Connecticut Weddings

When you combine the gorgeous floral design of Erin Ostreicher Designs with the stunning design, planning and photography by Stefanie Kapra and Brooke Allison Photography, you get one killer photo shoot. Soft sorbet inspired colors are juxtaposed with bright, bold punches of color in the tablescapes to create one big eye candy feast. We’re so in love with this totally original idea and can’t wait to see all you brides infuse some of this pretty into your own big day. Click here for more!

Don’t miss this pretty film by DMO Films:

From Photography and More by Stefanie Kapra… The idea for an Asian-inspired photo shoot originated during my travels in Thailand and Cambodia earlier this year. Every time I walked through one of the busy markets or bazaars with its many gorgeous handcrafted goods and vibrant colors, I was thinking to myself: I wish my brides were here to see this — this would be such a great detail for a wedding, or make such a nice centerpiece, or be such a cute favor for guests. And from the desire of wanting to share my wonderful experience with my clients rose the idea of putting together a photo shoot with Asian inspirations that could easily be adjusted and integrated into any beautiful American wedding. I first ran the idea past my best friend and fellow photographer Brooke, and she was totally on board. So we decided to organize a collaborative shoot based on my visions.

When we approached the first vendors early this summer, I was overwhelmed by the excitement and enthusiasm that every single vendor showed. None of them had ever had a chance to travel to southeast Asia, but the colors and details I described to them got them immediately excited and eager to be a part of this little adventure. After weeks of careful preparations, meetings and amazing collaboration with some of the finest wedding vendors in our area, we arranged the photo shoot at the lush Garden of Ideas in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and we could not have dreamed of a more fitting and gorgeous location for this photo shoot. It was so much fun to see everything finally come together – and the vendors outdid themselves in every way possible. From hand-painted silk dresses and 200 origami cranes to unique invitations and save the dates, an incredible cake, amazing brides dress and gorgeous flowers – we had it all.

With this photo shoot, we are hoping to inspire brides to integrate some fun colors and different details into their weddings — especially if they have a multicultural background. Southeast Asia offers so many wonderful inspirations that can be easily integrated into almost any wedding and effortlessly add a little extra color or a little extra fun.

Photography: Photography and More by Stefanie Kapra in Collaboration with Brooke Allison Photography / Venue: The Garden of Ideas in Ridgefield, Connecticut / Floral Design: Erin Ostreicher Designs / Event Design + Planning: Photography and More by Stefanie Kapra / Cinematography: DMO Films / Wedding Cake: Erica OBrien Cake Design / Invitations + Stationery: J. Papers / Linens + Tableware: Stacie Shea of The Vintage Rental Co. / Parasols, Lanterns + Fans: Luna Bazaar / Favors: Plantables & Paper / Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Fillmore via The Plumed Serpent Bridal / Bridesmaids’ Dresses + Accessories: The Plumed Serpent Bridal / Flowergirls’ Dresses: Tanja Design / Hair: Amanda Ripley of Larissa Lake Makeup Artist & Co. / Makeup: Laura Porterfield of Larissa Lake Makeup Artist & Co. / Model Bridesmaids: Kristen Vaccariello + Cristina Mendonça / Model Flowergirls: Remy + Kaatje Walsh

If drop dead gorgeous florals, pretty navy blue bridesmaids dresses, and beautiful vineyard settings are your cup of tea, then your in for an amazing treat this morning! You can’t even tell from the amazing images from Justin & Mary that this couple said their I Do’s just hours before Hurricane Irene hit the Connecticut coast. These two, along with their wedding party and guests are cool as cucumbers. And lucky for them, the storm held off until after their out of this world pretty outdoor ceremony! Click here for all the rest!

From Justin & Mary… Annie and Uri were married the weekend Hurricane Irene hit the Connecticut coastline. The week leading up to the wedding, Annie and Uri were planning hurricane back-up plans. The tent they had booked was definitely out. But to hold the ceremony outside or in? The day came, with Irene quickly approaching, and Annie made the call to hold the ceremony outside anyway. And the hurricane held off for a few more hours. 

Wedding Photography: Justin & Mary / Wedding Venue: Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington, Connecticut / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / DJ: Power Posse Productions / Catering: Gourmet Galley Catering / Wedding Cake: Felicia’s Sweetface Pastry Shoppe / Wedding Dress: The White Dress by the Shore / Makeup + Hair: Jennie Fresa — Makeup and Skincare Boutiquerie

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Hana Floral Design

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Is it possible for a wedding to be chic, elegant, and clean yet warm, vibrant, and full of energy? Julie Morawski of Carla Ten Eyck Photography and her lovely and lively couple have proven that not only is it possible, but it is fabulous. The wedding is one of those kinds of weddings that just puts you in a great mood for the rest of the day – scratch that – week. You know the kind. The weddings that plant a grin firmly on your face and goosebumps all over your arms. Especially when it comes to the FULL gallery!

My husband, Virgil, and I met while attending WPI in 2005. We were both college athletes, so it wasn’t much of a surprise that we first crossed paths in the athletic training room! We briefly conversed while tending to our injuries but went our separate ways. Throughout the winter, we ran into each other at parties, Virgil would come to all of my home basketball games, and we frequently studied together at the library. After a few dates and playful arguments, we joked that we would never last past April Fools’ Day. Not only are we still together, but we got married six years (minus one day) later!

After visiting dozens of venues with some family members, the Riverhouse really stuck out in all of our minds. The grounds were beautiful with a view of the river from the back porch. The areas were neutral-colored, so we felt we could bring in our own color scheme without clashing with the existing colors. Most of all, we had heard nothing but great things about the food! (We’re still hearing about it today!!) We also really loved that we would be the only wedding there all day and night.

We chose to have an early spring wedding for many reasons but knew that we were taking our chances with possible cold weather. Our wedding colors were vibrant pink and eggplant, as we felt neutral or pale colors wouldn’t be as flattering (no tans yet!) nor as energizing… not to mention that my favorite color has been pink for as long as I can remember! My overall vision was classic and fun.

We got married at the church in my hometown where I received all of my sacraments. It was really nice to have our marriage ceremony in a familiar place of mine.

To cover my “something old”, I had a portion of my mom’s lace veil wrapped around my bouquet. It was comforting to include something from my parents’ wedding (who have been happily married for 37+ years) in our wedding.

At the reception, my dad welcomed our guests to the celebration. During his speech, he honored Virgil’s dad, who passed shortly before we met, by showing a picture of them when Virgil was young and speaking about him. It was an emotional moment for all of us and one that we will never forget.

Lastly, we were really excited to have our beautiful wedding cake baked and decorated by a family friend, Kathy Aylward. It was chocolate cake with ganache cream and fresh raspberries, covered with white buttercream and fondant, eggplant ribbon, fresh flowers, and a “V” monogrammed topper. It was so tasty and beautiful and even better to know that our close friend made it for us!

One of my proudest DIY projects was the personalized monogrammed hangers I gave to each of my bridesmaids as gifts. I was surprised how well they turned out!

