Massachusetts Weddings

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From the bride… I grew up on Cape Cod and Tom moved there with his family when he was 13, so we both consider it to be our home. It’s where we met, became best friends, and eventually fell in love! We knew an oceanfront wedding was a priority, but the details would make it our “dream wedding”. Our theme was nautical/old Cape Cod while being effortlessly romantic with a hint of classic Cape Cod prep.

We achieved this by offering Cape Cod favorites; a freshly-shucked oyster raw bar, locally brewed craft beers, a gourmet menu made with local ingredients, and a salt-water taffy bar! We also offered two specialty cocktails; the Dark & Stormy, and of course, the Cape Codder! Our color theme was ivory, dark navy blue, and a touch of blush pink. We used beautiful hand-crafted farm tables, bars, and beverage troughs, while incorporating preppy touches such as; message-in-a-bottle seating assignments, nautical knots as place card holders, and a custom-made oar instead of a traditional guest book.
We wanted our guests to see “us” in our wedding day. We received so much feedback regarding the little details and touches that made our wedding special and unique to us, our love, and our personalities. For example, we left the church in a traditional British black cab, an ode to our time spent living in London together. In addition to a spectacular DJ, my father’s band played, and he got everyone on the dance floor with bluegrass music (my favorite!). Although we stayed true to the classic and preppy theme, we tried to maintain a low-key vibe, because it matched our personalities perfectly. We knew that anyone who really knew “us”, would expect a comfortable, welcoming, and laid back wedding. Our wedding fit us perfectly, and it was so much fun to watch it all come together after months of planning. After years of moving to different states and countries together, it was so special to spend an entire weekend celebrating our love with our family and friends on beautiful Cape Cod!

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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DIY Wedding Projects by Wayfair + A Giveaway!

Without a doubt, one of my favorite parts of wedding planning was getting to craft + DIY little projects to really personalize my big day! So I’m really having an I-wish-I-was-still-a-bride moment after my introduction to Wayfair – the one stop shopping destination for everything home! Based in Boston, but available everywhere online, they have everything you could possibly need to craft and create until your hearts content! Take a peek below for a few fabulous DIY ideas.

Offering the largest selection of home furnishings and décor for every style and every price point, Wayfair has you covered when it comes to prepping for your reception and filling up your home with pretty after you’ve said I do! How cute are these easy to create floral napkin rings? With just a small mix of florals and herbs, they add a bit of rustic charm to your table setting. I’m loving these confetti cones made from vintage paper or script-printed scrapbook paper and secured with double-sided tape. Present them at your ceremony in a sweet wooden box, and voila — an inexpensive and totally unique DIY craft!

I’m seriously smitten with this pinwheel cake topper, held up by a sweet striped straw or wooden skewer! Totally customizable, you could use any paper color or type to make it work with your style. Last but not least, an easy and charming escort card idea using vintage keys! Not only are they creative and unique, but they double as a guest favor! See, Wayfair really does have it all! For full instructions on each of these amazing projects, head over here.

To jumpstart your crafting, Wayfair is offering one lucky reader a $150 gift card to Wayfair! To enter, simply comment on this post with what you’d love to create for your big day with a Wayfair item. A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Friday, June 6, 2014. Good luck!

Products Pictured: Flowers + Flowers | Wood Tray | Cake Stand | Paper Straws | Vintage Keys

Early Summer Wedding in the Berkshires

There are few settings more fitting to dedicate your life to someone than a grand estate with majestic hills gently unfolding into the horizon. Add in billowing canopies, a graceful color palate of subdue grays, purples, pinks, and an heirloom wedding ring, and that my friends is what dream weddings are made of. Thanks to Grazier Photography you can witness the entrancing nuptials below.

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Classic Weddings Romantic

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From Grazier Photography... We really enjoyed the time we spent with Rebecca and David. From the silliness at their engagement session to the constant smiles and loud laughs at their wedding, being around these two just makes a person feel good. Rebecca and David were married at The Wheatleigh Hotel in Lenox, MA on a gorgeous early summer day. Rebecca’s fabulous makeup by the talented Katrina Hess was perfect and Rebecca looked gorgeous from beginning to end. We were joined by the amazing Crocus Hale who decorated the venue with a pallet only she could devise – some of the floral elements were foraged in the White Mountains that morning. After portraits, David’s father and grandfather surprised him with a special gift of a family ring that has been handed down for generations. It was a very moving moment and I love the photo of the grandfather holding David’s hand after the ring was passed on.

