted a romantic feel to things, which we achieved through the venue, but also by bringing in tons of candles, the chandeliers in the trees and the MUSIC (huge for us). We felt that really set things apart and made the day much more romantic than it would have been had it been a top 40 cover band. We also did some arts and crafts and made our “pearls of wisdom” bottles for each table with quotes about love. We also wanted to make sure we didn’t lose sight of ourselves and who we are as a couple. We love romance but in our relationship, it always is balanced with a healthy dose of humor, which is why we added in the Wedding Crashers quotes (fun fact: NO ONE but Steve, me and my mom knew those would be hidden throughout the party. It was a nice surprise for guests; Steve hid them Saturday morning after getting ready, and my mom was only looped in to help with printing), the go flip yourself booth and, of course, our other surprise: the stop at the dive bar. The dive bar between ceremony and reception is becoming a family tradition — we did it at my older brother’s wedding and as the second of six kids to get married in my family I’m hoping it keeps up. Again, no one knew we were doing that other than the people who absolutely needed to know.

Wedding Photography: Allegro Photography / Ceremony: Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Webster, Massachusetts / Reception: Lord Thompson Manor in Thompson, Connecticut / Floral Design: Lord Thompson Manor / Event Design: The Bride + Lord Thompson Manor / Wedding Invitations: Pickett’s Press / Save-the-Dates: Swiss Cottage Designs / Band: Chris Gillespie / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Hair + Makeup: Priscilla of Kiss Spa / Groom’s Tuxedo: Custom by Doyle + Mueser

This couple is ADORABLE.  So adorable, in fact, that we just had to take a quick trip to Connecticut today to show you their beyond lovely wedding.  A wedding that is sooo chock-full of fabulous details and heartwarming moments, you won’t know what to do with yourselves.  (Seriously.)  It’s a stunning Yale ceremony meets a nautical-inspired reception meets all kinds of crazy gorgeous images captured by Frost Photography – and it’s all sitting pretty in the full gallery.  Join us there for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Nate and I met as freshmen at Yale, where we were in the same residential college. The day after we got engaged, we decided the only place it made sense for us to tie the knot was back where we fell in love. There was one big problem with our hasty decision: we weren’t sure our dream wedding was possible at all! We’d never heard of a wedding being held at a residential college, but we got in touch with the master of the college, who we’d respected and adored as students, and he pulled the necessary strings to make our dream a reality. We feel beyond lucky to have been married in a place so special to us.

We held our reception in Nate’s hometown at the Guilford Yacht Club. The first time we saw it, we decided it was the place — we loved the simple elegance of its high ceilings and waterfront view. Though “Yale” and “yacht club” may make you think otherwise, neither of us are particularly preppy — in fact, our friends would probably laugh at the thought. However, we ended up embracing a nautical theme, partly as an homage to Nate’s and his late father’s shared love of sailing. Having grown up in landlocked Kentucky, I had no nautical experience, but Nate’s family introduced me to the joy of being on the water. Before he passed away, John was an accomplished sailor and had his own burgee (nautical flag), which we displayed beside his old nautical charts and sailboat escort cards.

My favorite parts of the day were seeing the little details we’d planned come into place: Nate and his groomsmen’s goofy dinosaur socks, our guests giggling at our Arrested Development reference and our personalized crossword puzzle on our programs, singing the Beatles’ “In My Life” during our ceremony with all our guests, seeing our dog Maeby walk down the aisle bearing our rings, hearing our fabulous band nail the cover of “Call Me Maybe” we requested, and watching our family enthusiastically take down the pinata we’d stuffed with Sonic the Hedgehog tattoos and candy. It was truly the most perfect day!

Wedding Photography: Frost Photography / Second Shooter: Angela Newton Roy / Ceremony: Calhoun College Courtyard at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut / Reception: Guilford Yacht Club in Guilford, Connecticut / Floral Design: Guilford White House Florist / Officiant: Kendrick Norris (kendrickn@aol.com) / Catering: Jordan Caterers / Wedding Cake: Claire Criscuolo of Claire’s Corner Copia / Wedding Invitations: Digby Rose / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Shoes: Lulu Townsend / Hair: Kelly Sharkey of Jennie Fresa ~ Make-up and Skincare Boutiquerie / Makeup: Shelly Dolan of Jennie Fresa ~ Make-up and Skincare Boutiquerie / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers / Engagement Ring: Shane Company / Bride’s Wedding Band: Macy’s / Groom’s Wedding Band: His Father’s

Oh my goodness, do we have something super gorgeous to share with you loves this morning. It’s a gorgeous bride, stunning venue, cupcakes to make your sweet tooth ache, and AMAZING photography from Carla Ten Eyck all wrapped up in one beautiful, beautiful wedding. It’s wedded perfection from Jubilee Events. It’s a gallery that will make you smile for days!

We couldn’t let this wedding get away without just a little more from Buzz Media Company…

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Click here to see the full image gallery!

Adam truly is my better half. He is calm to my crazy, faith to my fear, play to my work.

For those of you who know me, you know I’m not particularly wonderful when I’m hungry! It was memorial day weekend, and Adam told me on Sunday we were going to go pick up his dog Tucker in Goshen and meet our friends Emma and Bryan for a hike in Kent, Connecticut. Spending time in the Northwest corner with Tuck is one of our favorite things to do! Adam woke me at about 7am on Sunday and said he was taking me out to breakfast, I didn’t realize that meant driving all the way up to West Cornwall before I could eat! Needless to say, I was a tad cranky. Adam didn’t give it away at all, he didn’t seem nervous if anything he was more patient and affectionate then usual. We ate a delicious country breakfast at the Wandering Moose Cafe next to the Covered Bridge and after walked over to Adam’s truck to leave to pick up Tucker. When we got to the truck Adam grabbed his camera and said he wanted to take a picture of me in front of the bridge, I turned around to look at the bridge and when I turned back around, Adam was down on one knee, he had pulled the ring out of the camera case and he already had tears in his eyes!

I started to giggle nervously as I was caught off guard and Adam proposed to me! I instantly said “YES” and he jumped up to hug me. It was an amazingly beautiful summer day in front of a gorgeous setting and was the perfect proposal representing the things we love doing together.

We both knew from the beginning that we wanted something different then a traditional venue. Neither of us really fit the mold of ballroom, country club, castle people. Adam is a true country boy and I loved the idea of picking a venue that felt warm, cozy and had the potential to be really individualized. The Barns was the only venue we looked at, once we saw it, I knew that was where I wanted to get married.

The inspiration really came from the venue. We hated the idea of feeling cookie cutter, like going through a catalouge and just picking out napkin colors and flower colors and having none of our personality shine through. All the little touches came out of the ideas whirling around in my head that our fabulous vendors seemed to have the ability to make sense of. The Save The Dates are one of our favorite touches that really allowed us to bring the “country/rustic” feeling throughout the whole wedding by giving us the wood heart to play with.