 One of my favorite memories from the day was hanging out with our 12-person bridal party in the bridal suite at the Riverhouse during cocktail hour. After some drinks and snacks, we let everyone know that they were welcome to join their significant others and friends at the cocktail hour, but no one wanted to leave! We ate, drank, and danced, and you wouldn’t have been able to wipe the smile off my face if you tried!

Photography: Julie Morawski for Carla Ten Eyck Photography / Flowers: TK Florist / Ceremony Location: Saint John Church / Reception Location: The Riverhouse / Cake Designer: Kathy Aylward, Creative Cakes by Donna / Hair and Makeup: Alta Moda

Our hearts have been won by a classic affair that is elegance defined. The second Julie Morawski of Carla Ten Eyck Photography sent this beautiful soiree our way, I put it on the calendar, while gracefully trying to pick my chin up off my desk. Filled with stunning, traditional details, the wedding is BEYOND. And the gallery? It’s filled with so much more!

Phil and I met while we both attended the University of Hartford. Neither of us grew up in Connecticut, but after we graduated we made Hartford our home and we could think of no better place to have our wedding!

Phil proposed to me the day before we left for vacation in Jamaica. It was early in the morning I was still in my pajamas, and I was upstairs packing. He called up that our American bulldog Dutchess appeared to have been cut at the groomer the day before. He came up with her and told me to look at her neck, and there was a ring hanging on her collar. It was a complete surprise for me, but the perfect proposal for us. Just the two of us at home. We spent the day with some family, and then got to leave for a wonderful vacation!

We wanted the wedding to be downtown. The Society Room was the first venue we officially looked at. As soon as we left we turned to each other and instantly agreed it was the venue for us! So unique and in the perfect location.

We wanted to have a classic and elegant feel, with a little bit of an edge. Black and White is my favorite color combination, and I love a damask pattern. Throwing the purple in for a pop of color was the perfect addition. I bought a feather hairpiece, and fell in love with the idea of adding them to some of the flowers at the suggestion of our wonderful florist.. We wanted a fun youthful feel, and I definitely feel like it was achieved.

Under my dress I was able to clip in my grandmother pearl necklace which was given to her by her father the day she got married, and Phil’s mother’s handkerchief was my something borrowed. It was special to have both those items.

The whole day was an absolute dream, everything worked out perfectly. Taking photos throughout downtown was definitely a highlight. Just being on Pratt street in the perfect lighting as the sun was setting felt like a dream! The photos from Pratt Street as well as those from City Hall are just too perfect! Phil loves the photo of us and the taxi cab we stopped on the street. Our reception was a blast, since we are the only ones who live in Hartford and almost all of our guests were from out of town, we felt so lucky to have everyone there. My grandparents did a little dance on their scooters to one of their favorite songs, and I think everyone was in agreement that it was a wonderful moment!

Photography: Julie Morawski for Carla Ten Eyck Photography / Flowers: Kelly, The Flower Girl Weddings / Ceremony Location: St. Sebastian Church / Reception Location: The Society Room / Coordinator: Dana from The Society Room / DJ: Rich from Powerstation / Dress: Alfred Angelo / Bridesmaid Dresses: Anna Elyse / Cake: Kim’s Cottage Confections / Hair and Makeup: Larissa Lake and Company

Since today is looking to be a perfect summer day, we figured it was high time we shared this perfect summer wedding. Super gorgeous, with a let your hair down feel, the soiree seemed the perfect place to toast the beautiful couple and practice your dance moves. Even the photos from IRIS Photography have a sweet, summer, clean feel to them. So what do you say, why don’t we hop on over to the gallery and celebrate the love, the laughter, and this season we call summer!

Click here to visit the FULL image gallery!

We met at a local yoga studio where the groom was taking yoga lessons for the first time, but didn’t want to be a creep and hit on another student at the studio. When he found out that his future bride was a public school teacher, he took the opportunity to connect on a professional level. Their first “date” was to a talk given by then Connecticut attorney general, Richard Blumenthal on Connecticut’s role in global warming.  The talk was in the Wesleyan University Memorial Chapel. The groom was intending to keep things “professional” until his future wife hooked her foot around his calf while they sat in the pews, at which point the groom had the remarkable feeling that the woman “hooking his leg” would become his lifelong love and they would marry.

She was more skeptical and guarded regarding the future, but very interested in him, nonetheless.

The groom proposed on the brides’ birthday, waking her up (at 6:30 am!) with the proposal and the ring. To celebrate they went to a local gourmet diner known for its breakfasts and service to the local community. We extended this celebration to include family when attending the bride’s nieces’ joint birthday party the next day.

We were engaged in late February and married in August. We knew we would not fuss much over every last detail of the wedding. It’s just not our style. Having said that, we wanted a wedding that reflected our personalities and values as individuals. We value family (this includes friends), food, music, and nature’s beauty.

First, the bride and groom discussed the vision for having a wedding with an emphasis on relationships among family and friends. The groom’s parents’ home offered a casual, comfortable, and beautifully distinct, customizable setting. The bride and groom were able to successfully implement their creative vision through engaging the help of family and friends in planning, landscaping, and decorating. (Thank goodness for help!) The effort and results were collaborative and the celebration reflected the satisfaction and joy of completing a task together.

We wanted to have a focus on high quality comfort food that we could eat with our hands and enjoy with our souls. We also wanted soulful music to get people on the dance floor. We wanted the wedding to be a party that celebrated the love we have for one another and for our families, new and old.

We knew we wanted a semi-DIY wedding. The bride and her friend cut and sewed 400 banners to serve as decoration for the tent. The vibe of the décor and wedding as a whole could be described as bright, relaxed, vintage. Shades of blue, yellow, and red were selected as the colors after much deliberation. The bride LOVES vibrant colors of every sort, so this was very difficult. Finding the bridesmaids’ dress at BHLDN helped to define the palette.

The groom had total autonomy over his attire, including his sneakers. Groomsmen were asked to wear seersucker pants, a white shirt, and shoes/sneakers of any color. One forgot to buy the pants, so he wore white. And we didn’t mind.

The bride and groom hand-picked every song played during the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing.

One of the bride’s favorite moments of the day was walking down the aisle to the theme to the movie True Romance. A friend advised me to stop and take it all in and I did. I came out of the house with my parents, walked down the stairs, saw all the smiling, joyous faces, and stopped for a moment. “I want to take in this moment,” I told myself as all the guests looked on.

Having my sister, a Rutgers University professor, and Buster’s uncle, a retired principal and JP, officiate our wedding is a special touch to the ceremony. Also, included in the intimate group of seventy or so were four of the bride’s family from Italy; one, visiting the U.S. for the first time, another, having returned after almost 40 years. Of all the gifts we received, this was most precious. So, naturally because of these special guests and the fact that the bride’s parents and other family are Italian immigrants, it would be fitting to include some Italian tunes to liven up the party.

