Connecticut Weddings

As a landlocked girl, I so look forward to the nuptials by the sea. You have no idea how much my little water-loving heart lives for seaside weddings. So when Robert & Kathleen Photographers sent over a Connecticut wedding with views of the ocean, the most beautiful bride, and the softest, sweetest color palette you could imagine, you better believe I was in full swoon mode. This wedding has satisfied my quench for water for now, but you better believe I’ll be spending all afternoon in the gallery, just to be sure. Click here to join me!

That gorgeous dress is a Jenny Yoo, purchased from our faves, White Dress by the Shore!

I am a meeting/event planning for a large pharmaceutical company and I plan hundreds of events a year – most of them boring – so I couldn’t wait to plan our wedding and being able to make it personal to Colin and I. We got married on Memorial Day weekend at Saybrook Point Inn.

My grandfather is part of the FCM and he performed the ceremony, which was really special to us. During the ceremony we had a rose ceremony where we had two vases of roses and family members from each side added a flower to a center vase. It was suppose to display our two families becoming one. We had little bags of dried lavender for our guest to toss when we exited.

We went for a a relaxed and simple but elegant theme for the reception. Being an event planner I wanted to do as many DIY projects as I could. For the centerpieces, I collected all the candle sticks from different stores, yard sales, and eBay. I used wooden numbers so our guest could find their table.

For the candy bar I followed the same pattern by collecting jars from different stores and then ordering the candy  from a candy warehouse to match the colors of the bridesmaid dresses. I used stamps to write out the candy labels.

The escort cards were seeded wildflower paper that our guest could take home and plant. We wanted to do something other then a traditional guest book so we did a wishing tree instead. Near the end of the night we lit sparklers, an idea I got from SMP, and it was a huge hit!

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Flowers: Gira LLc Stonington, CT / Event Planning & Design: The Bride / Ceremony Location: Saybrook Point Inn / Reception Location: Saybrook Point Inn / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Shoes: Paul Green / Cake: Pastry Fusions / Dress: Jenny Yoo, White Dress by the Shore / Table Runners: eFavor Mart / Birdcages: Save on Crafts / Hair: Beauty Entourage / Place cards: Botanical PaperWorks / Bridesmaid dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Cake Toppers: WeddingStar / Blue and Grey Straws: Etsy Sellery Dandyyou / Wishing Tree tags: Green Acres Cottage / Brides Nacklaces: Virginia Geiger Jewels / Veil: Simple Beauty Veils

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Hopefully you tuned in this weekend to quite possibly the coolest wedding film I’ve ever seen. In case you did not recognize the leading lady of the film, let me introduce you to Carla Ten Eyck. Wedding photographer extraordinaire, genius behind the lens, and pretty much the coolest person ever. So when Carla and her hubby decided to renew their vows (and decided to count on SO many of our favorite LBB vendors) we knew we had to have a front seat to the day. Lucky for us, they have decided to let us into the whole fantastic, pretty in pink, love filled affair. Seriously, I could not stop checking out this whole day, partly because, well, I’m president of Carla’s fan club, and partly because it was a killer renewal. Please, please click here to see the whole gorgeous love fest in our full image gallery – you will not regret it.

Unexpected intense summer thunderstorms didn’t stop photographer Carla and hubby Dave Ten Eyck from renewing their vows at Carla’s childhood home and their current studio and home in Hartford, CT.  The wedding was orchestrated by a team of vendors belonging to the members of the Little Black Book, including Carla Ten Eyck Photography, Studio Foto, Jubilee Events, Datura: A Modern Garden, Dana Bartone & Co, The White Dress by the Shore, and RAW Photo Design.

Details of this wedding were anchored in Carla and Dave’s strong sense of family, her mother Georgianne’s memory, her Mexican heritage and her passion of photography. Carla looked stunning in her tea length dress by Siri and head piece by The White Dress By the Shore. The bridal party, consisting of her children Jack and Georgie and studio members, wore her studio colors – pink and brown. The gowns were from The White Dress By the Shore.

Colorful star and globe shaped lanterns swayed in the breeze, lighting the wooden picnic table that was once Carla’s dinning room table growing up.  The wooden table set up was reminiscent of a dia de Los Muertos altar in Mexico, and was peppered with Carla’s mother’s china, pictures of Carla’s studio members and roses given to Carla’s mother for Mother’s Day.

Amongst family photos, various old cameras were displayed, owned by Carla and her father. Friends wrote well wishes on paper tags and hung them on a Blue Atlas Cedar wishing tree, the tree that Carla gave her husband Dave as his original wedding gift (almost 12 years ago). The words written all described words of wisdom for a strong and lasting marriage. Rodney, their cat and Mexican Food. Yes. Keys to a successful marriage for sure!

To escape the rain, the ceremony was held on the front porch, as guests held umbrellas and snapped pictures. Childhood friend, Susannah McGlamery who officiated the ceremony, reread the same words she spoke at their first wedding years before.

Bouquets by Datura, A Modern Garden, included pink peonies, queen anne’s lace (one of Carla’s mother’s favorite flower), ranunculus and garden roses.  Guests enjoyed pizza and gelato from The Pizza Truck while relaxing on furniture from Ryan Designs.  When the festivities were over, guests left with Carla’s aunt Donna’s homemade “Keep it spicy” hot pepper jelly.

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck Photography, Growing Tree Photography, DeCarlo Photo Studio, RAW Photo Design, Studio Foto / Wedding Dress: Siri at The White Dress by the Shore / Hair & Makeup: Dana Bartone & Co. / Officiant: Susannah McGlamery / Flowers: Datura: A Modern Garden / Cake: Hope from A Little Imagination Cakes / Video: Jim Altieri, Vintage Cinema / Brides Jewelry: Custom made by Aquina, The White Dress by the Shore / Maids Jewels: Perception Jewelry / Lanterns & Furniture: Ryan Designs / Brides Shoes: Bagdley Mischka / Day of Coordination: Jubilee Events

The venue at which this Connecticut country wedding took place was born for weddings, yet it took this special day to help the owners to come to that realization. The whole day was so perfect – the epitome of fantastically fun summer weddings – that White Woods Farm decided to open their doors to more happy couples. And after peeking at the beautiful images from Meghan Sepe, I’d do the same. The romantic ceremony under the open sky was followed by a country chic reception under a Sperry Tent, and the rest of the details were just as great. I’ll be spending the rest of today in the gallery – meet you there!

Brian and I met in the summer of 2003 working at the Clarke Cooke House in Newport, Rhode Island. It was love and first sight when I saw the tan surfer in his tuxedo, and we knew instantly that there was a spark between us.  Our love of travel and complimenting personalities were unmistakably a perfect fit. After a multitude of trips to various countries, renovating a historic house in Newport, and building a life together, we knew it was time for the next step.

Brian proposed on our dog’s favorite beach in Martha’s Vineyard. Spending weekends at the family cottage on the island had become a special ritual since we first met. He insisted on taking a swim as soon as we disembarked the ferry before we got to the house. Luckily I agreed, and the next thing I knew he was kneeling in the sand asking for my hand. We rocked out to our favorite Vineyard band Johhny Hoy and the Bluefish that night and knew we had to convince them to play our big day.

We both knew exactly what we wanted; open air, hot July, summer fare, twinkly party lights, a rockin’ band, fireworks, and everything that epitomized our idea of summer with friends and family.

My groom waited patiently along with our dog Lenny, a Bouvier des Flanders, for his bride to finally arrive in the big red convertible. The rainclouds had delayed the wedding a tad (one hour). The fresh raindrops glistened in the tree under which we said our vows and created an ethereal sparkling veil.