We were really fortunate in that our Ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) was designed and executed by Adam’s brother. This allowed Adam’s family to be a part of the Jewish wedding traditions and also now we have a one of a kind Ketubah which is really a stunning piece of artwork. Many of the guests at our wedding had never been to a jewish wedding so I loved the way the program was done to explain each of the traditions and also in looking at the photos taken during the Hora you just get a sense of how much joy was in the room at that moment.

Obviously one of my most vivid moments is the fact that our Rabbi forgot his pants and had to borrow from one of the catering staff. That’s not a story that many people get to tell. He somehow morphed that fiasco into an anecdote on the importance of communication in a marriage and it is a lesson that will always make me laugh. I love the photos of myself laughing under the willow tree, of all the crying (my brother and Adam’s brother were pretty much sobbing through the whole ceremony and toasts), of the women at the wedding doing the choreographed dance and of all the kids at our wedding!

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck / Cinematography: Mike Cyr of Buzz Media Company / Flowers: Blush Floral Design / Event Planning + Design: Candice Dowling Coppola, Jubilee Events / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Barns at Wesleyan Hills / Dress: Jim Hjelm from Kleinfeld Bridal / Bridesmaids: LuLaKate / DJ: The Rhythm Shop / Officiant: Rabbi Brian Leiken / Hair and Makeup: Dana Bartone and Company, hair Catie Bane and makeup, Danielle Santagata / Cake: A Little Imagination Cakes

It’s a nautical stripes, pink peonies + gingham bow-ties kind of morning here at SMP and let me tell you, I’m head-over-heels in love! Lindsay Flanagan Photography snapped up all the pretty from this preppy Guilford Yacht Club wedding with gorgeous blooms from Hana Floral Design. And that Vera stunner with the bow details? Perfection. See the rest right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

Carol and Erich were introduced by dear friends of each of theirs. Initially, Erich thought Carol was a little quiet and shy but pretty, so he asked her out. After a few emails and confusing communications, they had a fantastic first date. A year and a half later, after meeting Carol’s 18 immediate family members, a trip away with Erich’s extended family and an adventure in Thailand and Cambodia, Erich, a self proclaimed introvert, got down on one knee in the restaurant from their first date and proposed. Carol cried and could barely wait to call her parents and five siblings with the news. That night they came home their West Village apartment in NYC to a celebration with their neighbors and friends from Dubai — it was perfect!

After scouring New York City and Westchester County, Carol and Erich found the Guilford Yacht Club close to their families in Connecticut, and within moments, they were sold. The simplicity of the space with the stunning views and the warmth had them both excited. Marissa, the planner from Jordan Catering, sealed the deal! They had a venue and a theme: clean, simple and nautical. For both Carol and Erich, family, tradition and friends mean everything. Raised Catholic, Carol wanted a religious ceremony, although she was not tied to having it in a church. Erich found Father Matthew as we find many things these days: on the internet. Skeptical, Carol went to meet him. He brought all of the Catholic traditions with him but met Carol and Erich’s sensibilities.

Carol found her dress at the Bridal Garden in NYC, a second-hand bridal store. Her dress had arrived that day, and she fell in love. The proceeds from the dress were donated to a school in Brooklyn, assuaging Carol’s guilt for such an extravagant dress. Erich found his suit and shoes around the corner from Carol’s apartment, which had become their home. The next task was finding a way to incorporate their family and friends, from nephews playing the entrance music to Erich’s sister as his witness family and friends stood with them as they said I do. It felt like the rest of the details just fell into place, and with recommendations for fantastic vendors, the flowers, food and music came together easily. The key to the success of the day was Carol and Erich’s friend Marla. With a 30+ person wedding party, they needed someone wrangling the troops, and Marla, having stage managed Broadway shows, was amazing at getting everything moving in a precise and organized fashion with out a worry in the world. She thought of all the little details, from having a friend wait with Carol as her family walked down the aisle ahead of her to ensuring all the vendors knew their cues. Marla made their day worry-free.

The whole night showcased Carol and Erich’s families coming together and the couple’s great joy with each other. They feel blessed in every way to have found each other.

Wedding Photography: Lindsay Flanagan Photography / Wedding Venue: Guilford Yacht Club in Guilford, Connecticut / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / Cupcakes: Lindsey of Sweetie’s Bakery and Cafe / Favors: DIY / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang via Bridal Garden / Bride’s Jewelry: From a Friend / Bride’s Shoes: Nordstrom / Bride’s Ring: Her Mother’s / Makeup: Lindsay Milan of Jennie Fresa ~ Makeup & Skincare Boutiquerie / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Ann Taylor, Gap + Borrowed / Bridesmaids’ Sashes: The Bride’s Sister / Groom’s Attire: Tonello / Tie: Vineyard Vines / Groom’s Ring: His Maternal Grandfather’s

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Hana Floral Design

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A Monday morning agenda that includes a quick trip to the lovely state of Connecticut and a breathtaking Tyrone Farm affair sounds like a pretty great day to me… especially when that breathtaking affair includes a plethora of darling DIY details, pretty yellow hues and a bride and groom that seriously could.not.be sweeter.  Add in a cotton candy cocktail hour, lawn games and potted plant favors and, well… you’re about to go seriously gaga for every.last.moment of fun-filled lovely snapped up by Studio Nouveau.  See it all right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Tyrone Farm in Pomfret, Connecticut, was the first venue we looked at, and as soon as we drove up the gorgeous driveway, we knew we had to be married there. The food was catered by G Seven Catering, and we knew they were the right fit for us when they didn’t bristle at Justin’s idea of cotton candy during the cocktail hour. Everything was absolutely delicious — we just wish we had eaten more of it! We were going for a casual vibe, and Justin knew from the start that he didn’t want a tux. The boys (being boys) waited until the last minute, but all ended up with a charcoal gray Kenneth Cole suits.

Tyrone Farm is very focused on providing low environmental impact events, and we wanted to stick to that theme as much as possible. Our caterer sourced the food locally when possible, and we decided to use potted herbs as both the seating cards and the favors.  We had a local business, Rock Meadow Farm, grow 135 basil, sage and rosemary plants for us, and one weekend, Justin and I DIYed the seating flags. The herbs smelled amazing, and we love going to our friends’ and families’ houses and seeing the herbs growing on their kitchen window sills. In keeping with the sustainable theme, we decided to minimize the use of cut flowers and liked the way the parasols translated in photos. We ordered many online but ended up with paper ones from The Knot for the bridesmaids. And just in case of rain, I also ordered the girls cute, matching purses from the Etsy shop FA2u.

We tried to personalize our day as much as possible, and we were psyched when our friend Ashley (ASK Dzign) volunteered to do our invitations and all the printed items. We had so many positive comments about the invitations, and she did an amazing job capturing our vibe. We are so thankful to have such a talented and generous friend. We had another close friend who, after seeing what we were looking at for centerpieces, decided he could make them for us. A few weeks later, we had boxes full of hand-made birch candle holders.  They turned out absolutely lovely and were perfect in the barn setting at Tyrone. We also asked an aunt and cousin to make our cake for us. We wanted to serve cupcakes and other small desserts, but we also wanted a small cake for the ceremonial cutting.  We are both into biking and had a bike theme going from our engagement photos and the invitations, so we purchased the cake topper from the adorable Etsy shop, Daryl’s Rock Wire Works. Every year Justin and I throw a big “Lawn Game Olympics” party, so lawn games at the wedding was a given.  We were so blessed with a gorgeous May day and love looking at the photos of our nearest and dearest strolling around the grounds at Tyrone and playing lawn games. The day was so perfect we wish we could do it again!