Photography: Grazier Photography | Floral Design: Crocus Hale | Makeup: Katrina Hess | DJ: JTD Productions, Inc. Professional DJ Services | Hotel: Wheatleigh

Style Me Pretty Welcomes Our Advertisers + A Discount!

On your wedding day, looking glamorous doesn’t have to start when you put on the dress. Get ready in style too with these lovely robes from Doie Lounge (hint: these make perfect gifts for your bridesmaids. They really will wear it again!). You can also rest easy knowing knowing all the robes are made in the USA with high-quality eco-friendly fabrics. Keep scrolling to see the SMP exclusive discount!

About Doie Lounge… As a 12-time bridesmaid (yes, really!), designer Sara Kirsner knows a thing or two about bridesmaid gifts! Doie Lounge was born from the idea that these glamorous, super-soft robes make the perfect gift for a bride to give to her maids. These robes make beautiful and practical gifts for the bridal party, while infusing an often-ignored moment (getting ready the morning of), with elegant detail. The robes look amazing in the pre-wedding primping photos and are a gift that your best ladies will surely wear again and again. Each robe is made from the highest quality, earth-friendly fabrics, and is produced in Los Angeles, CA. Sara loves to work with each bride, answering questions about colors, sizing, and “custom” color combinations. Bulk discounts apply: 15% off when buying 3 or more, 20% on 5 or more, 25% off with a purchase of 8 or more, and 30% off when buying 10+ robes. SMP readers can get 15% off of up to 3 robes (after that bulk discounts will kick in), with the code SMP15.

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Photo Credits (Top to Bottom): Photography: Valorie Darling Photography + Hair: Trace Hennigsen + Makeup: Artistry by Danika | Photography: ES Creation Photography (Simon Fu and Yoki Lin) | Photography: Kyle Hale | Photography: Katie Hall

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Welcome to the family Doie Lounge! We are so happy to have you! xoxo

Rustic New England Wedding

Ease and effortlessness are achieved only after a great deal of effort. Which is why when we come across a wedding as beautiful and considered as this, we take a moment to appreciate the finer details, like bridesmaids bouquets of succulents perfectly hued to the pink and grey color scheme. The wife/husband duo from Grazier Photography agree, and were lucky enough to be there to capture the event.

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Backyard Cocktail Party Wedding

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Rustic

From Grazier Photography… Our favorite weddings are the ones where the couple gets a standing ovation when they exit the ceremony. Portia and Matt’s wedding was dreamy. We fell in love with these two long before their wedding day, and their celebration just cinched the deal. Portia added thoughtful and beautiful design elements at every turn – always imbued with meaning, natural beauty, and a sense of truth and authenticity. Everything was lovely but not overdone, tangible, and tied together with my new favorite Italian word ‘sprezzatura’: (Miriam Webster: ‘perfect conduct or performance of something (as an artistic endeavor) without apparent effort.’ They were good looking and they dressed sharp. But more important than decor or looks, they lived in the moment, savoring each part of the day with a profound sense of joy. Their relaxed and superbly happy attitude was infectious, and really drove home to my hubbie Matt and I as we worked that THIS is why we love to photograph weddings.

From the bride… Matt and I wanted a wedding venue and vendors that would highlight the natural beauty of the area and show our friends and family (many of whom had never visited New England) why we love living here. When we visited the Willowdale Estate in Bradley Palmer State Park, we knew it would be the perfect location. It was elegant while still reflecting our easy-going attitude and love of the outdoors. We felt like ourselves there and knew our guests would feel welcomed and relaxed.

We didn’t want to compete with the natural beauty of the site so we opted for décor and flowers that reflected the area such as potted herbs, topiaries, and seasonal flowers. New England Country Rentals provided gorgeous farm tables, reclaimed wooden church pews, and chalkboards for the ceremony program and seating assignments.

Our good friend was kind enough to marry us, and our parents (who each share 35+ years of marriage!), siblings and closest friends stood beside us, which made our ceremony personal and intimate. We also made sure to include our dog “Georgia” as our “flower girl” -dressed in a fantastic flower collar made by E.H. Floral.