The wedding itself was held at White Woods Farm in Stonington, Connecticut where I grew up. Inspired by our wedding, the owners have actually now made it available to others for such events. The white washed horse barn and rustic country home overlooking the expansive fields and pond provided a superb setting for our family and friends that allowed us to entertain with casual elegance while encouraging the guests to explore the property. Under the sail cloth tent, the tables were simple and understated. The green striped kitchen towels inspired by Pastis in New York City, accented the wide Tuscan tables which were scattered with antique jars abound with flowers carefully put together by my bridesmaid and her mother. Among everything there was a subtle constant spattering of red in the details. My red satin peep toe heels were the source of inspiration for the underlying color theme that reoccurred throughout.

Brian and I would both call ourselves gastronomic aficionados. The food had to be good and it had to be different. Smoke and Pickles of Westport, Massachusetts delivered all that and more. Appetizer stations boasted fresh scallop ceviche, large coils of homemade sausages and peppers over bruschetta, and a smoked chicken taco bar freshly pulled and topped to order. Dinner was served from great slabs of wood on grand white linen buffets with towering heaps of grilled veggies, whole wood roasted native striped bass, succulent spice rubbed pork loin, fire-roasted potatoes and a plethora of slaws and salsas making a colorful feast for the eyes.

After dinner, the band got everyone on the dance floor, barefoot or in a pair of flops from the basket. In no time everyone was drenched with perspiration but loving every minute. Cleverly, my mother had put cool wet washcloths in the coca-cola cooler for our guests to refresh. The band took a break and the fireworks began. Together, we stood back and watched our guests.

The day had finally come.  It all went by so fast and like a dream… the vows, the toasts, the speeches, the dining, the laughing, the dancing, the cake cutting, and rejoicing. If I had to decide on my favorite moment, I couldn’t. Our success would never have been possible without all the help of our family and friends. We have never felt more loved or special, and as everyone told us during the planning, it’s all worth it in the end.

Photographer: Meghan Sepe Photography / Floral Designer: Red Truck Flowers / Event Planning and Coordination: Bride and Groom / Invitations and Save the Dates: designed by Bride / Cake: Grand Finale Wedding Cakes / Caterer: Smoke and Pickles / Brides Hair: Rob Rivers / Groomsmen: JoS. A Bank, Sperry Shoes / Brides Maids: Ann Taylor, Zappos / Tent: Sperry Tents / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Jewlery: Great grandmother’s Cameos / Bar and Service: Cask ‘n Keg / Fireworks: Willy / Venue: White Woods Farm

I don’t know what it is about this Connecticut wedding, but I am in an absolute daydream, walking through all the dreamy photos from Carla Ten Eyck Photography. Maybe it’s the soft, subdued color palette, or that sweet cake from A Thyme to Cook, or the fantastic flowers from Hana Floral Design that make my mind start to wander to such a pretty place. Whatever it is, it is pure perfection. The whole affair works together in such a way that you can just tell it was a very happy day. When you’re ready to rub elbows with this gorgeous bride with me, click here for the full image gallery and dream away your day.

Hair and Makeup by the always talented Jennie Fresa Beauty Library.

From Carla Ten Eyck Photography … This sweet couple declared their vows in an amphitheater over looking Long Island Sound at Harkness State Park, where the groom’s family would visit often during his childhood. During the ceremony, they included a parent recognition ceremony and wine ceremony. The father of the groom surprised the couple by playing the accordion as they walked down the isle while the groom’s aunt played the violin.

This wedding was overflowing with beautiful and ecologically sustainable details which the couple wanted to use from local vendors. Details included a tent decorated with cornflower, butter and white colored lanterns, two local cheese stations, bamboo paper with soy ink, a candy bar, lilac bush wishing tree, bird’s nest name cards and cake decorations, and food recipes from the Bride herself.

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck Photography / Hair: Nedelyn Perry, Jennie Fresa Beauty Library / Makeup: Emily Denny, Jennie Fresa Beauty Library / Flowers: Hana Floral Design / Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero / Event Coordinator: Gina of A Thyme to Cook / Cake: A Thyme to Cook / Ceremony Location: Oceanside Ampitheater, Harkness Memorial State Park / Reception Location: Eiola Mansion, Harkness Memorial State Park / Invitations: Bamboo Paper and Soy Ink-Sustainable from NYC / Shoes: Hey Lady Shoes / DJ:Todd from Powerstation Events

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

Hana Floral Design

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Be still my vintage loving heart. Captured by Robert & Kathleen Photographers, these New Haven nuptials from Jubilee Events at the New Haven Lawn Club have my ticker all a twitter. The bride took her color inspiration from the flowers the groom brought along on their first date (can you say AW?) and the pink and purple could not work better with the vintage, Hollywood charm. I can’t decide what I love the most, be it the lacy cupcake wraps, the stunning flowers from Blush Floral Design, or those amazing art deco chandeliers. But honestly, I can’t stop looking at that gorgeous bride. Didn’t Dana Bartone & Company absolutely nail the sweet, classic hair and makeup? Click here for more!

Clark totally surprised me on our first date when I opened my door and found him outside, smiling, and holding a beautiful bouquet of pink and purple tulips and a small black box.  I was totally flattered by the amazing flowers.  We had chatted on the phone on the days leading up to our date, and I had told Clark that I loved office supplies, which I chalk up to being an elementary school teacher.  I knew that this date was different and I knew that Clark really “got me” when I opened the box he brought for me and found a Staples “Easy Button!” We ended up talking the whole night at an Italian restaurant, and when they were getting ready to close, we took our date to an all-night diner where we shared dessert.  We had an instant connection and quickly realized that we were meant to be together.

Clark has the ability to make me smile like no one else can, and I am the happiest I have ever been in my life.  There are some ways that we are completely different; I have a type-A personality, and Clark is more laid back and able to calm me down.  Clark will also take time to think through his decisions, and I am much more spontaneous… which is why Clark’s proposal almost didn’t work!

In late June of 2009, Clark had purchased a beautiful diamond ring and decided to propose on a summer evening on the beach near our apartment.  The only problem is that when Clark decided it was finally time, it rained for an entire week!  When it finally stopped raining, Clark took me to the beach and brought a nice picnic.  We were enjoying ourselves, but many of my elementary students were there with their families and we kept getting interrupted.  We finally finished dinner and headed home.  Once we got home and got settled, Clark got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.

I knew that I wanted to incorporated pink and purple into our wedding, inspired by those beautiful tulips from our first date.  We decided that we wanted to have a wedding that was traditional, classic, romantic, and elegant but full of fun touches that it made it our own.

Photographers: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Hair: Catie Bane from Dana Bartone & Company / Make-up: Amy Fiordelisi from Dana Bartone & Company / Flowers: Elisabeth Zemetis from Blush Floral Design / Bridal Gown: Modern Trousseau / Lace Bolero: Modern Trousseau / Ceremony Location: Assumption Church / Reception Location: New Haven Lawn Club / Event Planning & Design: Candice Coppola from Jubilee Events / Reception Lighting: Rob Alberti from After Hours / Reception Entertainment: Bales Gitlin Band / Cupcakes: Sweet Cakes

I’m having a bad day. I know, I’ve never actually said that out loud on SMP, but it’s true. It’s just been one of those wish-I -could-go-back-to-bed-and-start-over days. Well it WAS one of those days, until I laid my eyes on this next little beauty of a wedding. The kind of wedding that single-handedly turned my not so great day into a huge, wedding smile. I’m not sure if it’s the girl crush that I have on the bride, the obsession with all of the perfect little details that she infused or the fact that I’ve actually been to this crazy beautiful venue myself and to see it all decked out is well, SUCH a treat. Add to that a handful of ridiculously gorgeous, should-be-in-a-book images from Charlotte Jenks Lewis and florals by my friend, Yumiko at Hana Floral Design and well…this ain’t such a bad day after all. Oh, and there is so much more in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Matt proposed after a surprise pre-Valentines Day dinner (as he called it) at one of our favorite West Village restaurants, the Little Owl.  I will never forget seeing Matt down on one knee in the middle of a snowy sidewalk, an outstretched arm holding the most beautiful ring I had ever seen.  I couldn’t believe my eyes!  And so, the planning began.