Photography: IRIS Photography / Invitations: “Barn Party” by meg + emm, Minted / Flowers: Gutt Farm + DIY / Catering: All Smoked Up / Flowers: Gutt’s Family Farm, Glastonbury, CT, father of the bride / Event Planning + Design: DIY / Ceremony + Reception Location: Groom’s parents’ house/backyard / Dress Designer: Blush by JLM / Bridesmaid Dress Designer: “Beribboned Dress” BHLDN / Men’s Suits: J.Crew / Men’s Sneakers: Vans / Men’s Sunglasses: Persol / 1940’s estate engagement ring: Peter Suchy Jewelers / Wedding cupcakes: Jaime Jo Powers / Music: A&B Entertainment, DJ Stephen A. Morgan

Sweet Monday Photography has officially prettied up this holiday Monday with this gorgeous Connecticut soiree. Every picture perfect image is a holiday in itself, and I am pretty sure I have developed a serious love affair with the bouquets in this beauty of a wedding. They are perfection. The entire wedding is equally perfect, and you can see every moment of this elegant affair in the full gallery of images!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Sweet Monday Photography… Christine and Michael were married in the Connecticut countryside. We loved the simple elegance of their wedding!

Wedding Photography: Sweet Monday Photography / Ceremony: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in North Grosvenordale, Connecticut / Reception: Lord Thompson Manor in Thompson, Connecticut / Floral Design: Jackie’s Flowers / Wedding Cake: Sweets by Michelle / Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Groom’s + Groomsmen’s Attire: Joseph Abboud

A beautiful wedding comes in so many shapes and sizes. It can be big and grandiose or, in this case, a sweet, understated whisper of a thing. And seaside Connecticut is probably the most perfect spot on the planet for this type of affair. It’s all quaint and charmy and is matched perfectly by everything from the lovely floral halo by Hana Floral Design to the elegance and ease in Justin & Mary’s photography that is so uniquely theirs. It’s their photography style stamp if you will and we eat it up by the spoonful. See so much more in the full gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… To be entirely honest, I did not begin our wedding planning with a specific vision in mind! It’s funny, but I hadn’t thought about what my dream wedding would look like until I got engaged, so Dennis and I took a very spontaneous approach. We decided on Mystic Seaport for our location because Dennis treated me to a weekend trip there and I fell in love with the place. We both loved how scenic, romantic, and historic it was and we knew that if we just let its vintage East Coast aesthetic inspire us and lead us where it may, everything would fall into place. I did not want to be overwhelmed, so I decided to read just one wedding preparation book that my amazing maid of honor gave me and kept a single scrapbook to store ideas. When my maid of honor came out of the dressing room wearing her dress, I knew I had my wedding colors: royal blue, pale pink, and white. The only thing Dennis and I knew we wanted to do was our theme: movies! We met in a film class back in college, and he now works as a film director. Our love of film was what brought us together, and we paid homage to the great films we loved (including Back to the Future and Gremlins!) in many aspects of our ceremony and reception, from our processional music to our cupcakes.

Looking back, I’m so glad we chose Mystic Seaport because we were able to work with a group of such dedicated and professional coordinators and vendors. I especially loved how most of our vendors knew one another and were all excited to work together at our wedding. One of the memories of our wedding planning that I cherish is how it allowed us to meet new people and be inspired by their professionalism and vision towards their businesses. I tried to recreate this in New York City where we live and did the majority of our planning. I bought my dress from Saja and my veil from Bridal Veil Falls because they are exceptional boutiques with designers who truly care about the experience that the brides go through. Since I did not start out with a concrete image for my wedding, it was important that I surrounded myself with people whose vision I admired and trusted. Of course there were bumps and stressful times along the way, but our friends and family were always there to rescue us and cheer us on. 

My favorite part of the wedding was showing our slide show at the reception! Dennis worked for weeks making an amazing slide show out of old film clips and photos of our friends and family, and it was hilarious! Everyone was having a blast watching it, and I just felt so fortunate being in that moment. What I think makes a wedding magical is how it brings together all the people you love at the same time in the same room, and the slide show was emblematic of how all of our lives were woven together over the years. Our wedding helped me see and appreciate all the amazing people in our lives and for that I am so grateful to my family, friends, and vendors!

Wedding Photography: Justin & Mary Photography / Ceremony: Greenmanville Church at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut / Reception: Latitude 41 in Mystic, Connecticut / Wedding Coordination: Alyson Devaney of Coastal Gourmet / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / Catering: Coastal Gourmet / DJ: Power Posse Productions / Wedding Dress: Saja / Veil: Bridal Veil Falls / Hair: Kanako Hair & Nail Salon / Makeup: Yuko Takahashi / Bridesmaid’s Dress: Joanna August (Dare Long Dress in Sapphire)

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Hana Floral Design

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We tend to get really excited when we see great vendors popping up in the credits of a wedding. And with this particular number, we knew, without even looking at the beautiful images by Uplift Photography, that it was going to be a stunner. We would expect nothing less from Sarah True + one of our very own SMP’ers, Abby Capalbo of TRUE Event. Their effortless style mixed with the prettiest berry colored florals by elements is the definition of New England elegance. As in, you could look it up right now in the trusty old Dictionary and I bet a gorgeous image of that reception table will come into view. See more of the day right here. 

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From Uplift Photography… Katrina and Tim live in New York City, but Katrina is from the shoreline of Connecticut. They chose to have their wedding on one of the most popular dates of the year (09/10/11) at the Florence Griswold Museum and just hired the best vendor team! The colors, flowers and personalization were fresh and overflowing every where you looked. Katrina’s look was amazing as well — she had a customized gown and accompanied that with family heirloom pieces. She looked like a modern Grace Kelly! The wedding was really picture perfect, and we were so happy to be a part of the team.

Wedding Photography: Jade & Tim O’Connell of Uplift Photography / Wedding Venue: Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut / Event Coordination: Sarah True + Abby Capalbo of TRUE Event / Floral Design: elements / Catering: A Thyme to Cook / Music: Double Down / Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau “Lena” from White Dress by the Shore / Hair: Jennie Fresa — Makeup and Skincare Boutiquerie / Stationery: Tie that Binds

This wedding reminds of the oh-so-many reasons why I love New England. I’m totally transfixed by this wedding’s natural and rustic beauty captured to perfection by Anna Sawin Photography and designed beautifully by Ruffles & Tweed. The pretty plum hues and Ikat pillows totally had me at hello as did the simple and sweet programs, the amazing invites, (did you see those envelope liners?!) and the myraid of textures throughout the design…I could go on and on, but I’m sure you really just want to see the entire day unfold right here in the gallery, and frankly, I don’t blame you!