Wedding Photography: Studio Nouveau / Wedding Venue: Tyrone Farm in Pomfret, Connecticut / Floral Design: LILIUM / Catering: G Seven Catering / Wedding Cake: Family Members / Other Desserts: Verilli’s Bakery / Cake Topper: Daryl’s Rock Wire Works / Wedding Invitations: Ashley of ASK DZIGN (A Friend) / Potted Favors: Grown by Rock Meadow Farm / Parasols: The Knot / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Bridesmaids’ Clutches: FA2u / Men’s Suits: Kenneth Cole

 There is something truly enchanting about lakes — They’re so peaceful, so beautiful, and so perfect for the backdrop of a wedding! This couple DIY dominated their affair with homemade, well, just about everything! Table runners, favors, flower arrangements, and the list goes on.  My personal favorite? The origami escort cards! What a super cute, extra creative idea! Kristy May Photography captures all the homemade, lakeside magic right here in the full gallery of photos.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Our wedding took place beside a lake in my hometown, where my husband and I spend a lot of time. Because the location was rustic, we aimed to keep things simple and classic while incorporating as much of ourselves and our families as possible. We chose the colors lavender, gray, and cream to have a clean, soft palette to work with. We had our bridal party meet at the location the day before, and we set up the tables, ironed linens, hung paper lanterns above the dance floor and arranged all the flowers. We also self-catered our rehearsal dinner, so we got a lot of help from friends and family to pull it all off! The day before the wedding, we arrived to find that the lake had been dredged that morning, leaving a huge mound of wet sand piled high on the beach. Our amazing friends jumped right in with rakes and shovels and had it smoothed out across the beach in record time — at one point we had nine people on top of the pile!

We did all the paper pieces of the wedding ourselves. Because I’m a designer, I couldn’t imagine not doing the invitations myself. We started with those, then we added personalized menus at each place and escort cards with cranes my husband folded. For favors, each guest received a white box with two chocolate truffles. Each box was tied with a handmade tag containing a Moroccan proverb from a public radio show that my husband’s family listened to when he was young. As each tag was different, it was a surprise what each guest would get. My aunt whitewashed wooden buckets and then filled them with white and lavender flowers. These created a focal point along the edge of the dock where we stood. We did all the flowers ourselves, and I carried a bouquet that included calla lilies, the same flower my mother carried when she got married. It was wrapped in lavender ribbon, and then covered in a piece of cream lace left over from my late grandfather’s fabric store. None of my family from Kansas were able to fly out for the wedding, so it was important to me to have something from that side of my family with me that day. My father walked me down a short aisle to the sound of a single guitar playing “Moon River.”

The most important DIY element of our wedding was the ceremony. We were married by the friend that introduced us — she is also the only person that has known both of us for over ten years, so it was very important to us that she officiate. We also wrote our own vows, which was one of the hardest things that we took on and also the most worthwhile. We wrote drafts separately and then worked on the vows together, so that the end result was really a mix of our voices. After the ceremony, we had cocktail hour on the dock, then moved upstairs for a seated dinner and dancing. We laid out the tables in long rows, and I sewed table runners out of gray fabric to lay across the simple white linens. We chose two types of bouquets: metal, milk pail-style buckets for white hydrangea with an accent of lavender spider anemonae and mason jars with tight, low clusters of white roses. Interspersed were low candles in clusters of three.

My favorite moment of the wedding was standing at the head table during dinner, looking down the two rows of our closest friends and family and feeling so lucky to have them all in one room. Secondly, we were thrilled to have the dance floor packed all night! All generations got up to dance — it was wonderful to look around and see everyone having a great time. We worked so hard to pull the day together, and we were so pleased to watch everyone having fun!

Wedding Photography: Kristy May Photography / Wedding Venue: Cream Hill Lake Association in Cornwall, Connecticut / Floral Design: Blooms by the Box / Wedding Coordination: Kate Rosado Events / Wedding Cinematography: beIMAGED Photography / Catering + Wedding Cake: The Pantry (860-868-0258) / Band: Tangled Vine / Getting Ready Accommodations: Breadloaf Mountain Lodge / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Garter: Her Mother’s / Bride’s Gold Bracelet: From Her Great-Grandmother

I could get lost in this next wedding. Seriously, it’s a good thing it’s Friday because thanks to Julie Morawski and Jasmine Balgobin of Carla Ten Eyck Photography, my productivity levels have just plummeted. All I want to do for the next 24 hours straight is dream about this gorgeous, gorgeous soiree and smile a lot. Oh – and there is a film from Mark W. Brown Films. Does it get any better? If it weren’t Friday afternoon, this would be dangerous, but since we are so close to the end of the work week I’m going to send you off on your merry way into the gallery – just make sure you’ve answered all your emails first!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

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From Julie Morawski of Carla Ten Eyck Photography … Emma and Peter are just lovely. The way they smirk at each other, and hold each other’s hand is just, well, pretty darn adorable. Not only are these two so, so cute, but the way they met is even cuter. At a dog park! Oh! And they also picked one of my very favorite places to get married! Elihu Island. Just the thought of being there brings a big grin to my face. Jazz and I were lucky to have two weddings on the island this year, and feel honored. Elihu Island is a family-owned island, and they rent it out for a long weekend of fun a few times per year. The entire place is packed with beauty. Every corner you turn holds a surprise,and a million little things to photograph. Emma and Peter’s wedding held a vintage, nautical vibe, so Jazzy and I ran with that!

Emma looked just stunning and was a trooper in the heat of the summer day, and Peter was the perfect gentleman. It was truly the perfect day.

Emma and Peter, Congratulations again! Thank you so very much for having us along on your big day. Here’s to much love and happiness always!

Photography: Julie Morawski and Jasmine Balgobin of Carla Ten Eyck Photography / Cinematography: Mark Brown of Mark W. Brown Films / Flowers: Glimpse of Gaia / Event Planning & Design: Adrienne O’Connor of Ruffles and Tweed / Ceremony & Reception Location: Elihu Island / Dress: Lazaro / Band: Eddie Aledia of Elegant Guitar / Cakes: Tiffany Nevers & Christine Bascetta / Catering: David Alan Creations / Officiant: Steve Wakefield / Hair and Makeup: Salon Evolution / Tent: Sperry Tents

We are just so stinkin’ smitten with this wedding over here at SMP, and the images from KCK Photography have sent us straight from simply admiring to truly obsessing with every inch of this fete at the Latitude 41 Restaurant. I don’t know if I should start with the heartwarming story of the father of the bride’s courage and strength to rise out of his wheelchair and walk her down the aisle or with the wonderful team of supporters that helped fill this DIY wedding with all the loveliness and pretty perfection a girl could ask for. To top it all off, some of the most gorgeous and most radiant flowers from McQuades Marketplace gave the day just the right amount of charm. Find the full wedding in our gallery, right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We knew that we wanted our wedding to reflect our laid-back personalities, non-traditional attitudes, love of the ocean and all things handmade, homegrown and locally sourced. This also meant involving our friends and family in as many aspects of the wedding planning and day-of celebration as we could. We wanted everyone to walk away from our wedding loving our day as much as we knew we would and to not only party the night away, but know that they were all involved in helping to create memories that we will hold onto forever.

