SUBMIT WEDDING
View Posts By:

categories

 

tags

 
A Monet Inspired Wedding at Eolia Mansion in Connecticut

Today’s Monet-inspired wedding in Connecticut planned by EBB & Flow Events is every bit charming as it is romantic. We love how the bride and groom incorporated elements into their wedding that represented their personal passions. So, you’ll notice horses for the bride and bicycles for the groom celebrated in subtle ways throughout the day. Their color palette was unique and beyond dreamy: grey, blue and green with pops of black and marble! Wild, organic floral arrangements by Sarah Saunders Studio had us weak at the knees.See all the gorgeous details captured beautifully by Rebecca Yale Photography below!

From Rebecca Yale PhotographyMichelle and Robert were married at Eolia Mansion in Waterford CT on May 12, 2018. The day had heavy rain, but the couple didn’t miss a beat and hosted 100 of their closest friends and family in an intimate ceremony in a tent with grey drapery and lush florals followed by cocktail hour and a seated dinner in the mansion and then back to the tent for dancing. The couple chose to use grey, blue and green with some pops of black and marble as their dominant colors throughout the day. 

The invitations set the color tone and featured custom sketches of a horse- a love of the bride’s and a bicycle- a love of the groom’s, as well as a custom sketch of the venue on the envelope liner. The horse was drawn on a piece of vellum that overlaid the center piece and vellum was used again as the place cards at the reception. The groom is an avid bicyclist and has actually competed in the Tour de France multiple times so in addition to the bicycle on the invitation they named their signature drink “Tour de Weiss Blueberry Mojito” and the planner, Ebb and Flow Events, custom made bicycle cocktail stirrers for the drinks. Guests were welcomed to the wedding weekend with two unique welcome gifts- a welcome box for the men featuring a candle, whisky infused caramels and chocolate, while the girls were welcomed with linen bags full of bath salts, elderflower liquor, a deck of playing cards and a book on the stars- a passion of both the bride and groom. Both bags came with a custom made do not disturb sign for guests to use after dancing the night away.

The wedding was planned by Jenna of Ebb and Flow Events who is also a dear friend of the bride, and Jenna’s daughter Camilla served as the flower girl. The bridesmaids were comprised of the bride’s two sisters as well as one of her son’s girlfriends and Jenna’s sister, who all wore different tones of blue dresses. The groomsmen were comprised of the groom’s best friend, Jenna’s father and the bride’s two sons, Joey and John. The groomsmen all wore suits of their own choosing in shades of grey and Joey and John each wore unique feathered bowties which tied in the blue of the bridesmaids gowns. The bride fell in love with her polka dotted long sleeved gown and felt it reminded her of her mother and Stevie Nicks and had a blast twirling in it all day and playing with the sleeves. She paired her dress with black velvet heels with black crystals on the back, which matched perfectly with the groom’s black velvet loafers with a strip of crystals on the back. One of the highlight moments of the day was when they were joined by their five month old puppy for some portraits right after the first look under a pergola on the garden’s grounds.

Their puppy sported a Tiffany & Co leash purchased just for the day and the sapphire blue dog tag fit right in with their colors, perfectly matching her sapphire earrings! Sarah Saunders created a lush organic bouquet in white and green for the bride and blues and greens for bridesmaids, each unique to fit with their unique gown and look. Inside the mansion guests were greeted with a beautiful installation of greenery with pops of blue on the grand staircase and were invited for a glass of champagne and to leave the couple “bucket list” notes before the ceremony began. The fireplaces throughout the mansion were decked out in wild floral arrangements in tones of white, green and blue and hand calligraphed marble tiles were laid on a table with silk runners and loose florals to echo the wild feeling of the flowers throughout the day. The couple wanted the ceremony to feel close and intimate so they elected for a ceremony in the round with their guests all standing around them in a circle and they set up chairs on each side of them with florals all around the back of the chairs for their wedding party to sit in. Joey and John had the honor of walking their mom down the aisle and another dear friend of the family, the planner’s mother, officiated the ceremony.