And be sure to check out the amazing video from Buzz Media Company:

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Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I don’t know how Tim and I got so lucky to stumble upon Elihu Island, but the second we did, we knew it was the place. There is a magic and energy and a natural, wild beauty to the Island that makes it unlike anywhere else. It was also perfectly suited what we wanted our wedding to be: relaxed and rustic but still elegant, full of warmth and personal touches, and truly reflective of both Tim and me. Luckily for us, the island brought with it a bonus: Adrienne O’Connor of Ruffles & Tweed, and Lucinda Wesson of Chocolate Creative Design. They are both brilliantly creative, know the island inside and out, and were experts at helping to translate the vague adjectives we kept repeating (“Indian summer” and “breezy” were two of my go-to’s!) into a tangible vision. They also steered us toward our all-star vendors: Hana Floral Design, Gourmet Galley Catering and Anna Sawin, photographer extraordinaire, who is not only masterful with her camera but brought a special warmth and calm to a sometimes crazy experience. Before the wedding, working with Lucinda on our paper really helped get things off the ground. Her creativity is in a league of its own, she has exceptional taste, and without fail produces unique, custom creations that totally eclipse your expectations. Lucinda and Adrienne had me post images on Tumblr—of everything from pillows to jewelry, dresses to fonts and invitations—to get a sense of what kind of aesthetic I was after. It was through this process that we nailed down ikat prints as a theme that carried through the whole event. I really think the save-the-dates not only helped set the tone for the wedding, but it was the first real visual I had to connect to and build off of.

All of my favorite aspects of the wedding were tiny details. There were moments where I worried that I was too caught up in the details, but those touches were all the things that I loved the most. A few examples: On a whim, Lucinda sprinkled lavender from her garden into the envelopes with our invitations; our flower girls carried their flowers in adorable vintage pails; we had a Pickle Bar!; hand-painted wooden signs pointed people to Beers on the Beach, Dinner & Dancing, etc.; for our escort cards I made Polaroids of each guest, mostly with Tim or I from throughout the years, which Adrienne brilliantly thought to hang on clothesline wrapped around a giant tree; we wrote little bios of each member of the wedding party for the program; and for favors, we included a pouch of saffron along with a card featuring a paella recipe from my grandma and a drawing by my grandpa. There was a lot of thought and love put into all those little details, and they still make me happy to think about.

Lastly, the truck! There’s a vintage pick-up truck on the island that I had hoped to use somehow, and a month or so before the wedding we found out that we could, although Adrienne told me that exactly how would be a surprise. Sure enough, she and Lucinda created a free-standing little world of Anthropologie up there — with lighting and ikat pillows, a rug, bright parasols, beers on ice, you name it. And we had wooden steps built so people could climb up. It had tons of antique-y charm and was totally extraordinary. The best part was that people actually used it! They took pictures up there, smoked cigars — it was hopping all night. At the end of the day, I could not have been happier to see all the little details and ideas come to life, and the best part was sharing it with the people we love the most in the world. It was everything we could have hoped for, with a little Elihu magic sprinkled in. 

Wedding Photography: Anna Sawin + Nicki Pardo for Anna Sawin Photography / Wedding Venue: Elihu Island, A Private Island Off the Coast of Stonington, Connecticut / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / Event Design: Chocolate Creative Design + Ruffles & Tweed / Event Planning, Ikat Pillows + Table Toppers: Ruffles & Tweed / Wedding Invitations, Map, Programs, Cupcake Tags + Favor Bags: Chocolate Creative Design / Wedding Cinematography: Buzz Media Company / Catering + Cupcakes: Gourmet Galley / Band: New York City Swing / Tent: Sperry Tents / Wedding Dress: Saks Fifth Avenue / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Hair: W Salon / Makeup: Jennie Fresa

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Hana Floral Design

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Now this is a wedding weekend I would have love to be a part of! A welcome drink, yoga classes and smores – and that’s before the wedding even began! This adorable couple knows how to host a shindig! And their wedding, captured by Cappy Hotchkiss, just goes to show they not only know how to throw a good soiree, they do so in style! See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We decided to utilize the property to its fullest and embrace all its nooks. A welcome drink in the spa, a Tuscan-themed rehearsal dinner on the patio, a bonfire with s’mores, a yoga class led my dear friend and officiant, the ceremony in the field overlooking the vegetable garden, the reception in a restored barn, and the Sunday Bloody Mary bar in the sun room. Another huge goal for us was to make sure our guests left knowing a little more about us, and why we fell in love. Isn’t that the reason why they were all there? We wrote our own vows and performed a mashup routine for our first dance. I had a moment of boldness and made a speech about Travis, and our ceremony pamphlets were stories and quotes of how we met and why we wanted to share this special place with our guests.

Because the event was spread over a weekend we created an opportunity to spent quality time with our guests and for our guests to spend quality time with each other. (My mom’s best friend actually told me that she spent three hours just relaxing in her cottage with her husband, chatting and listening to our CD on Saturday afternoon.) We selected flowers that complemented the setting and season and accented with touches that expressed our memories and travels. It was everything I ever wanted, everything I didn’t know I needed, and I was told, “It was an affair to remember.”

Wedding Photography: Cappy Hotchkiss / Wedding Venue: Winvian in Litchfield Hills, Connecticut / Officiants: Siri Peterson + Rabbi Karen Landy / Wedding Invitations: Kate’s Paperie / Wedding Cake: Hannah’s Catering & Bakery / Music: FreeStyle / Dance Lessons: NY Wedding Dance / Wedding Dress: Palazzo Bridal via VeKa Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Groom’s Suit: Isaia

Good morning, SMPers and a very happy Wedding Wednesday to you!  We hope you are ready for a day filled to the brim with pretty, because we have quite the lineup in store for you lovelies – and it’s all the inspiration you could want… and MORE.  So, grab that cup of coffee, put those phones on silent and get ready for a morning, noon and night of pure wedding magic.  It’s going to be fabulous.

Up first in our pretty parade is a breathtaking Connecticut affair that will turn your morning upside.down with its uber-gorgeous scenery, nautical chic vibe and beyond stunning bride and groom.  Trust us – one look at these glorious images captured by Kris Rae Photography and you’ll be smitten to the tenth degree.  And the chance meeting that started it all?!?  Absolutely lovely.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Pete and I met when we were 16 years old standing in line for ice cream. We lived in neighboring towns at the time and remained friends throughout the years. It wasn’t until after college when the Coast Guard stationed Pete in New Jersey that we started dating. A year later we were engaged and began planning for our special day. It was important for our wedding day to reflect our personalities in many ways. My dream for the wedding was to have our guests say, “This is SO Lauren Ann and Pete.” We wanted our day to be fun while highlighting our love for one another with a gorgeous ceremony and seaside reception.

First, we knew we had to find a wonderful seaside location, and during our search for the perfect venue, we fell in love with Saybrook Point Inn the moment we saw the docks. After meeting with the wedding coordinator and the rest of the staff, we secured our wedding date and everything began falling into place. With our shoreline reception site selected, and with Pete being in the Coast Guard, we knew we wanted nautical touches to be included in our wedding’s theme, hence the Sperry boat shoes the men all wore. I have always loved the color turquoise, and with that as the starting point, our color palette easily came together with navy blues, light teals, grays and pink flowers to add a touch of my girly charm.