The planning process was quick and easy, but the actual execution took forever!I am a graphic designer and thus took on the task of designing all of our wedding stationery (save-the-dates, invitations, menu cards, seating cards, program, etc.). I spent months collecting vases and mason jars to hold candles and flowers, sewed our burlap table runners and linens, built wooden garden boxes to use as vases, made our card box, animal-shaped meal cards (cut from wood, painted and name tags attached), our initial letters, the Mr & Mrs signs that hung from our chairs, the “fish on a hook” table numbers, sanded our oars to be used as our wedding guest book, and painted and wrote our seating chart on an old factory window that we found for $10 in a warehouse down the road. I even sewed the flower that I wore in my hair from material from my dress and the veil that my mother and aunt both wore in their wedding. My 10-year-old niece chose my dress. The bridal party wore bracelets made by my husband’s aunt to welcome us into the family, and anything that was not handmade was bought from other artists on Etsy. We collected props (hats, crazy glasses, eye patches, beaded necklaces and other fun props that you would find in a photo booth) and had them all available for guests to choose and wear through our reception.

Guests arrived to my cousin playing the cello, and our justice of the peace, DJ and makeup artists were close friends of friends. Our photographer is a close friend who I nannied for in Boston for many years, my jewelry was my grandmother’s, our hair was done by my sister’s best friend, and the list goes on. Our flowers and cake were from the local market in Mystic, and although I had no idea what I wanted and provided absolutely no direction to the baker and florist, other than “make it look simple/homemade,” I couldn’t have asked for a better cake and flower arrangements. Our amazing food and beverages were provided by Coastal Gourmet, and our guests are still talking about how delicious and beautiful everything was! The day was more than we could have ever hoped for and was, by far, one of the most emotional days of our lives. My father, who is confined to a wheelchair, found the strength to walk me down the aisle with my mother, and my husband and I were able to steal away few moments alone to leave our guests after the ceremony to honor his parents, who passed away from cancer just over two years ago. When I look back on our photos, I feel like I’m right back there on our wedding day. I can smell the salt water, hear the boats, feel the breeze, remember the emotions going through me and laugh and smile at all of the good times and great memories that will forever hold dear to our hearts. It was truly a simple but amazing day that I will remember forever.

Wedding Photography: KCK Photography / Wedding Venue: Latitude 41 Restaurant, Mystic, Connecticut / Wedding Coordination: Keri Gannon of Coastal Gourmet / Floral Design: Tracey of McQuades Marketplace / Event Design, Styling + Paper Goods: DIY by the Bride / Catering: Coastal Gourmet / Wedding Cake: Mystic Market East / DJ: Dave Christina (401-477-3952) / Wedding Dress: Jasmine Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair: Mandy Thew / Makeup: Erin Infantino of Simply Gorgeous by Erin

Project Runway Fans Unite. This is your kind of day on SMP because we just happen to have one of my all time favorite Runway stars right here, right now. It’s Nora Caliguri. The absurdly chic, absolutely gorgeous, wish she won the whole she-bang but know she’s a raging success regardless Nora Caliguri. And her wedding is nothing short of pure loveliness. Planned by the lovely Sarah True with images by Creative Image Collections, this is me…totally starstruck. Just make sure to click through the whole gallery right here.

Nora + Todd | The Highlight Film from Vantage Point Films on Vimeo.

From the Bride… Todd and I met through a mutual friend at a summer party in August 2007. I knew instantly that I had met my future husband. Throughout the next four years, we traveled all over the world together, became the person we know best to each other and have fallen so much in love. In the summer of 2010, we took our biggest trip yet. We ventured to South Africa to get a taste of the wine country, experience a safari, go to the World Cup Finals and end up in Egypt to fulfill my lifelong dream of seeing the pyramids. What topped this trip off was the evening of July 4th, when he unexpectedly proposed to me in the backyard vineyard of the bed and breakfast we stayed at in Franschoek. From that point on, we both had wedding fever and couldn’t be happier about it. We knew that we wanted to have the most beautiful ceremony and the most epic party at the same setting as our engagement night. However, we had to find the perfect place to do this back home on the other side of the world. To bring home and share that night with our guests, we researched into countless vineyards on the east coast. When we entered Chamard Vineyards in Clinton, Connecticut, for the first time, we knew we had found our place. Set back behind a long driveway and rows of gorgeous vines, it reminded us of the beauty of our trip to Africa and excited us for our upcoming trip to Sonoma Valley in California. The building, the tasting room, barrel room, porches, barn, were all put to use for our wedding and were accompanied by the most gorgeous Sperry Tent. Sarah True of True Event was our event planner and helped us create the most memorable and remarkable wedding ever! Together we created a world for our guests to enter for one night.

As a clothing designer, I had a lot of people banking on me designing my own gown. Before I undertook that, I decided to go shopping first to see if there was one out there that I would love and be me to a tee. I wanted texture and something interesting to the eye that would still evoke a wedding dress. To my surprise, I found my dress at Kleinfeld in New York — from a designer in Turkey, Songul Sarpbas. I absolutely could not wait for Todd to see me in this dress! After skipping the dress-making idea, I focused on the décor and details of our amazing wedding. For my bridesmaids, I wanted to keep the element of texture going. To make it look like a collection, all of their dresses were in shades of gray. They were handpicked throughout the year from several brands to find the best dress to fit all eight girls’ bodies and personalities. The boys wore J.Crew, and it all tied together so well. All of our details embodied us as a couple, our friends and family and the places we have been. For our invitations, my best friend and graphic designer Leah Nista collaborated with us to create a papel picado, Mexican-themed invite. Papel picado is one of my favorite things I brought home from a trip to Mexico City. Todd and I are both surfers, so a surfy Mexican blanket fabric backer accompanied the gorgeous invites inside their teal envelopes. Everyone who got them in the mail said that it definitely looked like it was going to be a party and a half. Our California postcard RSVP card was for where we were headed on our honeymoon.

As our guests arrived to the vineyard on that beautiful day, they were greeted with a spiked lemonade/iced tea favorite of ours. Vintage windows our neighbor had left out for garbage were used in place of paper programs. They signify the vintage window in my house that I display foreign currency on from all of our trips. Biodegradable confetti was handed out in little paper bags with a “how to “ photo of Todd and I throwing confetti. Our ceremony seats were set up in an auditorium style, for better viewpoints for all of our guests. Inspired by the safari we took last summer at a tented camp with no electricity, we collected lanterns throughout the year and clustered them on the tables, glowing all night long with white candles. I made all of the tablecloths  and runners throughout the year from a fabric in New York. Had to get some sewing in there somehow! Silver tassels inspired by the necklace I was wearing the day of our engagement that I made were on the back of my chair. We had sparklers and Japanese floating lanterns during the party — they were a big hit with our guests.