Our dinner was served station style and featured local/seasonal produce. This gave the evening a more relaxed feel and allowed guests to spend more time on the dance floor (celebrating National Dance Day!) District 21 kept the party going all night- seeing Matt’s grandparents dancing the night away with us was one of our favorite (and most inspiring) moments of the evening. And just in case anyone is wondering how many bridesmaids can fit into the Grazier Photobooth….. the answer is 9…. trust me!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

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Joanna August

Babes of the Nile

Ceremony

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Not only did this adorable couple’s story start way back in elementary school, but they also shared their first ever slow dance in 6th grade (and you know that’s a big deal) ultimately making them the cutest couple around. Fast forward a few years and that slow dance turned into their first dance as husband and wife at their completely gorgeous backyard wedding, taking this love story full circle. Don’t miss all the perfect moments captured by Lisa Rigby Photography waiting for you here.

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Marion Summer Waterfront Wedding

From the Bride…Spencer and I both grew up in Carlisle, Massachusetts, attending elementary school through high school together. In sixth grade, we were each other’s first-ever slow dance, and though we remained friendly throughout high school, we eventually lost touch. But then one fateful day in the fall of 2011, four years since we had last seen each other, Spencer and I bumped into each other taking a bus to the university where I was in my first year of social work school and he in his second year of law school. After we had been dating for a year Spencer, under false pretenses, coaxed me back to our old middle school and proposed in the same gymnasium where we shared our first slow dance.

Spencer and I both thought there was something really romantic about getting married in the small town where we grew up. It was a very full-circle moment, and we knew that my parents’ home would provide the perfect setting for our day.

We wanted to keep our wedding informal and make it feel more like a nice backyard cocktail party. I wrote the table assignments on antique windows. Spencer set up areas for guests to play cornhole and croquet. Everything was geared towards encouraging our friends and family to move around, dance, mingle, and just have fun.

We absolutely loved the long, wooden farm tables, covered with hemstitched table runners. We wanted flowers everywhere — lots of small arrangements in mason jars, vintage tins, and glass milk bottles. Lighting was also really important to us; candles and lanterns played a large role in our decorative ambiance. Before the ceremony, our ushers gave out beautiful vintage-inspired paper fans — a necessity for combatting the potential August heat.

But the weather, as with everything that day, worked out perfectly. And as amazing as all the decorations were, it was the love we shared with our friends and family that will always mean most to us.

DIY Push Pop Confetti

When it comes to dreaming up the coolest crafts in all the land, Lauren Wells is our new go-to girl. She can DIY like nobody’s business, and the her latest project comes in the form of Push Pop Confetti captured by Cambria Grace. Get excited, SMPers – it’s about to get crazy colorful up in here.

From Lauren Wells Events… Confetti is pure FUN, and these confetti-filled push pops are perfect for any summer celebration. Whether used for a ceremony toss, escort cards, favors or even in a photo booth, they are a detail that guests will love. They are also incredibly easy to make.

Push pop containers
Push pop stand
Confetti
Kraft labels
Scissors/paper cutter

Step-1 Print out your kraft labels. You may use a couple’s logo, or create escort cards, or even just write a fun saying like we did. Each label should be 6″ x 2″ once cut, and you are able to print 5 labels per each 8 1/2″ x 11″ label sheet. (If you have beautiful handwriting – even better! You can simply cut labels to size, and handwrite whatever you would like).

Step-2 Assemble the push pops, and carefully stick a label on each. Leave the tops off for now.

Step-3 Stuff each push pop with confetti. While you can easily make your own confetti with scissors and tissue paper, we bought this fun neon batch from Knot & Bow.

Step-4 Place the tops on each push pop, and place all of the push pops in the stand. When ready to celebrate, take the top off, push up, and shout hooray!

Photography: Cambria Grace Photography | Styling + DIY: Lauren Wells Events

Modern Nursery

Though it’s tempting to deck a babies nursery out in colorful doodads and tchotchkes alike, I tend to be partial to a more modern sentiment. One in which mom and dad can happily reside, and will easily transition with that new baby as he grows. And this nurser? Well it’s nursery perfection. Captured by Hogger & Co., there’s more to be seen in the gallery!