After the emotional I Do’s where they read vows they wrote themselves, they recessed out of the tent and the rain cleared for the first time that day giving the bride and groom the opportunity to walk down to the water for a moment alone and for the ocean-side portraits the bride had dreamed of. The couple grabbed their signature drink and made the long walk through the muddy and wet grass down to the water, but they couldn’t have cared less and had so much fun enjoying the view. Luckily the bride had a shorter dress to change into and had plans to cut the bottom of her dress off to make it cocktail length so she didn’t mind getting it muddy! Guests enjoyed cocktail hour inside the mansion and the bride slipped into her feathered short dress and took a quick spin around the gardens with her groom as the rain held off.

Guests made their way into the dining rooms and as the bride and groom walked back inside the mansion they all clapped and cheered watching them from the window. Dinner was served on long banquet tables in the beautiful white dining room that tied in all the colors and textures of the day. The grey table cloths were topped with marble chargers and textured white napkins with vellum place cards on top of each plate and marble and gold table numbers echoed the colors and texture of the escort cards. The fireplace in the dining room was set with more wild florals and the tables were set with greenery and pops of blue flowers, which was also echoed in the blue wine goblets and blue and gold flat ware. After the dinner guests joined the couple for a cake cutting, but the bride and groom aren’t big fans of cake so they chose to have a small ceremonial cake cutting followed by a large dessert bar of gelato sundaes, three different kinds of chocolate dipped fruit and a flambé bar creating on demand bananas foster. Country singer April Kry, who the bride had seen perform at her planner Jenna’s wedding and fell in love with her voice, was flown in from Nashville with her guitarist in lieu of a traditional wedding band and they kept the guests dancing all night long.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Flowers: Sarah Saunders | Hair and Makeup: Cohl Katz | Calligraphy: Jordan Cotton | Venue: Eolia Mansion | Bar Sign: Bespoke Designs | Bride's Gown: Rime Arodaky | Escort Cards: Hanwriting | Invitation: The Wells Makery | Music: Brooklyn Duo | Planning and Design: Ebb and Flow Events | Rentals: borrowed BLU | Rentals: Gather and Lounge | Rentals: BBJ La Tavola | Rentals: Patina | Singer: April Kry | Tent Draping: Ryan Designs

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
An Elegant Coastal Wedding That’s Quintessentially Summer

While fall may be a contender for your new favourite season, allow me to remind you of that magic that is summer. Thanks to this stunning affair captured by Perry Vaile Photography, it’s a day blooming with Hana Floral Design and undeniable romance. See it all and get ready to join #teamsummer once again via The Vault!

From Perry Vaile PhotographySunnie and Jin celebrated their wedding day in the lush gardens of Eolia Mansion at Harkness State Park – the bride’s breath-taking gown complimented the architectural and natural beauty of the venue, while her maids floated across the grounds in pale hues and full florals. The invitation suite was a nod to the airy blue and blush tones of the rest of the day. Sunnie’s sophisticated wedding was highlighted with unique fluffy reeds instead of typical florals for much of the reception and ceremony decor.

Photography: Perry Vaile Photography | Floral Design: Hana Floral Design | Cake: Creative Cakes by Donna | Catering: Coastal Gourmet Caterers | Hair + Makeup: Makeup By Coco | DJ: Power Posse Productions | Officiant: Reverend Jonah So | Wedding Venue: Eolia Mansion | Getting Ready Venue: Spicer Mansion

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
Festive Fashion-Forward Winter Wedding Inspiration

I may be a tad bit biased, but I think it’s safe to say that anything in front of Rebecca Yale‘s lens is bound to turn into pure wedding gold. Gold with a side of subtle, yet festive red and green in this case. And while we usually gush over one bride, we’ve got two beauties today—and that means double the rings, dresses and bouquets (thanks to Ariel Dearie Flowers!). Ebb & Flow sat behind the striking design and you can see it all in THE VAULT.