With my love of crafts, DIY projects, and plenty of inspiration from SMP, I set out to bring all the details together with as much love and attention that every girl’s wedding deserves. With the help of friends and family, we gathered vintage vases and jars for the flowers, made the table numbers, created the menu cards, seating cards, ceremony pamphlets, dessert bar, and even truffles in twine-wrapped turquoise boxes for favors. My father even grew some of the flowers that were used throughout the wedding day! For our traditional elements, we used our parents wedding cake topper and my grandmother’s “something old” handkerchief, and as a nod to our first meeting, we had Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in our favorite flavors. The whole wedding was spectacular, and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to share with friends and family as we begin the rest of our lives together!

Wedding Photography: Kris Rae Photography / Ceremony: Rocky Hill Congregational Church in Rocky Hill, Connecticut / Cocktail Hour + Reception: Saybrook Point Inn & Spa in Old Saybrook, Connecticut / Floral Design: Tracy Pascarella of Your Florist / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Wedding Cake: Lovely Cakes / Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream: Mohegan Sun Casino / DJ + Photo Booth: All Axcess Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Stephan Jolie via Bijou Bridal / Alterations + Bride’s Belt: A Family Friend / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Earrings: Felice Dee (212-717-7062) / Bride’s Veil: The White Dress by the Shore / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Priscilla of Boston Vineyard Collection (Now Closed) / Junior Bridesmaids’ Dresses: The White Dress by the Shore / Hair + Makeup: The Iron Scissors / Men’s Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider / Rings: Parian & Sons

There are some weddings that are beautiful because the details are perfect. There are some weddings that are beautiful because the love that brought it all together is breathtaking. And then there are some weddings that are so easily beautiful because the details are perfect without even trying, and the love at the center is amazing. This wedding is in that class. Thanks to the gorgeous images from Orchard Cove Photography, we have fallen in love with the charm and sweetness of this soiree with ease. Now it’s your turn!

Click here to see the rest of this lovely wedding in the gallery!

We chose Ox Ridge Hunt Club simply because it is a magical place.  I grew up horse back riding and have been a member of Ox Ridge Hunt Club for a number of years.  The 20 acre field there is an incredible open space – amazing in that it even still exists in this very residential area.  Formerly, it had been a farm, and for the last 100 years it has been the home of the Ox Ridge Hunt Club. 

We wanted something that was both upscale yet fitting for the setting in an open field – somewhat informal, but attention to every detail from the incredible Sperry tent to the décor to the food to the beverages to Tuey Connell and his band. 

We wrote our own vows, yet bucked tradition in many ways as well, skipping the church and getting married in the middle of the field by a family friend.  We didn’t want the formality of “assigned seating” or a traditional cake to cut.  Or a formal sit down meal or “father/daughter dance”.  We went with the idea that we were bringing together the people we love in an incredible venue, with delicious food (including two local heritage pigs that were roasted on open fires all night the night before in the field), awesome cocktails and music to get everyone up and dancing!  We wanted to make it an afternoon/evening that we could all share – no rules, no formalities.  Everyone got a handmade wooden piggy cutting board to take home to remember the night!

Photography: Orchard Cove Photography / Ceremony & Reception Location: Ox Ridge Hunt Club / Tent: Sperry Tents / Wedding Planner: Katie Hays:  katie.erich.hays@gmail.com / Florist: Flowers & Flowers / Band: Tuey & the Corduroy / Bride’s Dress: J.Crew / Flowergirl’s Dresses: J.Crew / Hair & Makeup: Lanphier / Dessert Bar: Dough*Girl Baking / Invitations: Hello! Lucky

It’s time for another wonderful Wedding Wednesday – and you know what that means.  A day filled to the brim with pretty inspiration and a bundle of swoon-worthy moments guaranteed to make your heart sing.  So, cozy on up for a morning, noon and night of lovely – and be sure to stop by those galleries where even more fabulous inspiration awaits!

Up first is a Connecticut soiree that will knock.your.socks off with its preppy chic vibe and oodles upon oodles of sweet New England style.  All planned by the amazing Sixpence For Your Shoe, the gorgeous tented reception and beautiful blooms by Dragonfly have our hearts all aflutter – and when you add in those brilliant images by IRIS Photography, well… it’s the perfect way to start the day.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Jane + Mike of IRIS Photography… This was a preppy, relaxed, country wedding in a classic New England Main Street church in Farmington, Connecticut, with the reception at Hill-Stead Museum. The bride and her father took a horse-drawn carriage from their art-filled home on the same Main Street, past Miss Porter’s School where she attended, to arrive at church. Afterward, everyone made their way just up the hill to Hill-Stead for parasols, croquet and cocktails in the sunken garden. The bride wore a cool asymmetrical dress, and the wedding featured plenty of pink … in the name cards, bridesmaids’ dresses, guys’ bow ties, guests’ dresses and especially the abundant flowers.

Wedding Photography: IRIS Photography / Reception Venue: Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, Connecticut / Wedding Planning: Sixpence For Your Shoe / Floral Design: Dragonfly / Catering: Emily’s Catering / Wedding Cake: J Cakes (203-488-2800) / Wedding Stationery: Rose Marie Belo of Lettres Stationery of Distinction (860-676-1330) / Wedding Dress: Angel Sanchez / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Groom’s Tuxedo: Ermenegildo Zegna / Groomsmen’s Bow Ties: Vineyard Vines / Tent Rental: Sperry Tents

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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We have Snap! Photography to thank for giving us our daily dose of lovely this morning, and it’s coming by way of this gorgeous wedding at The Barn at Gibbett Hill. With a classic color palette we never tire of (love the pop of green) and beautiful birch details (how amazing is that birch cake by Konditor Meister?!), this winter wedding is the epitome of winter chic. See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… It’s funny, the whole birch thing came from Dave — we’re kind of outdoorsy (or I try to keep up with his outdoorsy side anyway) and being that it was winter and the reception is in a barn, we thought it fit! Strangely, one of the only things he had an opinion on was the flowers and he said “I don’t know. I think, like, birch would be fun,” so we took it and went with it! Dave’s dad brews his own beer out of the basement of Dave’s parents house, which was given out at the end of the night of everyone’s way home. He was so psyched to be showcasing his special home brew for the wedding, and we were proud to showcase it. We also gave out Vermont maple syrup as a favor. Dave’s sister Amy’s boyfriend has acres and acres of land in Vermont that he does maple sugaring on, so we thought that it make that a perfect favor with our rustic theme.

As much as you’ll laugh, I was never a beer drinker in college or even after, but Dave is QUITE the beer connoisseur, so naturally , when we started dating I had to up the ante. Now we together have more favorite beers than I would have ever dreamed, hence us naming all of our tables after our most favorite beers. Dave has been an insane Bruins fan since he was in diapers, so last year, the winning of the Stanley Cup was more than he ever could have dreamed. So a special appearance by Rene Rancourt as a surprise wedding gift from me to him was an obvious choice.

Like I said, we really tried to play the birch theme up. We had flower pots with our initials inside of a heart carved into them that we did ourselves (it was a theme with our save the dates and invitations) that also went on the tags on the maple syrup favors. And with the beer theme, each table card had a bottle cap of one of our favorite beers on them — we had this jar in our apartment that we would toss beer caps into every time we opened one, and one we day said, “What are we going to do with all of these?” After we got engaged, we came up with a way to use them!