From Hogger & co… It was such an honor for me to photograph this sweet couple, Alaina and Philip, expecting their first baby in April. It was a joy to capture their love for each other and their baby bump (affectionately hashtagged #ittbybittyIsbouts on Instagram) in their beautiful new home and gorgeous nursery.

Alaina is a very dear friend who I met last summer when we shot a session in the North End of Boston. She’s an absolute beauty inside and out, and her personality radiates sunshine.

ps – a special shout out to their cats Moose and Isabella (loved them!)

Jacquelyn Clark

Weddings like this one captured beautifully by Joyelle West Photography remind me why nautical New England weddings will always reign supreme in my book. With the gorgeous Beverly Yacht Club playing hostess, stunning florals from Sayles Livingston Flowers and a couple you just know had the best day ever, this gallery is just pure preppy perfection. See it all here.

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From the Bride…My husband and I are from the same town and met while growing up. Both of our families still live there and we tend to spend a lot of time up there during the summer months; we love to take advantage of being by the ocean. When we started talking about the wedding there was never really any question as to where it would be held.

The setting played a big part at our wedding. June is such a beautiful time of year in Marion so I felt that we could rely on the environment to provide a lot of the color. We wanted the wedding to be as personal as possible and we were lucky enough to be able to have the reception at the lawn of my grandmother’s house. In addition, we decided to ‘parade’ down the street of the small town from the church where we had the ceremony to the yacht club where we had a receiving line and some light refreshments. From there we took my father’s boat across the harbor to the reception. We have both spent a lot of time on that harbor, so for us it made the day even more special

I felt that adding too many decorations at the reception would have competed with the beauty of the location so I wanted to keep things very simple (which can be surprisingly difficult when planning a wedding). I decided on light flowers with pops of coral and sage and simple white tables. I love being by the water, but wasn’t interested in having a nautical theme. My aunts and I arranged two DIY projects for my friends and family during the bridal luncheon the day before. We made hanging lanterns out of Mason jars, ribbons, wire and tea lights and glued custom flags onto striped cocktail straws. A friend and I also stamped different images on the table cards and hand stamped the table numbers as well.

My dress was from Saja and was exactly what I was looking for. I felt so comfortable in it. The veil is from my mother’s side of the family and goes back quite a few generations. I thought it was the perfect compliment to the dress. My grandmother leant me some beautiful sapphire and diamond earrings (borrowed and blue!) and a bracelet to put on as the finishing touches.

We had an amazing day weather-wise and (at least to me) everything was perfect down to our wedding ‘cake’, which was made out of wheels of cheese. What else could a girl ask for?

Antique and Chic New England Wedding at Willowdale Estate

With the beautiful Willowdale Estate setting the scene for this equally beautiful wedding, we come right out of the gate with a whole lot of gorgeous. Sprinkle in the beautiful blooms by Joe Pye Weeds Garden, a stunning Monique Lhuillier gown and a oh-so-in-love couple, and we get a gallery from Tilley Photography that’s too good to pass up. See it all here.

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Classic Nantucket Wedding Film

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Classic Weddings Vintage

From the Bride…As a little girl, I never envisioned my wedding. So upon getting engaged, there were countless nights of no sleep as I dreamt about the vision of our wedding. Would it be a summer beach wedding (the groom’s dream) or a winter city wedding (the bride’s dream)? Would it be modern and contemporary or antique and traditional? What would my dress look like? Which flowers would we have? What would our colors be? As my mind raced for what seemed like several weeks, I ultimately landed on, first, the color (a dark, earthy green + neutrals), which informed the second decision, the theme (antique), and then nicely falling into place was the third and most important decision, the venue and date (Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, MA on June 30, 2012).

This vision lead to weekends of antique shopping with family and close friends – trying to find green antique glass pieces (bottles, vases, bowls, glasses, fisherman balls – you name it, we found it) to create one of a kind tablescapes for each table (later to be arranged around a large glass hurricane). To further adorn the tables, we added lace accents and table runners with the most minimal of flowers and greenery to tie it all together. We used window frames for seating assignments, a birch tree lit from my favorite vacation spot at my parents lake cottage in New Hampshire lit with white christmas lights to hang tags with messages from the guests, and mason jars to put the flowers in.