Colors
Settings
Luxury Venue
Styles
Al Fresco

From Rebecca Yale PhotographyFor this bridal editorial we drew inspiration from two fashion forward brides with distinct aesthetics would combining their vision for a gorgeous same-sex winter wedding. We wanted a very clean palette playing with tone on tone in varying shades and textures of black and white with pops of red, green and gold as the only color. In our vision one of our brides was sleek and modern, choosing two architectural dresses and simple nude Valentino pumps. Her bouquet and ring were both structural and modern complimenting her aesthetic. We chose two sexier illusion dresses for our second bride, pairing them with strappy gold Jimmy Choo’s and a lush red bouquet and vintage inspired ring from Claire Pettibone’s new collection for Trumpet and Horn. We were drawn to the idea of two brides selecting their engagement rings from the same designer so they complimented each other, while still feeling uniquely them. We carried the juxtaposition of the sexy and modern aesthetics throughout the details of the editorial in the tablescape and the cocktail table with deep red florals with sleek marble chargers, and jewel toned hors d’oeuvres in cut glass and white vessels. We ended the editorial with a romantic horse and carriage, the perfect way to make your wedding exit befitting for a Victorian Mansion, decorated in architectural and minimal floral elements created by Ariel Dearie.

Vault CTA

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Event Design: Ebb & Flow | Floral Design: Ariel Dearie Flowers | Wedding Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal | Rings: Trumpet & Horn | Catering: On The Marc | Makeup: Anjeh Bourne | Hair: Shavaughn Byrd | Invitations And Calligraphy: Written Word Calligraphy | Venue: Eolia Mansion | Chairs: Lillian August | Crystal Candelabra: Ct Rental Center | Horse And Carriage: Cedar Knoll Farm | Photography Assistance: Rachel Watkinson | Rentals: Ebb & Flow | Ribbon And Runner: Silk and Willow | Ring Boxes: The Mrs Box | Wedding Dress #1: Gabriela Cadena | Wedding Dress #2: Rivini | Wedding Dress #3: Zuhair Murad | Wedding Dress #4: Tony Ward

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
Elegant Connecticut Wedding at the Eolia Mansion

Weddings like this beauty captured by Joanna Fisher Photography are so incredibly perfect they will casually stroll arm in arm with Father Time and always be stylish. It’s a rare and lovely thing when that happens, but when it does, we are simply besides ourselves with anticipation to share it with all of you. Take a peek here.


From Joanna Fisher PhotographyJillian and Tulio’s love is contagious. From the moment we had our first consultation (and ended up talking Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings for about three hours over coffee), I felt like they were my old friends. Being able to photograph and capture their love was just the icing on the cake!

On the day of the wedding, Jillian and her maids arrived at the stunning Eolia Mansion at Harkness State Park and were whisked upstairs into the historical mansion guest room which served as the bridal suite. Sunlight filtered through the antique lace curtains, showering over Jillian’s stunning gown. The flowers arrived and filled the room with perfume just as the bridesmaids were finishing getting into their gowns. Shades of spring green were complimented by blush and ivory blooms, and the suite bustled with anticipation and energy. Jillian dressed in front of an age-old boudoir mirror, helped by her maids and her mother. Even as she stood still, helped into her shoes and buttoned and laced into her gown, she was stunning.

Outside under the pergola, Tullio waited patiently with his groomsmen, glancing up at the shaded windows of the mansion every once in a while, hoping that he might catch a glimpse of the woman he was about to marry. Rain had been predicted for that afternoon, but the sun was shining brightly through the vines and onto the ceremony – short, sweet, and joyfully tearful.

Following the couples’ vows, and first kiss, guests were ushered under the hand painted stone archways for cocktail hour, while Jillian and Tullio took their time for their portraits. They had informed me early on that they wanted only a few small groups photographed – that they wanted the focus and the majority of our time spent together, capturing their love.

We walked the length of the pergola, through the English Gardens, past hundred year old gates overlooking the ocean. Every photograph was effortlessly stunning. Their love shone through in each and every image.

When the sun began to set, the couple joined their guests under the tent, and danced the night away, breaking only to share toasts with friends and family, and to cut the cake that they baked themselves at the groom’s family-owned bakery.

This couples love – and their day – was picture perfect.