Matt and I were both born to families who LOVE to travel.  My mom is a flight attendant and has been for the majority of her life so I am a born and bred airline brat, Matt has been obsessed with airplanes since the days that I dreamt about marrying him, and we both spent childhood summers and fell in love in Montauk (a small swim across the Long Island Sound) which made Saltwater Farm Vineyard the absolute perfect venue for our wedding.  The vineyard and its stunning mix of old and new, rustic and modern, natural and landscaped, is an embodiment of so much of our lives.  We were married in the vines and had our reception in their 1930’s era airplane hangar which has been preserved and converted into a winery – it was perfect.

Quite the dreamer, I wanted to give attention to every little detail but yet still make it look effortless – despite the fact that we were doing everything ourselves!  Well, effortless it wasn’t, but we had more fun than I ever thought possible.  Matt was incredible and very involved in all of the planning (I know how lucky I am!).  Aside from our Elum Designs vintage letterpress invitations, he created everything – from itineraries to place cards, programs, menus, gift tags and announcements.  We designed, we printed, we cut – may I never have to use a paper slicer again!

Our ceremony was by far our favorite part of our wedding.  After a beautiful but foggy morning, the clouds parted and the sun started to shine just as our guests were arriving.  It was such dramatic timing – we couldn’t have planned it better ourselves.  As my mom and I stepped out of the hangar to begin our incredible walk down the grass aisle, a breeze caught my cathedral length veil, sweeping the whole thing out from behind me.  It took my breath away as I couldn’t help but wonder if it was my dad, who passed away a few weeks before my eighth birthday, wrapping his arms around me from above.  We (tried) to hold back tears of happiness throughout the whole ceremony which was so much more magical than I ever could have imagined.  After saying we do, our guests made their way back to the hangar where the feast and merriment began.

Wedding Photography: Charlotte Jenks Lewis Photography / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Location: Saltwater Farm Vineyard / Wedding Invitations: Elum Designs / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: The White Gown / Caterer: A Thyme to Cook / Groom’s Tuxedo: Lanvin / Bridesmaid Dresses:  Jenny Yoo / Groomsmen’s Bowties: Jeff Salinas / Bride’s Hair:  Rachael Lyon, Timothy Pamment Salon / Bride’s Makeup: Naomi Martinez

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Hana Floral Design

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Wow. This Connecticut wedding is so breathtaking, I’m not sure if I’ve got enough breath in me to completely do it justice. Lucky for me, amazing LBB vendors like Jennie Fresa Beauty Library, Studio 539 Flowers, and Tyrone Farm speak for themselves. Beautifully captured by Heather Waraksa, this wedding boasts fresh colors, a gorgeous bride in an amazing gown, and some of the best, fabulously thought out, handmade details we’ve seen in a while. There was no way we could do it justice in just one feature, so make sure to visit the full image gallery for every last detail.

From the bride … As many modern day love stories begin, Ally met Brian online.  She had been living in Connecticut for a few years and was interested in meeting new people.   After chatting for a while on the phone,  she invited Brian over to carve some Halloween pumpkins.  As soon as she let Brian into her apartment, they just started talking.  They talked so much that before they knew it it was after midnight and the pumpkins didn’t have a single dent in them. Four years later, they decided to get married.

The second Ally and Brian drove up the dirt path to Tyrone Farm, in Pomfret, Connecticut, they knew this was where we they were meant to be married.  A little bit vintage, a little bit countryside, with a whole lot of New England Charm.  With Brian’s sense of whimsy and Ally’s nod to vintage detailing, their wedding captured  a Connecticut Countryside dream come true.

Tyrone Farm was established in 1742.  The estate  is tucked quietly away in one of the most beautiful hidden treasures of New England — Connecticut’s Quiet Corner.  It was the perfect setting for Ally and Brian’s nuptials.  The simple Aspen tree huppa draped with Ally’s grandmother’s tablecloth, framed the couple as they said their vows.

The estate’s acres of manicured lawns, lovely English gardens, breathtaking views, and hundreds of wild flowers surrounded guests during cocktail hour. As the sun began to set, guests were escorted into a renovated Chestnut Barn.   With its  hand-hewn beams, wide plank floors and rustic charm, the Barn provided a striking setting for the reception.

Guests were surrounded with handcrafted details throughout the evening.  Using the vintage aesthetic of Amy Butler’s Nigella collection of fabrics, Ally created herb pot fabric covered table numbers, custom cocktail stirrers, ring pillows, customized match books and program pockets to adorn the back of the ceremony chairs.  Inspired by burlap table runners she had seen in a previous wedding, Ally set out to find something similar.  She was thrilled to find the bride from the inspiring wedding selling hers on Etsy and was able to repurpose them for her reception – making what’s old new again – a perfect analogy for her wedding at Tyrone Farm.

Venue: Tyrone Farm / Caterer: Peppers / Florist: Studio 539 Flowers / Hair & Makeup: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library / Invitations: HeatherJeany / Photography: Heather Waraksa / Wedding Gown Designer: Melissa Sweet Reverie, Style Antigua / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Tadashi, J. Crew, Ann Taylor

When I was at Engage 2011, Sylvia Weinstock said that the cake is the one true centerpiece of the wedding. Well in the case of this next pretty little wedding, it’s the cakes (plural) that have completely stolen my heart. And the bride’s gorgeous dress. And flowers. And the paper goods. Okay, so there were many centerpieces of this affair that I fell in love with which is no surprise seeing that Creative Montage was the designer behind the stationery and Blush Floral Design Studio crafted those perfect stems. Oh and throw in Cynthia Brown to snap the pics and you have a wedding match made in heaven. To see even more, click right here.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

I practically decided our wedding would be at the New Haven Lawn Club before I even stepped foot inside. I fell in love with the space – the art deco chandeliers, the black and white checked floors and the tiled mirror above the mantle in the ballroom – as soon as I saw pictures of it. Seeing it in person sealed the deal.

The location set the tone for the rest of my style choices: Elegant and romantic with vintage touches. I settled on a color pallet of blush, apricot and champagne. I wanted the room to be decorated in soft, monochromatic tones and accented with gold and ivory. We used a lot of lush blooms like garden roses, peonies, ranunculus and sweet peas. Dusty Miller added texture and gave all the arrangements and bouquets that vintage look I wanted. We decided to display the centerpieces on vintage cut glass cake stands that my mom spent over a year collecting. She found them in all sizes and patterns, which gave each table  a unique and whimsical display. She also collected footed compote bowls that were filled with small arrangements and placed on the bistro tables at cocktail hour.

We created a cake buffet with the extra cake stands. Mini cupcakes and eight 10’’ cakes in flavors like Mexican Hot Chocolate, Orange Creamsicle and Heath Bar Crunch were decorated in blush, apricot and ivory butter cream frosting, trimmed with gold ribbon and topped with large pink and apricot blooms. The cake we cut was a two-tiered lemon raspberry confection decorated with lattice work that matched a pattern from our stationary.