The best part of all? The guests enjoyed the perfect combination of food and drink throughout the night, including my favorite Wilson Creek Winery Almond Champagne and Sokol Blosser Evolution, local New England oysters and shrimp at the raw bar, farmers market, surf and turf and mash potato bar dinner stations, petite desserts to supplement the wedding cake, all to end with Willowdale Estate’s infamous warm chocolate chip cookies served with cold milk shooters. Ending the evening, closing the dance floor with my father, my husband and I said goodbye to our closest family and friends through an arch of sparklers. As we look back, we ended up creating a simplistic yet detailed masterpiece that lead to the most perfect and best day of our lives.

Living here in New England, it’s basically a crime I have yet to explore the beauty of Nantucket for myself. But after viewing this oh-so-classic Nantucket affair from Clark + Walker, you best believe it’s now on the tippy top of my list. With stunning waterside elegance and an all-white ballroom reception that will leave your jaw dropped, there’s no better way to start your Monday than hitting “play” on below.

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Style Me Pretty New England Welcomes Our Advertisers!

From the Bride… We looked everywhere to find the perfect place to get married. But truly from the start, my husband and I loved the idea of doing a tented wedding in his parents’ backyard at the Cape. My husband’s sister had her wedding there 8 years prior and his other sister had an amazing wedding there 11 months after us.

We had no idea how much work it was going to be but in the end, it was honestly the best day of our life. We will be forever grateful to all of the amazing people and vendors who helped make the day so special.

When I lived in Boston, I ran by the gorgeous Hyatt Regency Cambridge almost every single day, and I used to think about the all gorgeous parties that it must host (because, let’s be honest, that is always on my mind). With the sweeping views of the Charles River and the breathtaking Boston skyline and options for your event come rain or shine, it is the definition of the perfect venue – proving all my day dreams true…

About the Hyatt Regency Cambridge Venues:

Charles View Ballroom: The stunning 16th floor Charles View ballroom is the jewel of Boston meeting space. This newly-renovated 2,900 square foot space offers a 180-degree panoramic view of Boston and the Charles River through floor-to-ceiling windows. Four glass-enclosed elevators ensure that guests arrive quickly to the top floors. Accommodate 220 for a formal banquet and 400 for a cocktail reception.

Courtyard: The courtyard adjacent to the President’s Ballroom make a picturesque location for your outdoor wedding ceremony or cocktail reception.

President’s Ballroom: The impressive President’s Ballroom with expansive pre-function space, provides an elegant, formal setting with adjoining outdoor garden courtyard.

Empress Ballroom: Multi-level, the 14th Floor Empress Room with grand 15-foot floor to ceiling windows and two patios, all overlooking the city scape of Boston.

Riverside Pavilion: The Riverside Pavilion accommodates up to 150 guests in a beautiful white tent with French windows, ceiling fans, chandeliers, and an outdoor garden patio. It is located along the scenic Charles River.

Now when you celebrate your wedding day at Hyatt Regency Cambridge, you can enjoy free honeymoon nights at any Hyatt Hotels & Resorts location worldwide — from authentic resorts that capture the essence of the destination to exciting city hotels in 45 countries around the globe. Whichever honeymoon destination you choose, you’ll make memories that will last a lifetime, on us. Simply book and hold your wedding at a participating Hyatt hotel by December 31, 2014 and you will earn Hyatt Gold Passport® bonus points redeemable for free nights with no blackout dates at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts worldwide. For more information please contact the hotel for details or click here.

Photography: Glenn Livermore Photography | Cake: Konditor Meister | Wedding Venue: Hyatt Regency Cambridge

DIY Fresh Flower Drink Stirrer

Of all the DIYs we’ve shared on this pretty little blog, I dare say this one from the lovely Lauren Wells might just be my all-time favorite. If I could, I’d put fresh flowers on just about anything, so why not in a cocktail too? With a sweet set of vintage glasses from Pollen Floral Design and always gorgeous photos from Cambria Grace, these fresh flower drink stirrers have me ready to sip and smell!

From Lauren Wells Events… I absolutely adore fresh flowers and botanical vibes, and I try to incorporate simple and organic elements into every wedding and event I design. These floral drink stirrers are probably my favorite things I have ever dreamt up, and they are incredibly simple to create. It’s like a garden for your glass!