Photography: Joanna Fisher Photography | Floral Design: Forget Me Not | Cake: Milani Bakery | Ceremony Venue: Eolia Mansion | Catering: Culinary Concerts | Makeup + Hair: Beauty Bar | DJ: Vinny Valentino

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
Southern Military Wedding from Coleman Photography

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

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

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

[dotted]

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

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Connecticut Wedding at Eolia Mansion from Katie Stoops Photography

We have Katie Stoops to thank for sending us this beauty this morning, and let me just say, it’s worthy of a big thank you. I would squeeze her if I could. It’s elegance meets garden party – complete with pretty as can be florals from Hana Floral Design and perfectly appropriate invites from Rifle Paper Co.– and I do believe that all results in my new favorite type of fête. Top it off with a couple that couldn’t be more excited to say I do, and a Bride that literally took her Groom’s breath away as she walked down the aisle – and you have a wedding we couldn’t be more excited to share. It’s perfection from top to bottom, and you can see so much more right here.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/46902520 600 338]

From Katie Stoops PhotographyMarget and Seth were married at the Eolia Mansion in Harkness State Park in Connecticut. This place is just magical. It rained and rained, but I think it only emphasized the romance between these two. The moment you meet Marget and Seth, you wish they were your best  friends. They are so welcoming and completely in love; there is no doubt that they were meant for one another.

From the Bride… We were married in a garden that I played in as a child, and we drew inspiration from the lush greens of Harkness’s natural beauty by choosing simple design elements only decorated with florals. Seth and I feel so blessed by the family and friends in our lives, and we wanted our wedding to feel inclusive and convivial. Our siblings stood with us under the chuppah, and our best friends were our bridal party. In memory of departed loved ones, we read excerpts from letters Seth’s grandparents wrote as a young couple during WWII. We wanted the words of our wedding day to be personal and meaningful, so we asked our reader and seven blessers to choose readings that spoke to them. We asked family friends to serve as our justice of the peace and to deliver the wedding homily, and we honored our heritage by incorporating Methodist and Jewish traditions into the ceremony. For the mansion reception, we filled the bookshelves with novels written by friends and Seth’s clients. Many decor elements were handcrafted by me and a special bridesmaid. We chose long tables with seasonal food served family-style in order to encourage conversation, and it was such a joy to see friends from opposing parts of the world finding common ground. Finally, we wanted to really celebrate the expansive joy we felt, and our DJ was amazing, bringing the whole party onto the dance floor!

Wedding Photography: Katie Stoops Photography / Wedding Venue: Eolia Mansion in Waterford, Connecticut / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / Catering: A Thyme to Cook / Wedding Invitations: Rifle Paper Co. / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza / Hair + Makeup: Jennie Fresa ~ Makeup & Skincare Boutiquerie / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Their Choice / Groom’s Suit: Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers / Cinematography: McKenzie Miller Films

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Waterford, Connecticut Wedding by Maggie Conley Photography

A sure fire combo for a lovely fete: one scrumptious Vera Wang, loads of garden-esque blooms by Hana Floral Design and a classic venue like Eolia Mansion. When these things come together for a day of Marrying, it’s like the perfect storm of wedding gorgeousness. And the only thing that could possibly make this day better is having every memorable second captured by Maggie Conley Photography. See the whole pretty affair right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride…Ted and I met our senior year at Connecticut College when our housing lottery placed me in a dorm, on a floor with many of the senior boys.  I was away from all my close girlfriends and decided to make the best of my situation and befriend the raucous boys on my floor.  As fate would have it, Ted and I instantly hit it off.  We began dating soon after and upon graduating, moved to New York City together.  Ted proposed last summer on a midnight stroll in Paris.  It was magical.

From the moment we began setting out planning our wedding, the only certain thing we knew was that our venue had to be Eolia.  It was so “us.”  Throughout college, we always went to the beach there during the spring months with our friends and had always admired the gardens and the mansion.  Once we locked in the date for our wedding (one week after Ted took the Bar Exam!!), the rest seamlessly fell in to place.  I set my heart on having a whimsical “Secret Garden” wedding.  I wanted flowers everywhere! My mother-in-law began collecting hobnail vases for the centerpieces as well as vintage flower frogs to be used to hold the table numbers (which were scanned copies of vintage flower prints).  Yumiko executed my vision perfectly.  I couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect than what she and her “pink ladies” created.  Originally, when we first met, I had wanted sunset colors and lots of pink, but halfway through the planning I became worried it was becoming “too pink” (if there can be such a thing!). I stumbled upon my lavender Ferragamo shoes during a shopping spree at Bloomingdales and immediately decided to include lots of lavender and purple accents into the flower arrangements.  I chose the white bridesmaid dresses after seeing another Style Me Pretty bride use them at her wedding.  I fell in love with how clean and crisp the look was.  Many people questioned me with this pick but then once Pippa Middleton wore a white dress to her sister’s wedding it all became okay with everyone!