Wedding Photography: Creative Image Collections / Wedding Venue: Chamard Vineyards in Clinton, Connecticut / Event Design + Coordination: Sarah True of TRUE Event / Floral Design: Tony Palmieri of Datura — A Modern Garden / Wedding Cinematography: Thomas Morlock of Vantage Point Films / Catering: Betsey Plunkett of La Cuisine / Wedding Cake: J.Cakes / Wedding Paper Goods: Leah Nista / Entertainment: DJ Select / Rentals: Durants Tents + Rentals Unlimited / Transportation: American Executive Limousine / Wedding Dress: Songul Sarpbas via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Various / Beauty: Jennie Fresa — Makeup and Skincare Boutiquerie

What do you do when you are a southern girl marrying your Yale educated love in a Connecticut soiree? Why, you bring the southern charm north with you. And then you definitely call Carla Ten Eyck to capture it. That, my loves, is the perfect concoction for the most charming Connecticut wedding around, as you can obviously see in this gorgeous, gorgeous wedding. Click here for more!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Patrick and I were married on the most gorgeous and uncharacteristically warm spring day in Connecticut. The marriage ceremony took place at St. Mary’s Church located on the campus of Patrick’s alma mater, Yale University. When I saw St. Mary’s for the first time I fell in love and knew this was the church we had to get married in! It is breathtaking, yet simple at the same time.

As a North Carolina native getting married in Patrick’s home state of Connecticut, I wanted my southern roots to shine through at our wedding. Therefore, I decided on a southern hospitality theme featuring the symbol of hospitality, the pineapple. We wanted to extend the warmest welcome possible to all of our family and friends who were part of our special day.

The cocktail hour and reception were held at Great River Golf Club in Milford, CT. Our southern hospitality theme was represented throughout the décor, which included hand painted pineapple signs, a vintage chalkboard with a hand written explanation of the meaning of the pineapple, pineapple themed paper products, and postcards from my favorite southern cities that served as table signs. Elisabeth, our florist, expanded upon my southern theme with the floral design, which included magnificent magnolia leaf and floral garlands which she used to decorate both the head table and the place card display. Elisabeth also created the most amazing centerpieces for the reception tables, which included a mixture of spring purple, ivory, and green flowers.

For our favors, my mom crocheted delicate white lace crosses tied with green and purple ribbons. We also gave our guests packets of Moravian cookies, a specialty of my hometown. Also, as a kid my dad would always joke that at my wedding reception we would serve RC Colas and moon pies, true southern delicacies. To honor my dad’s request, we sent guests home with these southern treats!

Patrick and I had the most amazing day and we couldn’t have pulled it off without the help of the best vendor team EVER! They put so much hard work into our day to make sure that it was truly special, and we can’t thank them enough. We are so blessed to have each other and the memories of a truly remarkable day!

Photographer: Carla Ten Eyck Photography / Dress: Modern Trousseau, from The White Dress by the Shore / Reception Dress: Allison Parris / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hairpiece: Maria Elena Headpieces, The White Dress by the Shore / Bracelet: Aquinnah / Wooden Welcome Sign: Joni of Chocolate Butterbean / Hand painted Thank you chalkboard and Vintage chalkboard: Etsy / Bridesmaids’ Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Linens: La Tavola and Party Rentals Ltd. / Chargers, glassware: Party Rentals, Ltd. / Calligraphy: Meant to Be Calligraphy / Invitations: Smock / Menus, Place Cards, and Programs: The Green Kangaroo / Day of Coordinator: Diana from Jubilee Events / Videographer: Jim Altieri Vintage Cinema / Florist: Blush Floral Design / Hair and Makeup: Lauren and Dana of Dana Bartone and Company / DJ: Rich Gumpert, Powerstation Events / Cakes: The Cake Boutique / Reception: Great River Golf Club / Transportation: Premier Limo

Lovely LBBers, meet this wedding. She is full of personality, has wonderful style, and is a total blast to be around. Just ask Carla Ten Eyck, who spent her time behind the camera giggling along with the gorgeous couple at center. And Sixpence For Your Shoe can vouch for her sense of spunk after planning and designing her from her fun nautical pieces to her cowboy boot reception. It’s a wedding you will instantly add to your BFF list, and it’s all right here!

From Carla Ten Eyck … This Nautical/Cowboy themed wedding was one of our very favorites. Not only was the couple truly adorable and full of personality, but the details were to die for! The bride arrived to the ceremony in her family’s boat, and the feel of the day was so personal, and gorgeous. The day included fun lawn games, lots of cowboy boots, a seafood feast including lobster and clam chowder, and beautiful light.

From Sixpence For Your Shoe … In a boots and boat shoes, beachy western sort of fete, Christina and Chris wed at her family’s community yacht club.  From the first time we met, we knew this would be spectacular.  Christina’s ideas were well solidified from nearly our first meeting, playing on coral and sea blue with vibrant navy and orange as accents.  In the desire to keep their wedding intimate, personal, and downright fun, details were infused throughout to conjure memories of home, youth and festivity.

As guests arrived, they were greeted with pashminas to warm chilled shoulders, offered to leave their shoes and set their feet in the grass with a shoe-check station, and offered a pre-ceremony beverage.  A family friend married the couple under a seaside arbor, complemented by modern tunes played via a classic string ensemble.   Following the ceremony, the newlyweds took a quick jaunt on Christina’s family boat – Grace, which had been adorned with yachting flags translating to “Just Married.”

Christina and Chris’s focus was to deliver to their guests an upscale clambake experience that combined classic New England fare and Texas down-home bbq, representing each of their upbringings.   The perfect fit was found with the incredible talents of the team at Outdoor Cookers!   From the raw bar to the pulled pork sliders, the cocktail hour was a hit, as guests played croquet and corn hole, sipped cocktails through colorful silly straws and mingled about.  Nautical touches in the rope knots on the cocktail tables and a beer bar in a small wooden dinghy added to the fun.  Once inside the Pavilion which gives the appearance of the interior of an old wooden boat, lanterns were strung, with table images attached, each a carefully crafted cut out of meaningful aspects of Christina and Chris as a couple.  The tables were dressed with an aquatic themed linen and runner, pale blue irish linen napkins and buckets of goodies for the meal which would be served.  The flowers were the perfect pop of color and texture to bring out the table top decor.  Guests helped themselves to custom lobster bibs with the C&C logo on them, one which was repeated from the invitations through the reception details, adding the cohesiveness to the entire event.  The dessert bar carried the theme of classic New England treats with homespun touches, peach cobblers, cookies, and a mini two tiered carrot wedding cake that guests could not wait to try!