We jazzed up our paper goods by incorporating three different patterns: a gold floral trim, pink lattice work and a pink and gold damask print. Each table number featured a different print and the invitation suite featured all three.

My dress was an Anne Barge ball gown. I loved the way the waist cinched in and the top layer of the skirt floated out, always catching the light just right. I like to think that after spending my childhood dressed in tutus at endless dance recitals this dress picked me. It was the first one I tried on! I borrowed the veil from my new sister-in-law. My hairpiece was a pearl satin ribbon headband with pearl and rhinestone details I bought on Etsy. My something old was a lace handkerchief that both my mother and grandmother carried down the aisle of their wedding day.

A few other personal touches we added to the wedding were the “Mr.” and “Mrs.” letters tied to the back of our chairs with pink and champagne ribbon, a Mad Libs inspired guest book and a display of family wedding pictures. At the end of the night guests were invited to help themselves to freshly popped popcorn, our favorite snack.

The church also matched our color theme, but that was unintentional. We chose it, because the groom’s parents were married there. What more, the priest performing our ceremony married my parents. These personal tributes to our parents were one on the most important parts of the marriage for us.

Wedding Photography: Cynthia Brown Studio / Wedding Invitations & Paper Goods: Creative Montage / Wedding Ceremony Location: The Shrine of Saint Anne / Wedding Reception Location: The New Haven Lawn Club / Catering: The New Haven Lawn Club / Wedding Gown: Anne Barge via Kleinfeld / Bridesmaid Dresses: WTOO / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: JoS. A. Bank / Floral Design: Blush Floral Design Studio / Hair & Makeup: Dana Bartone & Company / DJ: Paul Hebert / Cakes: Sweet Maria’s

Grab your red nose, big shoes, and water shooting pistol, because we’re going to the circus! This engagement shoot was just SO cute, we couldn’t resist sharing a little with our favorite wedding-consumed people. Carla Ten Eyck shot this so fun it could be illegal shoot, and she wanted to somersault into this adorable couple’s story a bit. Yes, the groom-to-be is a real life trapeze artist. I definitely think our cool-meter just went off the charts. This couple is literally jumping for joy over their upcoming nuptials, and, you guessed it, we’ve got more here!

Beauty courtesy of the wonderful Dana Bartone.

Want to see some of Carla’s FAB wedding work? Click here and here!

Michael and I met while working at ClubMed, an all inclusive resort, in Florida.  I had been working there for almost a year when Michael arrived from California.  We met and right away I knew he was the man of my dreams, I just had to prove it to him. After three solid months of long nights chatting, we had our first kiss.

Dating in a resort setting is a bit different from the outside world as you are together all-the-time.  Living in co-ed dorms and eating three meals a day together, is like living with someone right away.  Michael was working at the Trapeze at the resort and I was running the Child Care program, then moved to being in charge of sports like sailing, fitness, rollerblading, archery, and all the silly games around the pool.

After a year I got sent to Turkey as a sailing instructor, and only lasted about a month without my best friend.  At that moment I knew I was done for and headed home, leaving my job with the resort.  Michael was going to work Circus at a summer camp in Maine and I went along.

We road tripped around the country four times after that, camping one night and going out in Las Vegas the next.  It was awesome but we finally needed to settle.  After about  year of moving, we settled in Connecticut where on November 5th, I arrived home to a blazing fire in the fire pit and a margarita.  Michael proposed at the camp fire with the ring in a tissue and our dog running around crazy.  It was perfect and very us!  I am so excited to spend the rest of my life with my best friend and can’t wait for more adventures together!

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck for Carla Ten Eyck Photography / Beauty: Dana Bartone

This next wedding is quintessential New England. From the chalkboard menu to the candy coated apples, it’s also a DIY goldmine! This cute couple was certainly not afraid to get their hands dirty and also made the table markers and arranged the flowers. Photographed beautifully by Robert and Kathleen Photographers, this wedding is fun, fresh, and simple and in the great words of McDonald’s advertising, “I’m loving it!” For more simple sweetness, head over to the gallery!

Click here to see entire image gallery!

From Robert and Kathleen Photographers: Melissa and Jason had a perfect DIY rustic New England wedding featuring super easy, do-it-yourself table “cards” (bell jars painted with chalkboard paint), hand-picked floral arrangements strewn around the reception, and hand-written chalkboard menu sign, candy-coated apples, acorns and a white birch wedding cake.  Their deep purple color scheme was a nice change of pace from the typical rust colored Fall wedding themes. The bride even surprised the groom with his favorite car (a bright red Ferrari), his to drive for the entire wedding day.

There are some decisions in life that you agonize over for months. They’re usually the biggies – where to live, what kind of house to buy, where to go to school. They are life changing choices that can shape the course of your life. The ones that when you see so many options spread out before you it’s difficult to know which one is best.

Then there are decisions you think about for days. The smaller stuff. What outfit to wear to that special event, what color to paint a room, where to go on vacation. The kind of decisions that even as you make them, as you see the paint go up on the wall, you might thing to yourself, did I chose the right one? And there are the decisions that you think about for a few minutes, like going back and forth between two options on a menu or which gift to get for your friend. The kind of decision when you thought you knew what you wanted, but another option catches your eye last minute and makes you question your initial decision.

But sometimes there are the big decisions that you don’t even have to think about for a second. The ones that you don’t even have to hesitate before you answer. The rare life changing choices in which seeing other options actually reinforces your confidence in your decision. The kind of decision that even as you make it, you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are, in fact, making the right choice. Because you know it in your heart. You feel it in your gut. And your head is telling you to answer as quickly as possible because moments like these are rare and when they’re in front of you, you have to act on them right away.

That’s exactly the kind of decision it was for Jason when he asked Melissa to marry him. His friend asked him later if he was nervous when he proposed. Not at all, he answered. There was no reason to be. Because he knew this was the easiest, the smartest, decision he had ever made. Melissa makes him happier than he has ever been before and he knew she was the only woman in the world for him. Thankfully, it was very much the same for Melissa. No sooner had Jason gotten the words out of his mouth and she said yes. Because she knew it in her heart. And sometimes, that’s the only decision maker you really need.

Photography: Robert and Kathleen Photographers / Make-up: Christina from Naomi Martinez Salon / Gown: Martina Liana / Caterer: Pavilion Catering / Cake: Cakes Unlimited / DJ: Sylvester Samuels from Atmosphere Productions / Ceremony Location: Catholic Church of St. Mark the Evangelist / Venue: The Barns at Wesleyan Hills

Bust out the Skinny Girl Margaritas loves because today is a Cinco de Mayo celebration and to help us get into the mood for a fiesta is this gorgeous shoot photographed by Carla Ten Eyck. She teamed up with Jubilee Events to craft a colorful affair perfect for this most festive of days. Sparklers, loads of pink and a rainbow of heels..can you say Viva Cinco de Mayo? Grab a gander at more of this pretty party in the gallery.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Jubilee Events… This was a great photo shoot that derived from a more personal stance than most shoots. This was such a fun, personal photoshoot that was rich with color and details– allowing us to express our fun side. Cinco de Mayo is a holiday full of life and energy—an element we wanted to portray. We coupled it with another tradition, Day of the Dead, and honed in on the spirit of this culture.

Our models, Alicia and Carlos were a great addition to our team for the day—hats off to those shoes that Alicia brought and, of course, the dress, expertly chosen by The White Dress by the shore!  Tony constructed a bouquet and arrangement that, as always, was a beautiful hit and bursting with color! Your eyes can get lost for hours looking at all of the trinkets and pieces we included—each one with a different meaning and purpose behind it.