Our wedding was so personal and so full of love.  We wanted it to be our families and close friends who have been with us from the beginning. My cousin is an Episcopalian priest and he officiated the ceremony.  Both Ted and I couldn’t stop smiling.  From our first look in the garden, to playing lawn games with our guests, to being introduced as husband and wife, to singing and dancing the night away- it couldn’t have been more spectacular.  We couldn’t have done it without our beyond fabulous vendors who worked tirelessly on making our wedding possible.  We found many of our vendors through Style Me Pretty and they were the epitome of professionalism and style, a huge thank you to all of them.

Location: Eolia Mansion / Photography: Maggie Conley Photography / Flowers: Hana Floral Design / Caterer: A Thyme to Cook / DJ: Power Posse Productions (860-572-7322) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Thread / Flower Girl Dresses: Jacadi / Bride’s Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo / Hair and Makeup: Red Door Spa

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
Waterford Wedding by Tony Spinelli Photography

This morning I am going to ask you to sit back, settle in, and enjoy traditional elegance at its finest via all the fabulous photos from Tony Spinelli Photography. This level of prettiness needs your full attention! With florals by the amazingly talented Hana Floral Design and the gorgeous reception venue that is Eolia Mansion at Harkness Park – it just doesn’t get prettier than this, and there is even more to see in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Our vision was “simple elegance.”  We wanted to achieve a balance of traditional and modern, classic and unique – a wedding that would be memorable and timeless.  For our ceremony we chose a beautiful, white steeple congregational church in Connecticut:  the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. This classic New England church was incorporated in 1665 and is as rich in beauty as it is in tradition.  Our reception venue, Eolia Mansion, was the summer home of the Harkness family beginning in 1907 and is now part of Harkness State Park.  The Gatsby-like setting on Long Island Sound includes ocean views, sprawling lawns, hidden gardens and admiring fountains.  Guests enjoyed cocktails and dancing under the tented terrace and dinner in candlelit rooms throughout the estate.

While the beautiful location set the tone of the wedding, the details added the charm and character.  Every decision was made with the “simple elegance” vision in mind.  Classic hydrangeas in soft colors of pale pink, green and white were used for the centerpieces and to decorate the Mansion’s mantles alongside floating candles.  A clean and elegant bouquet of white hydrangeas, garden and spray roses and ranunculus flowers created a tailored and classic bridal bouquet.  Guests were welcomed to the reception with handcrafted pink paisley place cards tied with sage ribbon and the traditional guest book was replaced by small note cards on which guests could leave marriage well-wishes.  These items, along with calligraphy bride and groom chair signs, were designed and created by artists and craftsmen discovered on Etsy. Pale pink cards were tucked into the napkins of each place setting which listed the charitable donations made to non-profit organizations in honor of our guests.

The wedding celebration was truly everything we hoped it would be and the planning was a labor of love – worth every appointment, every blog search and all the time spent researching and working with talented vendors.  As a young girl I often dreamed of a truly special wedding day.  I am touched today to say that our wedding was worthy of that young girl’s wish and a day that we are more than proud to remember as the first of our marriage.

Wedding Photography: Tony Spinelli Photography / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / Event Design: Cloud Nine Catering / Ceremony Location: First Congregational Church of Old Lyme / Reception Location: Eolia Mansion at Harkness Park / Wedding Dress: Mariella Creations

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
Classic Connecticut Wedding by Raw Photo Design

It is Wednesday and our submissions box is overflowing (not that we’re complaining!) which means there is a whole lot of wedding eye candy headed your way as we clear things out. It is a total win win. If you completely fall in love with a wedding, don’t forget to click on the gallery to see every nook and cranny of it.

So, without further ado, we are going to jump right into our first pretty number. Captured by Raw Photo Design, it is the complete epitome of a classic New England wedding right down to that candle clad fireplace. Total perfection if you ask us and so worth a visit to the gallery.

there is more where these lovely images came from in the gallery!