The bridal party delighted guests with an unexpected line dance, having everyone on their feet cheering.  The toasts by both fathers, as well as the friends were sweet and sentimental, humorous and upbeat and just about perfect.  Guests danced and danced the night away leaving everyone with unforgettable memories of Christina and Chris’s wedding celebration.

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck / Flowers: Lisa Eisenman-Salley / Event Planning + Design: Sixpence for Your Shoe / Location: Dolphin Cove Clubhouse / Invitations + Paper Goods: Erica Keuter Designs / Dress: Bride Designed it / Bridesmaids Dress: ASOS / Strings: Millennium Music / Band: One Step Ahead / Makeup: Donna Puma / Cake: Fairway / Catering: Outdoor Cookers

Connecticut is this little dream land for me. Even though I’ve never actually been there, I seriously think it is the most magical place in the world and judging from the images from this amazing wedding by Visual Obsession Photographers, I’m right! It is everything you could hope for in a Connecticut wedding: the perfect preppy-nautical-boaty wonderfulness that makes this state so great, plus the venue at the Greenmanville Church at Mystic Seaport has one of the most breathtaking ceremony backdrops I’ve seen. This bride used her graphic design skills to make every lovely detail polished and so, so adorable that you would never know they were DIYed. There is so much more in the gallery, right here.

From the Bride… I never thought I would end up having the type of love I have seen my parents share over the past 27 years. They met when they were 14 and 16 and have been together ever since. I always wished that could be me. Well, I’m not far off. Mike and I met when we were 18 and 19, as freshmen attending Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. We hit it off right away and spent the next 8.5 side by side. After moving in together two years ago, I really wasn’t expecting a ring anytime soon. Well, Mike surprised me, that’s for sure. He proposed in our new apartment and took me out to a beautiful dinner, where both my parents and his parents were waiting to celebrate our engagement. It was everything I could have ever wished for.

With me being from Connecticut and Mike being from Massachusetts, we tried to find a venue mid-distance for our families and friends to attend our wedding. After looking at a few venues, Mystic Seaport beckoned. Mystic is so beautiful, and we felt its rustic, casual feel would offer the perfect backdrop to our special day. We wanted a casual feel to our wedding, no sit-down dinner, just tons of seafood and stations piled high with delicious offerings for our guests. We took on the nautical theme, and I ran with it. We got married in a little church on the grounds of Mystic Seaport, where our 175 guests barely fit — we wanted a very intimate ceremony where our guests could truly be a part of our commitment to each other as husband and wife. The wedding was a success, and not one thing went wrong. If I could do it again I would in a heartbeat.

Planning our wedding was easy for me. I am a graphic designer, so I was eager to take on the creative side. Spreadsheets and Excel didn’t interest me, so everything I did, I did my own way, inspired by the beautiful setting at Mystic. Adobe Illustrator was my best friend throughout the process. I designed everything for the wedding, which began with save-the-dates and extended to engagement party invitations, the wedding invitations, the nautical-themed table names and even the signature drink. I got out my X-Acto knife, glue guns and DIY hat and created our escort card display and aisle decorations. Not pictured are the wedding favors I crafted for the guests. The favor included five pieces of salt water taffy wrapped up in a little bag tied with green and white baker’s twine. I also found the oar, painted it and sanded it myself with the help of my mom and dad!

Wedding Photography: Visual Obsession Photographers / Ceremony: Greenmanville Church at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut / Reception: Latitude 41 at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut / Floral Design: Just For You Floral Design Studio / Wedding Cake: Mystic Market / Wedding Invitations + Paper Goods: Christine Meahan Designs (The Bride) / Violinist: Golden Scroll Soloists / Reception Band: Silver Streaks Band / Wedding Dress: Demetrios / Bride’s Shoes: RSVP / Hair: Borrowed & Blue / Makeup: Simply Gorgeous by Erin / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung / Groomsmen’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse

Mmm, I just want to sink into this post and dwell in the loveliness that is this New England fete. All of the soft, beautiful images from Alison Lassiter Photography make this wedding just the prettiest of pretties. Add that with some of the most swoonworthy florals from Flowers By Danielle in the most charming of color palettes, and it all adds up to be an absolute stunner. PLUS, we can’t forget about that first look moment on the railroad tracks that is just the icing on the cake. See even more in the gallery, right here.

From the Bride… Finding the inspiration of our wedding day was easy. My fiancé and I have been together for over eight years, and this would be the first time all of our family and best friends were going to be together in one place. We knew weddings can often be stressful, so we really wanted the energy of ours to be the complete opposite; fun, flirtatious and of, course, romantic. We love the outdoors, so we wanted to get married outside in a place that we felt set the perfect back ground for a romantic spring wedding: in a beautiful garden overlooking a lake, among soft peach and pink rose petals. May was the perfect month for freshly-bloomed flowers, and our venue was the perfect place for a beautiful New England wedding. Our wedding ceremony was unique to us as well. We are both Christian but have strong family traditions rooted in my Greek Orthodox and my husband’s Irish Catholic faiths. We decided to customize our ceremony so we could include traditions from both in our ceremony, while still keeping the energy light and playful. We made sure people were laughing, crying and having fun from beginning to end!

I have all of the incredible and talented people on Etsy and wedding blogs to thank for our wedding inspiration! It all started with our color palette. We wanted the colors to reflect the feeling of romance with a slight vintage touch — dove gray, soft peach and blush pink with accents of seafoam green. We really wanted to incorporate as much of our personalities as we could into the details of our wedding and tried to carry the vintage romance theme throughout — from old shutters as our place card table to varying heights of milk glass as our centerpieces. We had old photos of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days lining the fireplace of the reception, surrounded by votive candles and bud vases. Our photo guest book was one of our favorite parts of the day — it was personalized for me and my fiancé with “Once Upon a Time” and “Happily Ever After” printed on the front and back cover of the book. We didn’t want a traditional guest signing book, so we had our guests snap a polaroid picture of themselves and place it into our “fairy tale” story book, creating photo memories we’ll have forever. Our flowers were by far my favorite, unexpected detail of our wedding. Each centerpiece had its own unique personality, with varying flowers that pulled together the colors of our wedding perfectly: peach and champagne roses, blush pink hydrangeas, cream astilbe, peonies, peach ranunculus and seeded eucalyptus.

The first sight was my favorite part of our wedding day. We chose to do it on an old railroad track in a local park. We liked how it had a natural, rustic feel to it. Walking up to my fiancé, who was waiting in anticipation on the train tracks, and seeing his reaction was the perfect moment — just us and no one else. It was such a calming feeling. We were able to have fun together and laugh during the pictures before the wedding, and it really set the tone for the day. The playful energy carried throughout our ceremony with personal jokes and laughter all the way to the dance floor, where bag pipes, Irish jigs and traditional Greek dancing took over. OPA! Our wedding day was everything we dreamed of, down to the very last detail. Seeing everything come together that day was so rewarding. To know it was our ideas and our vision that made it our wedding day was truly magical. All it took was one simple formula: great family + friends + fun.