Our good friend and photographer, Carla Ten Eyck brought in several artifacts from her family’s history, like sugar skulls, masks, colorful lanterns and flags as a nod to the Dia de los Muertos altar, or Day of the Dead, meant to celebrate and remember lost loved ones. Both Carla and Tony Palmieri from Datura – A Modern Garden, brought special notes to include their mothers, quite easily making this shoot even more meaningful to our hearts.

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck / Model Styling & Jewelry: Beth Chapman of The White Dress by the shore / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet (Billie) via The White Dress by the shore / Flowers: Datura – A Modern Garden / Event Design: Diana Chouinard of Jubilee Events / Invitations: Coral Pheasant Stationery + Design / Beauty: Dana Bartone & Company / Bride’s Head Piece: Twigs & Honey / Mini Gourmet Donuts: Tastease, Hartford, CT / Original Artwork: Carlos Hernandez Chavez

Things are about to get real lovely in here. I’m sure you’ve got your pretty heels on, after watching the Royal Wedding this morning, so keep them on a little longer. This Connecticut winter wedding, seen through the lens of the talented Katie Slater of Carla Ten Eyck Photography, stopped us in our tracks. The brides beauty is so fully complemented by the divine flora from Datura – A Modern Garden, we spent more than a few minutes pouring over the images with our jaws on our desks. The entire evening was designed and orchestrated by the lovely ladies at Jubilee Events, which confirms the fact that this fête was flawless. Don’t take our word for it. Check it out, and when you’re done, check it out some more in the gallery.

All the fab rentals came from our favorite Luxe Event Rentals!

We weren’t quite done with this lovely fest, so when we heard the talented team at Vantage Point Films was on hand for the wedding, and had an amazingly beautiful highlight film, we were all over that. Want to see it?

Melissa and Peter | The Highlight Film from Vantage Point Films on Vimeo

From Jubilee Events … Melissa and Peter were married on a chilly November evening in Greenwich on the harbor, with a beautiful vintage / deco wedding style. Their ceremony was held in a local church with 200 of their closest family and friends. The altar was dressed with two massive fall foliage trees dripping with candles and lanterns as designed by Datura – A Modern Garden. The aisles were flanked with custom iron lanterns and nearly 200 candles.

Melissa and Peter’s reception was held at L’escale, a world famous restaurant in downtown Greenwich with the most delicious french food! Guests dined in a ballroom filled with thousands of candles and gorgeous long and round tables with beautiful branch centerpieces.

From Datura – A Modern Garden … It was clear from the first moment I met Melissa that her bouquet had to be something special. We chose white paphiopedilum orchids which were so fresh and perfect, we decided to accent them with only a single green trick dianthus at the center and a few spirals of grass at the base. For her attendants, we chose bronze cymbidium stems with uluhe fern shoots and grass.

For the ceremony, we brought in 14 foot beech trees at their autumn peak and strung Moroccan lanterns from the branches. We lined the aisle with fresh autumn leaves and accented with over sized lanterns.

At L’escale, we chose two centerpiece styles: we countered a white orchid and candle component composition in slender stemware and gathering vases with an art-deco style branch centerpiece strung with white vanda orchids and votives in blown glass globes. For their sweetheart table, we designed a custom branch cascade with willow and orchids.

Photography: Katie Slater for Carla Ten Eyck Photography / Cinematography: Vantage Point Films / Flowers: Datura – A Modern Garden / Event Planning & Design: Jubilee Events / Reception Location: L’escale at the Delamar Hotel / Dress: Claire Pettibone / Beauty: Jill Imbruogo and Arlene Cole / Bridesmaid Dresses & Jewelrey: J. Crew / Cupcakes: Great Cakes of Westport / Uplighting: Shoreline AV / Lounge Furniture: Luxe Event Rentals / Band: Vali Entertainment

It’s midweek, and we’ve got a reason to swoon. We’re tossing out the anchor in Essex, CT today. IRIS Photography sent over these nautical images, and we’ve been dying to share them with you since the second they landed in our inbox. This perfect New England wedding is sure to put a smile on your face, a wiggle in your step, and an Ahoy! to your morning. The primary color palette, inspired by Nantucket Red, played so well with the maritime ambiance, especially with the always stunning florals from Hana Floral Design. The fun doesn’t stop here either, sail over to IRIS’ blog for more about this great couple!

Hair and Makeup by the oh-so-lovely Dana Bartone & Company

The gallery has more of this nautical chic affair!

There was never a question in my mind that I wanted to get married on the banks of the Connecticut River in my hometown of Essex, Connecticut. Fortunately, when my husband proposed in our New York City apartment, the respite of a quintessential New England town seemed the perfect antidote to our hectic city lives.

Our ceremony took place overlooking the water in Essex’s Main Street Park and guests walked through town to the reception, held under a tent at the Essex Yacht Club. Our entire wedding was built with nautical New England in mind. My husband, never one for tuxedos, decided early that he’d like to wear a blue blazer and Nantucket Red pants. A color scheme was born! The bridesmaids wore classic navy J.Crew cotton cady and the flower girls wore white, short-sleeved eyelet dresses with navy cardigan sweaters.

The deep blue hydrangeas, scarlet red peonies, and vibrant yellow roses were a perfect compliment to the bold navy and Nantucket Red. When it came to table décor, we really went for it with color and design. We constructed a bold tribute to our nautical surroundings. Our tables were named for classic (and silly!) love songs. Escort cards detailed our favorite line from the song, and they popped out like small signposts from our favors, tiny metal pails full of navy and white M&Ms.

The food was delicious – surf and turf provided by the Essex Yacht Club. We skipped the cake and had a brownie sundae bar instead. It was a big hit! Our DJ kept everyone dancing well past our designated ending time, and then we all strolled over to the historic Griswold Inn tavern room to finish up the night.

We rounded out the weekend with a few DIY projects, including a welcome brochure with a map of our favorite food and shopping spots in town plus a canvas bag embroidered with “Essex, CT” and filled with snacks and other goodies. Although the weather was far from perfect, the amazing photographs from Iris Photography really say it all. Everyone only remembers the fun!

Photography: IRIS Photography / Wedding Gown: 2Be Bride / Groom Attire: Brooks Brothers and Dockers / Bridesmaids Dress Designer: J.Crew / Flower Girls Dresses: Mini Boden / Event Planning & Design: Sixpence For Your Shoe / Invitation Designer: Julie Holcomb Printers via The Note Nest / Stationery: Sixpence For Your Shoe / Flowers: Hana Floral Design and Boutique / Ceremony Music: The Wildwood Groups / Reception Music: DJ Rob Waldron from Standing Ovations / Hair and Makeup: Dana Bartone and Company / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. / Tent: Sperry Tents / Venue: Griswold Inn & Essex Yacht Club

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Hana Floral Design

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I feel like this next wedding is a page out of some great romance film. Like Leonardo Di Caprio should be smoking a cigar and Reese Witherspoon should be rocking a sequined gown, riding an elephant in the background. Okay, maybe not an elephant but doing something fabulously glamorous. It’s the kind of wedding that just sweeps you up and makes you fall in love all over again. Thanks to the insanely beautiful photography by Justin and Mary Marantz, which doesn’t surprise me in the slightest considering they are AWESOME. Anyway, take a seat and enjoy this completely spectacular Connecticut love affair…and click here for even more gorgeousness.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

Dini and I met and began dating in high school. We were so overjoyed to be getting married nine years later. Our main goal for the wedding was to have it be a big celebration with all the people who supported us over the years. We wanted it to be fun, personal, and beautiful.