I love a theme. My mother and Aunt are clones of Martha Stewart and say that I too have the “theme gene.” I really wanted a wedding with a vintage elegance feel, that felt like a dinner party more than a wedding. We decided to keep the wedding small with only about 80 guests, half of that Johnny’s large family! I wanted a unique venue that really captured the elegance of a bygone era. As soon as I saw Eolia Mansion at Harkness Park I knew it was the perfect spot with its stunning English gardens. I did a ton of DIY projects on a fairly small budget and was inspired by so many beautiful weddings on Style Me Pretty. I searched high and low and found beautiful mercury glass vases for the niches which helped bring in the vintage charm. I created a moss covered M for my new monogram and used inexpensive silver frames to frame old photos of close family members. Ribbon draped moss wreaths on the glass double doors went to match the moss tray carrying the calligraphy escort cards.

I chose to use peaches to accent the beauty of the blush in the flowers. Johnny and I actually picked them at a nearby orchard the morning of our wedding! The peaches were so fresh and summery; they were even used in the chicken dish that was served with fresh basil and peaches. The gorgeous bouquets and the table centerpieces were done by Yumiko at Hana Floral Design while I created the extra garden rose pieces in silver mint julep cups for the ceremony and reception. All the décor really came together better than I could have hoped on the day!

Johnny and I met in a hostel in Cinque Terre, Italy the summer of 2006. I had been living in Spain and he was stationed with the US Army in Germany and we randomly booked the same hostel for weekend trips with our friends. We kept in touch and started dating a year later when he moved back to the East Coast. After 6 months of dating, Johnny decided to move to New Zealand and asked me to join him. When we moved home a year later, without jobs or a home, he surprised me with a proposal on the beach in Maine. It was perfect!

Photography: Raw Photo Design / Dress: Priscilla of Boston from White Dress by the Shore / Shoes: J.Crew / Florist: Hana Floral Design, Yumiko Fletcher / Ceremony and Reception Location: Eolia Mansion Harkness State Park Waterford, CT

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
Real Wedding: Anne and John, VII

Thank you so very much to Anne and John for sharing their wedding with us. I can tell by all of the kudos that it was a HUGE hit with our readers. Here is a last look at the stunning couple…

rea

all photos by Maggie Conley Photography

And can I just toot our own horn for a minute…I love that so many brides are putting our Little Black Book to good use. Many of the vendors that helped to craft this gorgeous affair are in our Little Black Book…just goes to show that we’ve built a great resource that we are so, so proud of!

Real Wedding: Anne and John, V

Without sounding too cliche, Anne and John really hit the details out of the park.From the sweet stationery to the stunning flowers by Hana Floral…every element was so thoughtfully designed, so beautifully executed.

real wedding

From Anne…

We purchased green linen napkins to match the green on the invite at a discounted price. The centerpieces which were beautiful, were designed to reflect the hydrangea on the invite and the girls bouquets. The willow sticks definately added some great texture.

The cupcakes, from J-cakes.com, were a hit. Each guest was given the option of a vanilla cake with white chocolate filling or devils food cake with chocolate mousse filling. The carrot cake, made by a Thyme to Cook, was also delicious and gorgeous with the hydrangea between each.

Here is a list of venors we used…photography by Maggie Conley, catering by A Thyme to Cook, Flowers by Hana Floral, Bridemaid dresses by Bella Bridesmaid, Wedding Gown by The White Dress by the Shore and Stationery by me, The Giving Type Event Stationery.

Everyone did a wonderful job. As a wedding stationery designer (The Giving Type), I wanted my wedding to be cohesive and well planned. Weddings are a daunting task, but with each vendor, the whole process was both creative and manageable.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
Real Wedding: Anne and John, IV

Now on to the simple, traditional ceremony. I know that so many of you are having church ceremonies in the chapel that you grew up in, and this one is just that. I think that they key to hosting something like this is to remember that the beauty of the ceremony…the words, the love, the everything…is what you should focus on. If you want to bring in decor elements, keep them simple and modest.

real wedding

all photos by Maggie Conley Photography

From Anne…

We saved a lot of money on church decorations by placing my bouquet and my two maid of honor’s bouquets on the alter. We also placed preserved topiary balls at the end of the pews. After the ceremony, we transported the them to Eolio Mansion and placed them on the staircase rails. They were the best purchase because they last forever and they look great in our home and our parents’ homes.