Wedding Photography: Snap! Photography / Wedding Venue: The Barn at Gibbett Hill in Groton, Massachusetts / Floral Design: B&G Sawin Florist / Cinematography: Ready Set Film / Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister / Programs: DIY with Materials from Paper Source / Trolley: A Limo Affair / Photo Booth: The Original PhotoLounge by Snap! / Entertainment: Rene Rancourt from the Boston Bruins Singing the National Anthem / DJ: NuImage Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Vineyard Collection for Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung

To say Sarah of TRUE Event is as sweet as they come would be the understatement of the year. To say that she is be-YOND talented would be the understatement of the century. So when she teams up with the likes of Hana Floral Design, Paper Moss, Jennie Fresa and Anna Sawin Photography – well, we enter a level of talent that cannot be measured. It’s just can’t. You only need one little peek at this modern vineyard masterpiece to grasp all design genius, but believe me when I say you’ll want to take more than a peek at all the amazing details in the full gallery of images!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

And just when you thought it can’t get any better, here is this darling couple’s must-see wedding film by Buzz Media Company…

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From the Bride…Marcos and I met in 2004 when we were both undergrads at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. So six years later after Marcos proposed in Oahu, Hawaii and the wedding-venue hunt was on, it was a no-brainer that we’d wed in the home state of our alma mater. Or at least that was our original plan. We looked at venues in Providence, Watch Hill and everywhere in between. However, during our search for the perfect spot to tie the knot we got completely sidetracked and stumbled upon Saltwater Farm Vineyard, a gorgeous restored and revamped World War II era airplane hangar in Stonington, Connecticut. I majored in architectural studies at Brown and worked at ELLE DECOR magazine so naturally I fell in love with the unique design and beautiful setting. The structure’s exterior is modern and sleek, its interior is warm and open—the perfect blank canvas—and the entire structure oozes history. But those things aren’t necessarily what grabbed me. The fact that the colleague of one of my all-time favorite architects, Walter Gropius, designed the structure was the selling point. The one caveat: September 3, 2011, Labor Day weekend, was the only date available for months, and months, and months. We could either take it and start planning immediately or leave it and wait until late 2012. The holiday date was no deterrent for us; instead, was saw it as an opportunity to spend a long weekend with the people we love most.

From the moment we happened upon the vineyard with only one available date in 2011 we just knew everything else would fall into place. Before we left the venue on that summer day in 2010, Marcos and I were already settled on a palette of yellow and gray with pops of black, white, Lucite, and sparkle to play off the modern aspects of the sleek, silver structure. The trick would be finding the resources in the area to help up accomplish our vision. And the second I walked into Sarah True’s office—floors sheathed in a black-and-white zebra area rug, surfaces punctuated with pops of yellow—I knew she was our lady. We bonded over our shared love of yellow, our obsession with Philippe Starck Ghost chairs, and the importance of making family and friends feel as loved as possible on our wedding day.

Sarah encouraged me to happily obsess over every last wedding detail. From the bridesmaid’s handmade necklaces and custom yellow-and-gray clutches to the groomsmen’s coordinating ties and vintage typewriter-key cufflinks, every element was carefully and caringly curated… down to our entire team of amazingly talented vendors. Without them, Marcos and my wedding day wouldn’t have tasted so delicious, sounded so beautiful, looked so pulled together, and been captured so stunningly in photos and video.

From Sarah of TRUE Event… We fell head over heels in love with Stephanie and Marcos’ wedding from the beginning. Taking place at one of our favorite venues, Saltwater Farm Vineyard in the historic town of Stonington, Connecticut, Stephanie and Marcos’ modern, chic affair was a such a joy to be a part of. With the ceremony set in front of the vineyards and the vintage World War II hanger behind them, the location was ideal for an early September wedding. They wanted to play with a pretty color palette of yellow, gray, black and white and throw in fun details such as chevron and polka dot patterns. Hello, gorgeous! Soft gray linens mixed with lucite chairs for the cocktail reception while beautiful buttery yellow linens were brought in for the reception, adding such a graceful pop of color to the room. From Washi tape used to hang escort cards to chevron baskets for the flip flops to the signature cocktails, served with orange and gray striped straws, vibrant colors and patterns were used in every last detail. Fun, whimsical features, such as a photo booth complete with props and a candy bar for favors, were a hit with all the guests. The pops of color continued with Stephanie’s bridesmaids, who wore the cutest yellow heels with their darling gray dresses. The lovely bride joined them later on in the night, sporting a short white dress and sassy yellow heels. A gal after our own hearts! Stephanie and Marcos looked absolutely stunning as they celebrated such a joyous night with friends and family.

Wedding Photography: Anna Sawin Photography and Nicki Pardo / Wedding Venue: Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington, Connecticut / Event Design + Planning: Sarah True of TRUE Event / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / Cinematography: Buzz Media Company / Wedding Invitations + Paper: Paper Moss / Calligraphy: Mara Zepeda of Neither Snow / Justice of the Peace: Marie Tyler Wiley / Catering: Gourmet Galley Catering / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Felicia’s SweetFace Pastry Shoppe (860-464-0311) / Custom-Made Cake Stand: Iacoli & McAllister / Macarons: Bisous, Ciao. / Brazilian Brigadeiro Desserts: Brigadeiro Bakery / Photo Booth: Photobooth Planet / Photo Booth Props: PartyGoodies / Music + Entertainment: Power Posse Productions (212-489-5225) / Ceremony String Quartet: Suite Occasions / Cocktail Hour Band: JA2M / Chevron Lucite Trays: Tilly Maison / Monogrammed Lucite Card Tray: Dabney Lee of The Well Appointed House / Bride’s Ceremony Dress: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Reception Dress: Amsale via Jaehee Bridal / Bride’s Ceremony Shoes: Pour La Victoire / Bride’s Reception Shoes: Marc Jacobs / Hair + Makeup: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Handmade Necklaces: Stavroula / Bridesmaids’ Custom Clutches: MyCreativeThreads / Men’s Suits: J.Crew / Linens: La Tavola

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Hana Floral Design

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To call this wedding pretty would be an understatement. It’s beyond pretty. It’s BEYOND beyond pretty. It’s lavender and vineyards, it’s romance and love, it’s ring bearers and roses. It’s perfection, all wrapped up in amazing images from Justin & Mary. And we’ve tied it with a bow in the gallery just for you!

Having the wedding at a winery gave us a great foundation for all of the other details. But it was important that we didn’t take away from what made the location so great, but instead added cues that made it feel like US.

Everyone kept telling us not to obsess over the details because in the end no one would really remember them. To us, the details meant the chance to spend more time together and an opportunity to make our wedding truly unique and special. We wanted to leverage the personality behind wine our love for traveling around Europe, and especially France. So we worked closely with our designer, Robin Kornett to find unique ways of bringing those ideas to life. For instance, she found a great way incorporate a wax stamp of a dove that we bought at a small paperie in Venice. This small element was carried through so much of our stationary for the day. Our “save-the-date” made use of a vintage style, French postcard that our guests used to RSVP. Our final invitation was sent in a wooden envelope with a simulated “wood burn” stamp on the back, tying it back to the wood of a wine barrel, and organic textures that surround a winery. We wanted it to feel rustic, and european, without feeling country picnic.