Sarah True helped us develop a romantic garden theme with a soft herbal color palate and Tuscan accents. Yumiko of Hana Floral designed the gorgeous centerpieces, which alternated between soft, romantic blooms and lavender, artichokes, and other herbs. Gourmet Galley designed a delicious Tuscan inspired menu and put together a beautiful dessert table in place of a cake. The Branford House was the perfect place for our reception. We had dinner and dancing on the lawn, with spectacular views of Long Island Sound and Fourth of July fireworks.

It was really important to us to make our wedding a reflection of us. Dini is Greek Orthodox, so the ceremony took place at his church. My uncle is a Catholic priest, so we asked him to be a part of the wedding as well. After the ceremony, we drove away in a custom roadster that Dini’s father and grandfather had built together. The car brought us to a dock, where the whole bridal party boarded Dini’s cousin’s boat. We drove the boat to the reception site, giving us time to relax with our closest friends before the reception.

Given that Dini is a marine engineer and that we met while on our high school’s crew team, it was important for us to incorporate our love of and lives on the water. For that reason, we also replaced a traditional guest book with a pair of wooden oars that we had our guests sign. At the reception, we displayed photographs from the weddings of our parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. My mom and I made favors of homemade truffles, which we put into kraft boxes and tied with sage ribbon. Our family members made Greek and Italian sweets to add to the dessert table. The personal touches made the already beautiful reception feel like it was really representative of our relationship, and we could not have had a better time celebrating with all the people we love.

Wedding Photography: Justin & Mary / Wedding Venue: Branford House / Wedding Planning: Sarah True of TRUE Event / Catering: Gourmet Galley Catering / Floral Design: Yumiko of Hana Floral Design / Wedding Gown: Melissa Sweet via The White Dress by the shore / Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew / Tenting: Sperry Tents / Jewelry: Roberto Coin / Flower Girl & Ring Bearer Attire: The Blue Horse / Hair & Makeup: Rob Rivers / DJ: Renzo / Bridesmaid Dresses: Melissa Sweet

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Hana Floral Design

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We have a warm and fuzzy place in our hearts for this next couple. They won an AMAZING Deserving Couple’s Contest put on by Jessica’s Country Flowers and their wedding? So many stinking cute details, we’re sort of DYING over here. Jubilee Events donned their excellent party planning hats for this Alice in Wonderland inspired fete and Raw Photo Design captured it gorgeously. Grab a comfy seat and check out the whole shebang here.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Jubilee Events… A wedding with so many carefully thought out details: that was the story of Anna and Matt. They started their planning journey with a rocky start– troubled by hardships. Luckily, they entered a contest on Style Me Pretty and were chosen to receive a wedding with support by a lot of special vendors, including Jessica’s Country Flowers, who organized the give-a-way and designed all of their flowers.

They were destined to have an Alice in Wonderland styled wedding on the last weekend of summer, surrounded by 150 of their nearest and dearest. Mostly do-it-yourself, they took on a ton of projects to truly make their wedding their own. From fabric pennant flags that the bride sewed, to the wedding paper suite expertly designed by the groom (with a little help from an amazing illustrator Krista Wildermuth). Perhaps the most amazing piece of homemade décor was the antique door we suspended above their long, family style head table with dozens of antique medicine bottles hanging above like a chandelier. The sweetest part of their story is they were inspired by so many blogs and other couples!

In this kind of styled event, we were inspired by the original Alice in Wonderland and took some visual cues: pearls that the bride wore, “eat me” and “drink me” signs, a play on cards using them as favors and being inspired by them with their cake, the use of zinnias and dahlias in their flowers. But overall, Anna and Matt wanted a colorful, fun, and quirky look that represented them as a couple. We used fun and playful colors— aqua, blue, pink, red, and shades of silver to bring their vision to life.

Their ceremony took place just a stones throw from where the bride grew up at a little, teeny tiny church called Hope Valley Church. A hydrangea covered wreath greeted guests at the steeple and sweet music from a duo of violins prompted the ceremony, where Anna was escorted down the aisle by her dad. She wore an absolutely gorgeous gown with ruffles that cascaded down the back… And layers, and layers of vintage pearls collected from flea markets & antique shops. A cage veil and pretty fascinator, all from The White Dress by the Shore. Matt wore a Versace suit and tie with a pair of custom chuck taylors.

After the ceremony, guests blew bubbles and saw the newly weds off to their epic reception— complete with gorgeous tablescapes designed by us full of sweet little details, and a lot of fun. The bride and groom had their hand on every piece of décor for their wedding— we scouted vintage china used to serve guests dinner at flea markets (Brimfield, to be exact!) together and borrowed unique pieces from Anna’s father— a man who loves antiques! Each guest plucked their escort card from an antique barn door from Anna’s home that Matt hammered vintage nails into. A tag with their name on it, affixed to a skeleton key, guided them to their table. After dinner, they danced the night away with family and friends into the wee hours!

Wedding Photography: Raw Photo Design / Flowers: Jessica’s Country Flowers / Event Design & Planning: Jubilee Events / Ceremony Location: Hope Valley Church, Amston, CT / Reception Location: The Barns at Wesleyan Hills / Custom Lighting: Rob Alberti / Wedding Invitations: DIY by Bride & Groom / Monogram: Krista Wildermuth / Wedding Dress & Veil: Vineyard Collection by Priscilla of Boston via The White Dress by the Shore / Wedding Cake: Kelly’s Sweet Rewards / Makeup: Blush Couture Design / Ceremony Music: Millennium Music / DJ: DJ Derek / Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen / Hair: Andrea’s Hair Studio, Glastonbury, CT / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo via The White Dress by the Shore / Calligraphy: Jondahl Meotti

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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It doesn’t happen often, but I am at a loss for words for just how much I love this bride and this wedding captured by the darling Anna Sawin. You may know the bride as the voice behind the lovely blog Sparkle & Hay, but I am lucky enough to know her as a genuine friend and even had the honor of being there to see this beautiful day unfold. It was a wedding straight out of story book, with love oozing out of each and every detail thanks to the ever so talented Sarah of TRUE Event and the lineup of extraordinary vendors that helped bring the sparkle and hay to life. With drop dead gorgeous floral design by Hana Floral Design, could-not-be-more-perfect paper by Chocolate Creative Design and beauty by the lovelies at Jennie Fresa Beauty Library (just to name a few), it’s hard to go wrong. We love love like this and couldn’t be happier Miss Sparkle & Hay is now a Mrs.  Need more? I don’t blame you, so step on over to the full gallery for even more sparkle and hay!

click here for more sparkle & hay!

From the darling Bride…Our story begins in Paris, in June of 2009, where Dan got down on bended knee and asked me to marry him in front of the Eiffel Tower. (Well, actually our story begins 6 years earlier on a college campus in Massachusetts, but this is the abridged version!). It is safe to say that when Dan & I became engaged I caught the wedding bug… bad.  I truly enjoyed every moment of planning & designing our wedding with the intention that it should not only be beautiful, but filled with meaningful details in order to tell the “story of us”.  Originally believing that I wanted a destination wedding (preferably a Villa in the Tuscan Hills or farmhouse in the countryside of France) the one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to transport our guests to a different place, if only through the ambience of the party.  This led to an interesting venue search as we began to comb the state of Connecticut for just the right place to say “I Do”. However, the moment we turned down the (slightly hidden) drive of Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington, I knew this was going to be the place.