Real Wedding: Anne and John, III

This is the perfect example of why I am so in love with stationery and all things paper. The right paper suite can bring that element of chic and charm to every detail.

real wedding

all photos by Maggie Conley Photography

From Anne, the gorgeous bride…

I designed and produced everything. This was a long process since designing for yourself allows you way too much freedom which enables you to constantly change your mind. The following are the stationery details of the wedding:

Church Programs: I designed and printed on my offset printer and had John’s grandmother sew the inside pages since I didn’t have a sewing machine.

Escort Cards: I used a love letter instead of a number. I also loved the illustration of the humming birds and how that coexisted with the garden theme. Thus, I decided to use them as love birds humming around love letters:) I used the hydrangea illustration from my invite as the background of each escort card and printed them off my offset printer. I also used price tags from staples and stamped the table letter on it and then attached it to the card with rafia.

Escort Board: This was created by my crafty husband. (I wouldn’t have been able to do everything without his help). We went to Michael’s art store and picked up a Frame and foam core. He went to town with the silver spray paint and painted the frame and then roughed it up a bit to create a distressed older look. Then he attached green canvas fabric that we had to the foam core with spray mount. Lastly, he mounted it to the back of the frame.

Polaroid for Guests: This was awesome. Guests came in and picked up their escort card and then took a candid shot of themselves with the help of another guest and then slipped it in an envelope and signed it.

Table Numbers: These were wrapped around two chairs at each table. I printed the table letter off of my printer and then used double sided tape to attach it to the green paper. Then I placed a grommet through the top and the bottom of the circle and finally I placed the ribbon through it.

**We’ll have more pics of the stationery pieces coming throughout the day!

Real Wedding: Anne and John, II

I am IN LOVE with the flowers from today’s affair. They are pure gorgeousness. The greens are so vibrant, so timeless and yet have that pop of modern loveliness that makes this affair really stand out.

real wedding

all photos by Maggie Conley Photography

From the bride…

Three of the bridesmaids had one single flower (spider mum, hypericum berries, or green hydrangeas) for their bouquet. The two maid of honors bouquet’s consisted of green spider mums, green hypericum berries, green hydrangeas, and green roses. Greens/foliage were also used in each and wrap in a natural element such as a tropical leaf and raffia to create a more natural, organic look. All flowers were designed by the FABULOUS Hana Floral.

A friend’s 1955 Desoto was going to be the prize ride to the reception. We first had engine difficulties, but that was eventually fixed right in time. Then the rain came. Unfortunately we did not know that there was a leak in the roof so the seats were soaking wet. Therefore, we ended up squeezing in the limo with the bridal party.

So much more to come!


These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
Real Wedding: Anne and John

I love today’s wedding. It’s one of those weddings where the bride really paid attention to detail, to crafting a wedding that reflected her own loves and those of her now husband’s. It’s perfectly approachable, perfectly doable and perfectly lovely.

real wedding

all photos by Maggie Conley Photography

From Anne…

Ok…. where do I begin.  As of September 27, 2008, my name is Anne McAndrew Callahan and my husband’s name is John Callahan. Very Irish names but I am more Sweden and Scottish and John is part Irish so we didn’t do the kilt thing:) Our ceremony was held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Essex, Connecticut followed by our reception at the Eolia Mansion in Waterford, Connecticut. Unfortunately it was a very foggy, wet day but we made the most of it, except for my hair LOL!

So much more to come!

Real Wedding: Sneak Preview

For some reason, I have been really loving mismatched bridesmaids dresses these days. There is something effortlessly elegant, as if the girls chose the dress from their own closet and just showed up looking that perfect together. So, when Anne sent me this great before/after of her bridesmaids dress planning, I really wanted to share!

real wedding

I love that she was able to “map” it all out before the girls made their purchase so as to ensure that they would look beautiful together. The hues aren’t matchy-matchy and yet they compliment each other perfectly. The silhouettes are all lovely and flatter each girl as an individual. LOVE!

From Anne, the beautiful bride…

My color palette was derived from the colors I used in my invite which was originally inspired by the gardens at the Eolia mansion. I really wanted each bridesmaid to look different but similar. I allowed them freedom to choose their dress as long as they stayed within the color guidelines. In the end, I sent them a jpg mock-up before the wedding so they could see what their dresses would look like all together. I also allowed them to wear whatever silver shoes they wanted.

We have so much more coming up from this gorgeous wedding!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here