Stephen and I are definitely both “foodies” and wanted to share that experience with our friends by putting together a meal not found at most weddings. From the appetizers to the desserts, each course was carefully thought out with a playful touch. A Thyme to Cook really embraced our suggestions and personalities, incorporating them into the final menu. We wanted everyone to be just as excited about the meal as we were.

And the adventure continued, as a hurricane hit exactly one week before our big day leaving us and many of our vendors without power the whole week! So, there we were making lavender cones together by candle light asking each other “this is romantic, right?” what else could we do but laugh about it? All of those little details are now memories and we’ll never forget how the power at the winery where our wedding was held came on at 4pm, just in time for our 6pm reception.

Ultimately it came together perfectly. All our favorite people were there to share our special day, the food and wine, music and dancing into the evening – we couldn’t have imagined it any other way.

Photography: Justin & Mary / Second Shooter: Alicia Candelora / Location: Jonathan Edwards Winery / Caterer: A Thyme to Cook / Florist: Thames River Greenery / Paperie: Robin K Design / Makeup/Hair: Lauri Verespej, (203) 260-2094 / DJ: Chad Valk, A Sharp DJ

I absolutely ADORE a sweet, sweet love story, so it’s no surprise that I am seriously smitten with this darling duo and their fairytale-come-true romance.  Yep, after dating at the age of sixteen, these two cuties reconnected FOURTEEN YEARS LATER and the result was PURE MAGIC – a meant-to-be winter wedding, dreamy rustic DIY details and a plethora of beautiful images captured by Ruth Eileen Photography.  This, my friends, is what I call a FABULOUS Monday.  Join me in the gallery for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Keith and I met back when we were 16 at a Phish concert on November 29, 1997. We started dating immediately after for a few months. We broke up and went our separate ways for 14 years. We met back up on January 25, 2011. We had a three-hour-long dinner and have been together ever since. On October 1, 2011, we got engaged at Apple Crest Farm among the apple trees. Three weeks later, we decided that we wanted a winter wedding, and we didn’t want to wait a year. It seemed fitting for us to get married in January because it marked a year almost to the date that we reconnected. We both liked the idea of being dressed up and everyone in their elegant fur coats and fancy scarves. We decided to have our wedding ceremony at The First Parish Church of Groton. Groton is where Keith first asked me to be his girlfriend 14 years ago. And the church is where the funeral service was held for Keith’s father a little over a year-and-a-half ago. We knew he would be with us in spirit anywhere, but there seemed to be more of a direct connection at the church. Also, the church has a Paul Revere bell that is rung at funerals and weddings. It is a beautiful thing, and we liked the idea of ringing the bell in honor of our union. Nothing was added at the church — we kept it beautiful and simple. The Barn at Gibbet Hill, only two minutes down the road from the church, was the best option for our reception. The only Saturday available in January was January 14, 2012. So January 14th it became. We didn’t really have a specific theme, but I guess overall, it was a rustic winter white wedding with a few twists.

The Barn at Gibbet Hill is a gorgeous space all on its own. The exposed beams and old wood that was incorporated into the renovation make it a warm, inviting space filled with great energy. The twinkle of the lights from the lights along the banisters and the chandeliers made the space even more magical, so I really only added a few things. We created all our own centerpieces. We wanted to give the idea of snow without being too literal, so we found organic and other funky objects that were white, silver or off-white and filled large glass vases with them. The vases we got at various Christmas Tree Shops and all the fillers were found either from there or various HomeGoods stores. My mom found a few objects at antique shops, but the majority were found at the two other stores. Then we added a few candles and a printed out of a number on a card with a variety of objects, placed them a black easel, and voila!

We both like antiques and trinkets, so our favors and name tags were skeleton keys (replicas found on eBay) on shipping tags with the Richard Bach quote, “A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks.” On that same table, I hand-painted a piece of Cape Cod fencing with the soulmate quote. Keith and I both love music. Because we met at a concert, our music selection for the day was very important to us. We were introduced with the Phish song “Wilson,” which is our last name, and the song we danced to was called “Brand New Start” by Little Joy, which really sums up how we feel about our life together. At the present table, I also hand-painted song lyrics on records from a thrift shop with a record player and glass vase for cards.  The guest were encouraged to sign a book of love song records, again found at a thrift shop, with metallic paint pens. I found the record book and thought it would be a different idea for a guest book.

Wedding Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography / Wedding Ceremony: First Parish Church of Groton in Groton, Massachusetts / Wedding Reception: The Barn at Gibbet Hill in Groton, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Lavender / Wedding Coordination: Carolyn Hilton of The Barn at Gibbet Hill / Wedding Cinematography: Robert W. Dreissig of Playback, Inc. / Wedding Invitations + Programs: DIY by the Bride / Centerpieces: DIY / Most Centerpiece Materials: Christmas Tree Shops + HomeGoods / Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister / DJ: Seth Isaacs / Skeleton Key Favors: eBay / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet “Uma” for Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Jacket: Vintage / Bride’s Shoes: Audrey Brooke / Bride’s Pearl Necklace: A Gift from the Groom’s Parents / Bride’s Earrings: From the Groom’s Great-Grandmother / Groom’s Attire: John Varvatos / Rings: Anderson’s Jewelers

We are bidding this day of pretty adieu with the loveliest of fêtes at Jonathan Edwards Winery. And with a vendor lineup like this one, you just know it’s going to be a stunner. Because when Robert & Kathleen are behind the camera, Blush Floral Design Studio is responsible for the gorgeous blooms, Smock is prettying up all the paper, Jennie Fresa is prettying up the Bride… and you have Jubilee Events making sure it all comes together seamlessly, you are guaranteed a gorgeous day – and the full gallery proves this couple got just that!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

The pretty doesn’t even end in the gallery, oh no – we have this cute as can be couple’s gorgeous film by Buzz Media Company for you to gush over too!

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From the Bride… We had a small wedding of less than 100 people, as we really wanted an intimate evening with our closest friends and family. We chose Jonathan Edwards Winery because we are big wine people, and we thought the place had a great mix of Connecticut charm and outdoor elegance. September is the perfect time to get married there, as the grapes are almost fully grown, and the weather is mild. Since many of Mike’s friends and family members live on the West Coast, it was exciting to show them the beauty of New England. The natural, understated beauty of the venue also allowed me to design my own space from the ground up, not only for the ceremony, but inside the gorgeous Sperry tent for the reception. I worked closely with Candice of Jubilee Events to make my vision come to life and loved every minute of it. I didn’t want to go with the typical dark, fall color palette, and chose to mix pops of colors and textures. I have a real love for beautiful typography and had calligraphy strewn throughout the wedding. My Amsale “Dahlia” gown served as a great inspiration for everything, from the floral design and the wedding cake to the welcome bags I designed. We included a lot of thoughtful details that had special meaning for us as a couple. We had succulents throughout the space as a nod to Mike’s home state of Arizona and a tequila signature cocktail to represent our shared love for Mexico (I studied abroad there, and Mike lived there for five years). Robert & Kathleen Photographers captured our day so beautifully, and thanks to them and the rest of our wonderful vendors, we had a lovely wedding day!