Pulling up it is as though you are transported to another place, and inside the meticulously revitalized space (I don’t dare say renovated as so much of the building’s authenticity has been preserved) a fantastic raw energy abounds.  The vineyard was originally a WWII aircraft hangar, the interior a delight for the eyes with towering high ceiling, gorgeous exposed wooden beams and ceilings.  The space comes as-is… and lends itself perfectly to personalization through colors, textures, linens, flowers, lighting, and all sorts of fabulous details. At the onset of the planning process to say I was all over the place with my design style is an understatement.  There is no way that I could have achieved this destination wedding in Connecticut idea I had in my mind alone – it was the creative mind and amazing styling of planner/designer Sarah True of True Event who refined my vision to that of a Provençal Rustic Chic style and brought it to life.  In a true collaborative effort, Sarah assembled a dream team of vendors to work on my special day, many of whom I would not have met without her, and am now so happy to call treasured friends.

Our perfectly Provençal rustic chic save the dates by Lucinda Wesson of Chocolate Creative Design were the first step to creating this special experience to share with our guests – a custom printed burlap pouch filled with lavender, a paper airplane (folded from the pages of a vintage French love poem book) cork from Saltwater Farm Vineyard, and piece of hay arrived at each of our soon-to-be guests homes.   Followed by Fleur de Lis tea stained parchment invitations and a dance program reception card packaged in a kraft paper & Parisian map lined envelope with a vintage inspired RSVP postcard – that guests loved so much many called in their responses and asked to keep the cards! The day of the wedding could not have been more idyllic.  We were greeted the morning of October 23 with beautiful sunshine and sparkling blue sky.  Preparing for the big day while surrounded by my bridesmaids, mother, and mother-in-law was such fun!  The lovely ladies of the Jennie Fresa Beauty Library worked their magic on us as we nibbled on our brunch, and I sipped my warm cup of starbucks (the one wedding gift I asked for from Dan).  The smiling face of Yumiko Fletcher of Hana Floral Design delivering my drop-dead-GORGEOUS bouquet was all it took to send me into pure euphoria (mind you this is only at 10am).  Always on cue, the only person whom I would want so close to me on that day (aside from Dan) Anna Sawin, of Anna Sawin Photography arrived just in time to catch me in this glorious moment (and snap a million photos of me running around the townhouse my parents had rented in the borough of Stonington exclaiming “I’m getting married – this is the best day of my life!”.)  A demure, composed bride I was not – you could not have wiped that ear-to-ear smile off my face if you tried.

A Newport Trolley brought us to St. Mary Church in town, where our guests were streaming into the pews (which were perfectly anointed with small terra cotta pots wrapped in twine, filled with silver brunia berries, lavender, blush spray roses, herbs and greens).   From that moment on the day began to fly, the girls were down the aisle in an instant, and then that moment that you wait for your entire life was upon me – my walk down the aisle.  As I took my father’s arm it was all I could do to keep myself from running down the aisle and jumping into Dan’s arms, the moment I saw him there waiting for me I was overcome with excitement and just knew that all was right with the world.  While my father was the one who walked me down the aisle it was very important to me that both he and my mother “give me away”, so she stood up and joined us as we reached the end of the aisle.  We blinked back tears as my father lifted my veil and kissed me on the check, and then there was a slight blunder on our part as Dan & I were so excited to see each other that we kissed immediately there – before stepping onto the alter together.  Needless to say, I was giddy through the entire ceremony and on cloud nine when we were pronounced husband and wife.

Arriving at the vineyard that sunny evening my dreams had already more than come true.  Greeted at the entrance with a St. Germaine & Champagne cocktail (our signature drink) by Jeanette Holliday of Gourmet Galley Catering, I could not have imagined the breathtaking sight that awaited me inside.  Sarah had transformed Saltwater Farm Vineyard into a place beyond my wildest dreams.  A little bit vineyard, a touch of France, a sprinkling of shimmer, a hint of burlap and we were in another world.  The tables, with a blush linen and burlap & lace edged runner, were covered with mercury glass votives, lace wrapped tea lights, and burlap and lace wrapped water bottles (which I made myself!).  The centerpieces alternated per table; half had moss, lavender, and babys breathe filled wooden crates with a burlap covered wine bottle candelabra.  The others had mercury glass pedestal vases filled with lavender, queen anne’s lace, chocolate cosmos, silver brunia, dusty miller, blush Juliet roses, Café au lait dahlias and rosemary.  Carrying the invitation inspiration through, the table numbers and escort cards were recreations of vintage postcards representing places in the world which were meaningful to Dan & I.  On the back of each we wrote a little note to our guests seated at each table thanking them for sharing in our special day.  Another hit with our guests, we were thrilled when a week after the wedding we actually received one of the table number postcards back in the mail – with a note signed by the entire table expressing how much they had enjoyed themselves.  As we took in the culmination of all of the amazing details coming together to create our big day we were spellbound. All of the countless hours of planning had paid off more than imaginable when Dan turned to me and said “Wow… I knew it was going to look good, but I had no clue it would be this amazing”.

Guest cocktailed on the bluestone patio which had been transformed into an outdoor lounge, enjoying the panoramic views of the vines and the long island sound with the live guitar duo J2AM playing some of our favorite songs in the background. The party moved inside as the sun began to set, and the room began to glow.  The meal was flawless; the entrée, a tasting plate, featuring melt in your mouth short ribs and a hazelnut encrusted chicken which we still receive compliments on to this day.  Hours of dancing followed, with guests taking a moment later in the night to help themselves to a drink at the hot beverage bar or make s’mores outside by the fire pit.  Dan & I were able to escape for a few moments from time to time as well, which only allowed us to savor the day even more.  Before I knew it the time for our send off had arrived and cheering guests showered us in dried lavender sprinkled from French printed paper cones.  It was more than a dream come true.

Venue: Saltwater Farm Vineyard / Design and Coordination: Sarah True of TRUE Event / Photography: Anna Sawin Photography / Catering: Anna Lathrop and Jeanette Holliday of Gourmet Galley / Floral: Hana Floral Design / Paper: Chocolate Creative Design / Entertainment: Power Posse Productions & JA2M / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Transportation: Newport Trolley / Videography: Tim Ethier Video Productions / Beauty: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library / Dress: Augusta Jones from Kleinfeld New York / Bridesmaids: J.Crew / Bride & Groom Forks: Beach House Living / Guest Book: LovliDay / Bridesmaid and Bride’s clutches: Oatmeal Lace Design / Hanger: LilaFrances

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Hana Floral Design

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from Robert and Kathleen’s blog … In our line of work, it’s not unusual to be completely surrounded by raw emotion.  The way the groom’s voice cracks when he reads his vows, the deep breath a bride takes just before taking that first step down the aisle … For us, it’s one of the true perks of our job! One of the occupational hazards, though is that sometimes, the emotion gets to us, too. We can usually see it coming ~ when you have a couple whose connection is so evident that you feel it, even before you see them together! You feel it in the energy in the room while they’re each getting ready, in the excitement of the guests as they sit down for the ceremony. And as much as you prepare yourself, sometimes it just catches you off guard. There are little moments in every wedding that get to either one of us, but it’s not often that the very same moment touches us both ~ Rob and I ~ at the very same time. Julia and Avi’s wedding was the exception … – Robert and Kathleen Photographers

Robert and Kathleen Trenske are a husband and wife team who have the keen ability to capture all the details with big, bold clarity and all the emotions with a finesse and skill that few others have. And when you read their blog, you can just tell that they are really, fully consumed in every wedding that they shoot. On their blog, they share stories, not only of the day, but of the bride and groom … and you can just tell that thru the process, they’ve become friends!