Wood Skewers
Fresh Flowers
Gold Embroidery Thread
Hot Glue Gun

Step-1 For larger flowers, such as a ranunculus or a poppy, snip off most of the stem, leaving a bit right under the flower head. For smaller and more wild flowers, such as chamomile or aster, snip off one stem with a small bunch.

Step-2 For the larger flowers, all you need to do is simply skewer the stem. Piece of cake! For the smaller flowers, use the gold embroidery thread to wrap around the base until tightly wound. (As you will see, I used some gold thread to embellish some of the larger flowers as well)!

Step-3 Place a dot of hot glue on the back of the embroidery thread, and use the glue to seal the thread.

Step-4 Pour yourself a cocktail, and enjoy! The floral scent while you sip is just an added bonus.

Photography: Cambria Grace Photography | Styling + DIY: Lauren Wells Events | Vintage Glass Rentals: Pollen Floral Design

Backyard Medfield, MA Wedding

This wedding tells the sweetest story of a darling Texas Bride tying the knot to her dream New England Groom. And that blend worked beautifully in crafting a soiree that is equal parts Texan charm and New England style. The result is a wedding that we know was not only beautiful but completely memorable, and thanks to Meghann Gregory you can devour every bit here.

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Whimisical DIY Wedding at Hartman’s Herb Farm

From Jill Moran…The Couple: Amber and Jeffrey met during an internship in Washington DC – Amber an aspiring journalist, and Jeffrey with ambitions for an international post in government. It was love at first sight for Amber for this handsome gentleman from Boston, and likewise for Jeffrey for his Texan sweetheart. Six years later, they celebrate their commitment of a life together!

The wedding day: The celebration reflected a country theme from the Texas roots of the bride and the New England born and bred groom. The couple chose to marry at the rural home of the groom’s family – the Henry Adams House built in 1652 with its lush gardens, sprawling lawns and weathered barn.

The Invitation: Burlap and natural fiber paper fit the informal and organic feel of this couples wedding. The lace tie hinted of the design elements to come at the wedding celebration.

The Gift: The groom presented his bride-to-be with a favorite book that captured the relationship of Abigail and John Adams through their letter writing.

The Flowers: The bride carried a bouquet of antique roses, stock, baby’s breath and lamb’s ear wrapped in burlap ribbon held in place with copper colored pins in subtle shades of peach and ivory. The bridesmaid’s bright orange and lime bouquets complemented the navy dresses and were perfect for a warm summer wedding.

Guest arrival: After a short trolley, guests were greeted with a refreshing JAMBER cocktail – a mix of tequila from the West with a splash of cranberry from the bogs of Massachusetts. A cello duet –friends of the brides – entertained guests upon arrival and during the ceremony.

The Ceremony: The ceremony details were displayed in antique gold-frames and guided family and friends to the gardens for the wedding ceremony. An antique trunk served as a place for guests to place wedding gifts and cards. Tiny vases of sweet peas lined the garden path for the wedding party’s arrival. A family friend of the bride served as the officiant for the garden ceremony.

Lawn and gardens: Country-themed details included bales of hay propping the chalk-board menu and celebration details, kettles of potted flowers and a window frame seating chart. Table assignments were listed on an old window frame with burlap mounted on each glass pane, telling the story of the couples courtship.

Cocktail hour: Pre-dinner bites were served on wooden and glass washboards. The pool area featured floating peonies, the guest book and photo of the bridal couple. Wine barrels served as the bar and cocktail tables. Guests noshed on crab and jalapeno fritters, with a dollop of chipotle Remoulade, petite Arepas with pulled chicken and mange barbecue sauce and vegetable Empanaditas for a task of Texas with a New England twist.

The dining tent: As guests moved to the dining tent, lanterns lit the paths, tent ceiling and trees for the start of the dinner and dancing festivities. Tuscan tables, simple garden chairs and antique pieces set an inviting tone in the dining tent. Antique wrought-iron lanterns hung from above and branches dressed with burlap, twine and twingling lights framed the wooden dance floor. Glass votive holders filled with flowers and floating lights were tucked in the branches above the dance floor. The bride and groom enjoyed dining at an intimate sweetheart table; a small wooden antique table set for two!