Wedding Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Wedding Venue: Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington, Connecticut / Event Design + Planning: Candice of Jubilee Events / Floral Design: Blush Floral Design Studio / Wedding Cinematography: Buzz Media Company / Officiant: Mary Coburn / Catering + Wedding Cake: A Thyme To Cook / Lighting: Shoreline Audio Visual / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. / Linens: La Tavola / Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones / Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music: Joe Kiernan Trio / DJ: Rob Alberti / Tent: Sperry Tents Marion / Wedding Signs: SweetWeddingDetails / Cake Topper: ReadyGo / Wedding Invitations: Smock / Ring Bowl: Paloma’s Nest / Wedding Gown: Amsale “Dahlia” via Amsale Flagship Salon / Jewelry: Prins & Volkhardt Jewelers (610-687-8840) + Tiffany & Co. / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Plumed Serpent / Beauty: Jennie Fresa / Bride’s Shoes: Milk & Honey Shoes / Groom’s Attire: JoS. A. Bank + Brooks Brothers / Flower Girl Dresses: Crewcuts

Oh Robert & Kathleen Photographers, we love the way you KNOW your way around a camera. And we just can’t help but swoon over every image you send us. And when said images are taken at a beyond stylish Connecticut shoreline wedding, we. die. The day was fantastic, as were the moments captured by Robert & Kathleen. We couldn’t help but fall for this adorable couple, so I’m warning you – make room in your heart for these two before you check out the gallery! 

Shane and I met in homeroom during our junior year of high school. When we received our yearbooks at the end of the year, we signed each other’s. I was beyond excited to see that Shane had written his phone number in mine! I called him that summer – and we became inseparable for the next 10 years.

In June of 2010, we went to Nantucket, Massachusetts for a long weekend. I grew up vacationing on Nantucket with my family, and Shane and I also spent many vacations there. This island has always been such a magical place to us, and Shane knew that this trip would present the perfect time and place to propose.

We thought of having our wedding on Nantucket, but we were afraid that some of our family and friends would not be able to make the trip. So we decided to have the wedding in Connecticut, and during the search for the perfect venue, we found the Guilford Yacht Club. It felt like a little piece of Nantucket in Connecticut to us! It had everything we were looking for…a beautiful, long green lawn overlooking the water (where we held the ceremony) a stone patio and deck outside for cocktail hour, and a beautiful ballroom that is open, light and airy with huge windows looking out to the lawn and water.

Our look was nautical, elegant and classic – inspired by a Nantucket summer. Our blue, green and white color palette expressed the theme perfectly, with navy blue fabrics accented by light blue and green hydrangeas and white micro baby’s breath. Seashells that had been collected by family and friends were used throughout the décor. We made our place cards by writing our guests names on razor clamshells and the dinner napkins weresimply rolled and tied together with jute and a seashell. Even the tall glass cylinders that held the floral arrangements at the “altar” were filled with shells.

We decided to have a ‘first look’ before the ceremony. This was mostly because we wanted to be able to enjoy cocktail hour with our guests right after the ceremony, instead of taking all of our pictures. We were so happy that we did this – especially because it gave us a private moment together when we saw each other for the first time that day. It also got most of our nerves out before the ceremony!

My Mom had a large collection of sea stones from the beaches of Nantucket, which she brought to the ceremony. Our guests each picked one out before they were seated, and were asked to hold the rock during the ceremony while thinking of a wish or blessing for Shane and me. We now have those rocks in our home, and are surrounded by all of the loving energy in them.

After the ceremony was over, we had cocktail hour on the patio outside. One of our favorite parts of this time was having singer/songwriter PJ Pacifico perform. We became friendly with P.J. when he played at the wine bar where Shane and I frequented, and we knew that having him perform at the wedding would be so unique and special. PJ sang and played acoustic guitar during the cocktail hour, and when we moved inside for the reception, he performed the song for our first dance (“Green Eyes” by Coldplay). It was truly an unforgettable moment.

Shane and I are lucky to say that we had the wedding of our dreams. It was the best day of our lives, and we are so thankful to everyone who helped us along the way and celebrated our love with us.

Venue: Guilford Yacht Club / Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Musician: PJ Pacifico / Event Planning & Design: Jordan Caterers / Deserts & Catering: Jordan Caterers / Florist: Bakes & Baldwin / DJ: Powerstation Events / Beauty: Headliner’s Salon & Spa / Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Dress Shop: The White Dress by the Shore / Bridesmaids: J.Crew / Head Piece & Bracelet: Maria Elena / Invitations: Papyrus / Programs: InviteSite / Entertainment: P.J. Pacifico

This next gorgeous fete goes out to all you brides-to-be that love all things understated and elegant, but not without a little hint of sparkle. From the beyond beautiful blooms to the pretty as can be paper, this day is all about the romance and love between two high school sweethearts. Dasha Kazakova Photography captured each and every lovely detail, down to the amazing antique Tiffany earrings. Click here for even more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Our love story began at the start of high school. Steve broke the ice during freshman year by asking me to “go out” via instant message. We dated throughout high school and during our four years together at college. Our lives then took us two hours east, to the wonderful city of Boston. This is where we started our careers and the rest of our lives together. Stephen proposed on the first morning of a 30+ person family vacation! It couldn’t have been more perfect to be celebrating with our loved ones once reaching our vacation destination!

We had just over a year to plan, and our vision was to have a romantic and personal wedding. When we walked into our venue for the first time, it literally took our breath away. We knew immediately that The Riverview was THE place for us.  It was both romantic and fabulous, with its all-over marble, gorgeous chandeliers and sky-high ceilings. Just a few of our personal touches included multi-generational family wedding pictures, cork place card holders for our love of wine, favors containing a secret family recipe of homemade limoncello, table names of our favorite things as a couple and a vintage family car! Our wedding day was a day to remember and a dream come true … finally getting to marry my high school sweetheart and best friend!

Wedding Photography: Dasha Kazakova Photography / Ceremony: St. Mary’s Church in Westfield, Massachusetts / Reception: The Riverview in Simsbury, Connecticut / Wedding Cinematography: Patrik Kisucky of Paradigms Pictures / Flowers: Marina Kostenko (413-262-0517) / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via Allegria Bridal / Bride’s Rose Earrings: Antique Tiffany & Co. from Her Grandmother / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via Allegria Bridal / Hair: Ochoa Salon / Makeup: Designer’s Edge / DJ: Nino Cuccovia / Transportation: Deluxe Limousine / Vintage Car: From a Family Friend / Photo Booth: Connecticut Photo Booths / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Invitation Place