What do we love about Avi and Julia’s wedding? All of it!

see the full gallery here

Do you want to know what moment it was that touched both Kathleen and Robert simultaneously? Head on over to their blog to hear the full story!

Congratulations ~ Julia & Avi!

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Location: The Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown, CT / Caterer: Margery Gussak Catering / Make-Up: D.D. Nickel / Bridal Gown: Watters / Shoes: Kate Spade / Flowers: Fleur de Lys Floral in New Haven, CT / Entertainment: Soulfarm

More of Robert and Kathleen’s fantastic wedding stories …

Kate & Spencer’s Wedding Story

Hillari & Danny’s Wedding Story

Jenny & Brett’s Wedding Story

This adorable Connecticut wedding by IRIS Photography perfectly captures how beautiful this couple is both inside and out. The intimate affair was held at the couple’s home, which just happened to be where they got engaged, and was styled to perfection. The entire gallery is just as personal as it is pretty, so be sure to set aside some time to soak it all in – including their adorable video from Buzz Media Company.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

And because we just couldn’t keep this fabulous work of art from Buzz Media Company to ourselves, here is a little something to make your Friday even more lovely.

caitlin + greg from Buzz Media Company on Vimeo.

We met through mutual friends at a holiday party in DC. We started talking about AIDS in Africa as I was 4 days away from my trip to South Africa to volunteer in a hospital. It turned out he had actually written a book on the AIDS epidemic throughout Africa. He sent me his book a few days later and asked me out. I fell in love with him on the first date.  He proposed in front of the fireplace at our home in Essex. It was a cold day and he lit the fire. I sat down and said “this is my favorite place in the whole world”. He smiled and gave me something he had written… a short story called “Our Story”. He asked me to read it out loud. It was the story of our courtship and when I got to the end, the last page read “The Beginning”.  Thats when he got on one knee and asked me to marry him. We were engaged for about 10 months. We wanted to support the local community and hire as many local vendors as possible. Our planners of Bellafare found our photographer, Iris Photography, who perfectly matched our style and vision for our wedding.

There is no other place in the world that is as special to us as our home. It was where we fell in love and where Greg later proposed. Not only is it a special place, but it happens to be a really beautiful backdrop for a wedding. Our planners were able to take our personal style and apply it to our wedding day while incorporating so many unique and special elements. We wanted our wedding to reflect our love of the outdoors and the water while still being elegant.  When we were dating we used to make s’mores for dessert so we knew we wanted to incorporate this element into our wedding somehow. We had a fire pit and s’mores station that the guests had a blast with. We exchanged vows in front of the birch tree in our yard and incorporated the birch leaf motif into all of the stationary. We served South African wines during dinner and guests left with a small satchel of almonds… a South African tradition. Walking down the aisle toward Greg. I saw nothing but him. I remember the day was perfect in every way. It was sunny and warm and the way the light hit the trees was spectacular. I will always remember that moment.

Photographer: IRIS Photography / Catering: SB Catering / Ceremony music and DJ: Orchestrations Inc. /  Florist: Lewis Miller Design / Lighting: Frost Lighting / Planner: Bellafare / Stationery: Sue Coe Designs / Tent: Sperry Tents / Videographer: Buzz Media Company

Good Morning lovelies! We have a whole slew of Wednesday treats lined up for you in the form of knock out weddings and lest you forget, there is even more of these pretty nuptials to be had in the galleries so be sure to stop by throughout the day. Kicking things off is a Connecticut Wedding captured by Stephanie Ann Photography, with design and styling by the lovely Jubilee Events. Not only is this day bringing the quintessential barn wedding to a whole new level of whimsy but the fashion is positively killing it in terms of fun as well. I mean how can you beat men in kilts? There are quite a few bookmark worthy images coming your way right now and even more can be found in the gallery. Happy clicking.

see more of this festive barn wedding here!

Rose and David are one of those couples that you just know were destined to meet and get married. With 80 of their closest friends surrounding them, they were joined in a loving ceremony underneath the big tree at The Webb Barn in mid-june. Their ceremony was a mixture of their unique backgrounds and traditions they love. Guests arrived at The Webb Barn in Wethersfield to the waving Scottish flag and ambient sound of bag pipes. Rose floated down the rose petal aisle, escorted by her mom and dad, to the most amazing string arrangement of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes.”

Rose and David worked on so many projects themselves, from their light and airy tissue poms that floated above the dance floor to the amazing scotch bar that entertained guests all night long. When I first met with Rose she said, “I want the barn to feel like the Queen would get married here.” She started with a royal color palette of regal blues and purples, added a bit of gold and guild, and hit the mark. Guests dined family style on a delicious grilled dinner by emily’s catering group, at tables dripping in rich purple linens, gold chargers, and hem stitched linen napkins. Azaela Floral Design created beautiful branch arrangement centerpieces with glittering crystals, bringing a bit of glamour into the rustic setting.

With the barn doors open, guests danced the night away to their amazing 80’s cover band and ended the night with a sparkler send off.

Photography: Stephanie Ann Photography / Flowers: Azalea Floral Design / Event Design and Planning: Jubilee Events / Ceremony and Reception Location: The Webb Barn, Wethersfield, Connecticut / Invitations: Staice Katz, San Francisco, CA; skatzdesign@comcast.net / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Hair & Makeup: Dana Bartone & Co. / Dress: Enzoani from RK Bridal / Caterer: Emily’s Catering Group / Officiant: Rev. Darren C. Politio / Kilts: Piper’s Cove / Ceremony Musicians: Millennium Music / Band: Marshall Nicols / Rentals: Jubilee Events / Wedding Cake: Chef Scott McMillen

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the absolute perfection that is this bride’s dress?  It is a beautiful, fluffy dream!  Set against the backdrop of a grand estate, this classic, Great Gatsby-inspired wedding photographed by Joshua Zuckerman Photography just makes my inner romantic go all gooey.  The full gallery has even more inspiration from this fine Connecticut affair!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

My mother and I planned the wedding together, we wanted it to be simple but elegant, and feel like a classic at home wedding in Connecticut. We approached it like a a Gatsby affair, as we wanted big band music, the formal elegance of black tie, complimented by shades of ivory and creams that were carried through in the flower arrangements, groomsmen and bridesmaid attire, candle light, and ivory lanterns. Rather than incorporating complex details, we focused on making sure the core elements that made up the wedding were memorable. What helped make that easy was that we had great vendors and a wonderful venue, my parents house. The backdrop, couldn’t have been more beautiful with the rolling lawn and greenery of the trees. As a result, we didn’t have to add complex flower arrangements or bring in additional decor. Our vendors were wonderful to work with because they produced flawless work, especially the outstanding photography. The food was delicious, the music was wonderful, the tent and flowers were simply elegant, and we are so lucky to have great pictures to remember it all by!

What made all the difference in the planning process was maintaining our classic theme, and remembering that we wanted the wedding to feel intimate amongst our close friends and family. With around 125 guests, we were able to focus on our guests, and ensure they felt that were a special part of the event. We engaged a day of wedding coordinator, who helped make the day stress free, and ensure that the months of planning came to fruition!

Wedding Photography: Joshua Zuckerman / Florist: Greenwich Orchids / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet / Caterer: Aux Delices / Band: Bob Merrill & His Orchestra / DJ: DJ Vinny Vulcano / Hair + Make up: Phillip Bruce Salon / Bridesmaids’ dresses: J Crew / Groomsmen tuxedos: Christian Dior / Day-of-Coordinator: Erin Mills