Wedding Photography: Alison Lassiter Photography / Wedding Venue: The Waterview in Monroe, Connecticut / Floral Design: Flowers by Danielle / Band: Arcadia via LI Paramount / Guest Photo Book: shabbyscrap / Floral Pens: HansCreations / Personalized Guest Bag Wine Charms: SureToBeCharmed / Vintage Table Numbers: TieThatBindsWeddings / First Look: Indian Well State Park / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via Camille Bridal Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Personalized Flip Flops: FlipSideFlipFlops / Bride’s Clutch: Jimmy Choo / Brides’ Earrings + Bracelet: Tejani / Bride’s Hair Accessory: SadieBloomDesigns / Hair + Makeup: Dana Bartone & Company / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Carolee / Bridesmaids’ Gold Bracelets: Kate Spade / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Mootsies Tootsies / Men’s Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse / Groomsmen’s Socks: Brooks Brothers / Groomsmen’s Personalized Sneakers: Nike ID / Flower Girl’s Basket: MichelesCottage

A breathtaking Millstone Farm setting, bridesmaids rockin’ colorful pashminas and the fabulous stylings of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale and Tim Labant Catering, LCC… this sweet Connecticut soiree is all about bringing the pretty to our Monday morning.  And by pretty, I mean a seriously stunning bride and groom and gorgeous images captured by Brandy J Photography – all joining forces for one of the most romantic affairs you will ever see.  Ready to jump start your week with pure lovely?  Join me in the gallery for more.

We met Kelly and Mike on a frigid and snowy December day in Wilton, Connecticut. While we discussed their fall nuptials on a farm, it became clear to us that such a beautiful couple would inspire one of the most beautiful weddings we’d put together yet. Kelly, originally from North Carolina, and Mike, a Connecticut native, wanted to incorporate vintage touches throughout their rustic wedding. We used things such as an old door as a seating board and chalkboards and old weathered wood planks as signage. Our favorites were the “Mr.” and “Mrs.” signs we hung on their chairs at the reception. The cocktail hour featured a bar built from hay bales and a saxophonist and pianist surrounded by lighting that had been strung along shepherds’ hooks. Signature cocktails – one to represent each of the newlyweds – were accented with pink and white striped straws. Mason jars wrapped with twine served as vessels for seasonal flowers that incorporated shades of fall and elements such as pinecones. Small birch rounds were used throughout the wedding as serving platters and in centerpieces with table numbers on them. Guests were transported back in time as they wrote their words of wisdom on an old typewriter. The most personal touch was the hundreds of childhood photos of the bride and groom strung along the outer perimeter of the tent. Kelly’s gorgeous vintage fur wrap that she donned for the evening reception set the stage for a perfectly romantic night cuddled up by the bonfire with her new hubby, while kids utilized the s’mores station to create some delectable homemade bites. From spiced nuts served in cones, mini lamb burgers, a full three-course meal, bacon lollipops, and a buffet of pies for dessert, the food was exquisite and expertly arranged by Tim Labant, chef and owner of The Schoolhouse at Cannondale restaurant. All in all, we’d say that this wedding was beyond successful, and we hope to do more like it in the future! 

Wedding Photography: Brandy J Photography / Ceremony: Our Lady of Fatima Church in Wilton, Connecticut / Reception: Millstone Farm in Wilton, Connecticut (203-834-2605) / Catering, Floral + Event Design: Rebecca Thorpe of Tim Labant Catering, LLC at The Schoolhouse at Cannondale / Wedding Invitations: Paperless Post + A. Flood of Paper / Musicians: Soho Rhythm via Hank Lane Music / Rentals: Taylor Rental / Tent: Sperry Tents / Wedding Dress: Christos / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Wrap: Vintage / Hair: Amy Guerra

Sometimes Mondays require a little extra pretty, we get that, so this morning we are sharing a wedding so pretty, so perfect you won’t even need that cup of jo to help energize your day. It’s just that good (and you would never know a hurricane was looming). It’s the gorgeous creation of Jubilee Events complete with delicious florals by Blush Floral Design, and all captured so beautifully by Lisa Berry Photography and Carla Ten Eyck. It might just define lovely, and you can see it all right here.

Our bride really wanted to have a gorgeous, romantic wedding inspired by her love of J.Crew with a soft color palette of peach, slate blue, pink and gold. We designed a gorgeous dining tent, complete with pewter crystal chandeliers, ivory Tuscany linens, clean ghost chairs and sweet floral arrangements filled with peach garden roses and other beautiful floral accents. Guests dined on a summer menu of grilled meates, fish and vegetables with summer salads and sides perfect for their late August wedding. As favors, guests took home brass compasses tucked inside beautiful muslin bags with a custom floral stamp by Ceci New York and a note that said “Love is the compass of life.”

Wedding Photography: Lisa Berry Photography + Carla Ten Eyck / Wedding Venue: Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut / Event Design + Planning: Jubilee Events / Floral Design: Blush Floral Design / Catering: Coastal Gourmet / Wedding Invitations + Paper Goods: Ceci New York / Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones / Musicians: Elan Artists / Linens: La Tavola / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. / Tent: Sperry Tents Marion / Lighting, Draping + Lounge Furniture: Ryan Designs / Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau / Beauty: d.d. Nickel Makeup Studio

Julie Morawski of Carla Ten Eyck Photography emailed me to let me know she had the, hands down, most amazing wedding for me. And then she sent me this. It’s perfection in every sweet vintage detail, and I’m inclined to agree with Julie, especially after spotting the amazing floral design from Sayles Livingston Flowers. It’s goosebumps wrapped up in happy grins, and the gallery? Forget about it. Amazing.

From Julie Morawski of Carla Ten Eyck Photography … Have you ever been a part of something that makes you so happy, you feel like you could spontaneously combust? I guess that’s a bit dramatic but really, {love}fest was a dream come true. Leah and Jeff are just darling. I met Leah about a year ago at a coffee shop, and the moment that we started talking, it was decided that we were soul sisters. I knew that her wedding would be something very special.

Jazz, Ryan, and I arrived at Elihu Ssland bright-eyed for Leah and Jeff’s big day and we were met with pure beauty. Everything. was. beautiful. The amount of joy packed onto this little island was overwhelming. I still smile just thinking about it.

Mr. and Mrs. Love, congratulations again. I wish you two a lifetime of {love}, happiness, and adventure.

Photography: Julie Morawski, Jasmine Balgobin, and Ryan Lamb for Carla Ten Eyck Photography / Event Planner: Ruffles & Tweed / Florist: Sayles Livingston Flowers / Band: Livewire Entertainment / Photobooth: Photobooth Planet / Caterer: B&M Catering Company / Tent: Sperry Tents / Bride’s Dress: La Fleur by Anne Barge

You know what is always the beginning of a fabulous day at SMP? A beautiful French Countryside inspired soiree. Especially if said soiree is planned and perfected by Sixpence For Your Shoe and captured by Katie Slater of Carla Ten Eyck Photography. There is no better pairing to your favorite coffee when it comes to starting the day out perfect. Especially if you save a danish or two for the gallery perusing!

PJ and I met in college and had been together almost nine years prior to our wedding so our wedding was a long time in the making. It was completely fortuitous that almost nine years to the day that we began our relationship, and on the birthday of PJ’s late grandmother that we were married. We wanted our wedding to be intimate, personal, and to reflect our laid back fun loving personalities. We wanted our guests to feel like they were at an intimate dinner party and mostly just to have a blast.

Our venue was a natural choice. We fell in love with it when we first saw it and knew immediately it was the place. It has incredible vistas of the Long Island Sound, beautiful gardens, and fabulous architectural details. The separate rooms equipped with fireplaces, old paintings, antique chandeliers and moldings captured the romantic intimate dinner party feeling that we wanted to create.

We incorporated a ton of personal elements to give our wedding more of that intimate feel from the ceremony to the décor. Our ceremony, which was officiated by a close friend, was very non-traditional and included some of our favorite stories and memories that PJ and I shared in our relationship. Our incredible DJ actually found a softer version of one of our favorite punk band songs that we used to listen to constantly when we first met to play as our processional.

When it came to the décor I wanted a romantic feel with tons of candlelight along with a smattering of French inspired vintage elements. Talia and Lindsay of Sixpence for Your Shoe made that vision come to life and the result was more beautiful than I could ever imagine. From the toile linens to the old books and teacups filled with roses, every detail was incredible. The floral arrangements were the perfect shades of pink and peach and were elegant without being too over done to take away from the beauty of the mansion. Interspersed among the shelves, mantles, and nooks of the mansion were family photographs and photographs of our beloved Boston terrier, Chloe that added the personal touch that was so important to us.

Our family played a big role in our day. My mother in-law distressed the shutters and affixed vintage keys to the escort cards that we hung on the shutters. My mother made toss bags of lavender for the guests to throw at end of the ceremony. PJ’s sister and my nephew provided readings of inspirational poetry during the ceremony. To pay homage to PJ’s grandmother I carried one of her handkerchiefs she had given to his mother before she passed away.

It was also really important that we had some fun unexpected elements for our guests. We had a photo booth stocked with fun props which the guests frequented all night. The photos were absolutely hysterical and were some of our favorites from the day. We also had a Brazilian style barbeque which added an unexpected twist to our wedding and reflected our love of ethnic food.

One of my favorite memories from the wedding was when PJ and I managed to sneak off alone and share a private moment just the two of us. While everyone was happily dining and as we were heading back from snapping some sunset photographs we passed the empty dance floor. The song Heart of Gold was playing by Neil Young which happens to be one our favorites and we thought, what the heck we might as well dance. It turned out to be an awesome secret little moment that the two of us were able to share.

Overall, our day was perfect and I could not ask for more. We had incredible vendors that brought our vision to life and gave us a wedding day that surpassed our expectations. The food was fantastic, the music was great, and thanks to Talia and Lindsay we never had to worry about a thing. We could just enjoy ourselves and celebrate with our friends and family which was what we truly wanted. We had such a memorable day and are truly blessed that we were able to share it with our incredible friends and family.

Photography: Katie Slater for Carla Ten Eyck Photography / Event Design, Coordination, and Day-of Stationery: Sixpence For Your Shoe / Venue: Eolia, The Mansion at Harkness State Park / Caterer: Cloud Nine Catering / Flowers: Sharon Elizabeth Flowers / Musicians: Mike Connolly Sound Productions / Bridal Styling: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library / Cupcake Favors: Sugarbelle / Linens: Party Rental, LTD + Cloth Connection / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Dress: Lea Ann Belter purchased at the Plumed Serpent Bridal

Anna Sawin has a way with the camera. That we know. She also seems to attract some of the most gorgeous, timeless brides who just happen to plan gorgeous, timeless weddings. It’s a fabulous combination, and when you add the pretty blooms of Hana Floral Design it just takes it to another level. A level I am quite fond of actually, and that ultimately leads to a gallery of images that are just beyond!

From the Bride… Rob and I met my senior year at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. Like many young couples, we survived our ups and downs over our almost 10 years together. We evolved as individuals and learned as much about each other from being apart as we did together. Rob proposed last August, using our tw0-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback, Brooks, as the ring carrier. I wouldn’t be writing this blog unless, of course, I said “Yes!”

Rob and I both have very busy spring and summers. Rob works in minor league baseball, and I coach youth and high school lacrosse in Connecticut in the spring and summer. In August, following the proposal, we decided to brave it and plan a winter wedding. As Rob can attest to, I have always been a pretty impatient person, and I knew a long engagement would be too much to handle! My Florida resident parents were not thrilled about the late February date we picked out. Before our February 25th wedding, Mystic didn’t have any connection to our lives. I grew up going to Block Island each summer and passing the Mystic exit on I-95. Mystic will forever be a part of both of us. We look forward to many sentimental visits in the future.

Although the River Room at Mystic Seaport ended up being the ideal venue, we did look at many many other locations. A winter wedding made it very tough to find a location that spoke to us. We knew we didn’t want a wedding factory, and we tried as hard as we could to stay away from the formal ballroom feel. We knew an outdoor more rustic wedding would be more “us,” but we couldn’t go that route in late February. After our first visit to the River Room, we knew it was the place. It had the laid-back feel we were looking for, and we loved the seaside and coastal vibes. We both felt totally at home. There was nothing pretentious or stuffy about it. Much to the thrill of my parents, there was no snow on the wedding day. It was clear but very windy. Our photographer, Anna Sawin, did an amazing job capturing the great moments of the day and doing her best to work around the gusting winds and chilly temperature. We were very cold in some of those photos, but they turned out beautifully. Every part of the day went smoothly. The ceremony at the Mystic Congregational Church was perfect. It was an absolute dream come true. My niece sang “When You Say Nothing at All,” while my nephew played the guitar. My two other nieces served as adorable flower girls.

I am sure most brides will say one of their favorite and most memorable part of their day was walking down the aisle with their fathers. I will remember that moment for many other reasons than that fact he “gave me away.” The past year was a rough one for my dad. He endured eight lower back surgeries, many nights in a hospital and rehab facility and was unable to walk for almost three months. In the months leading up to my wedding, he worked very hard to get himself to a point where he was able to fullfill his duties. Finally after almost a year of pain and immobility, he was back on his feet. Those first few steps as I headed towards Rob were spent embracing the gift I was given to have my dad walking beside me. Our wedding was exactly what we had envisioned. We truly believe that everyone we worked with and the amazing vendors made the day! We couldn’t even begin to thank everyone for the great day they provided for us, from the amazing band to the many great friends and the amazing food! It was a day we will never forget.

Wedding Photography: Anna Sawin Photography / Ceremony: Mystic Congregational Church in Mystic, Connecticut / Reception: Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut / Event Design + Planning: Allyson Devaney of Coastal Gourmet / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / Catering: Coastal Gourmet / Wedding Cake: Erica of Coastal Gourmet / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm Blush Collection / Hair: Rob Rivers Salon & Spa

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