The table settings: The color palette of blues, oranges and blush pinks were chosen to reflect the elements of New England and Texas from the groom’s days boatin off the shores of New England to the bride’s love of roses. Burlap and lace over simple white table cloths set a refined country tone at the dining tables and were topped with antique glassware filled with roses, stock, sweet peas, Gerber daisies and snapdragons. Navy napkins were tied with raffia to complement the navy votives and lanterns on the tables.

Table cards: Burlap mounted table cards shared the story of the couple from their first introduction as interns in Washington DC, to their travels to Taiwan as a Fulbright grantee and journalist to their love of their family, friends, sailing, and travel.

Dinner: Dinner served family style at each table and featured southern specialties including Tilapia Fish Tacos with toppings of avocado, black beans, coleslaw and salsas southwest salsa, chicken enchiladas verdes, stuffed Poblano peppers, arugula salad with julienned jicama and red onion.

The Wedding Cake: The wedding cake, a simple two tier with buttercream frosting, was wrapped in navy ribbon and topped with wedding flowers. The wedding topper, a gift from their host family in Taiwan, sat along side the cake reminding them of their travels together.

Music and dancing: Jeffrey’s gift of a life with the use of only one arm didn’t prevent him from dipping and swinging his bride of their first dance. The grooms father and brother shared a song to honor the couple before guests danced the night away under the tent to celebrate Amber and Jeffrey’s wedding.

To say I love this couple would be the understatement of the year. They crafted a whimsical and eclectic soiree that leaves all adjectives unworthy. It was a day perfectly them and perfectly curated with so much love it shows through every beautiful image by Tiffany Medrano Photography, and you can see it here.

From the Bride…Working from a coffee shop one day, I found myself in the dating section of an online site. I came across this sincere, funny and intriguing post and of course couldn’t resist the urge to contact its writer. After exchanging emails we overcame our fears and our insecurities of meeting each other in person, instead trusted and followed our hearts. We knew from our first date that we wanted to get married so it was no surprise to anyone when we announced our engagement.

We had just over 100 guest at our wedding. What was most important to us was our friends and family and of course including their children! Second to our relationships what was most important was the venue, photographer and “farm to table food”. We knew we wanted a rustic, chic, outdoors wedding with elements that had a vintage eclectic farm feel. Most of all, we wanted our wedding to be authentic and honest.

I also wanted to have everything in one place. What better place than the Hartman’s Herb Farm Bed & Breakfast? It had a great rustic atmosphere and beautiful landscape. We knew it was the perfect venue for us. Without sacrificing quality, because everything was from the farm, grown at the farm and done at the farm, it was fresh and organic. We loved the idea of supporting local farmers. Our guests could not believe that everything was homemade and raved about how delicious everything was.

And so my vision for a vintage farm theme was well on its way. They were able to accommodate most of our wedding party and family for the weekend. We used different collected elements to decorate the reception area (burlap, herbs plants, flowers from the gardens and greenhouses, mason jars, tin containers , tea cups and floral plates adorn the table center pieces, each one different from the next) while keeping the ceremony site as is.

Our centerpieces were old books, vintage tins, globes and a mix of various mason jars and vintage bottles filled with flowers and herb plants from the Hartman’s Herb Farm gardens and greenhouses. We also did heirloom teacups/teapots from what I have collected and from our location. Our “guest book” was a collection of fabric squares that the guests signed, later to be sewn together with the intention of creating a quilt to commemorate our special day.

Melissa Tolmie was a God-sent, one of my best friend and my wedding coordinator. We both shared the same love for great vintage finds and antiques. She understood my vision and many items were from her own home or bought from Etsy. My bouquet was one of my favorite DIY projects with long hours spent collecting brooches from ebay and local thrift shops, it really paid off and was well worth the time and effort. Melissa surprised me with one more brooch added to my bouquet on the day of the wedding. It was a small photo of my parents and truly transformed my bouquet from a DIY project to a family heirloom that I will treasure forever.

Having Tiffany Medrano as our photographer was a blessing. She not only does amazing work, but she is our friend and knows us both well. Sean and I knew we were going to end up with photos we would cherish for a lifetime. She captured all our hard work and little details perfectly. Her eye for details and storytelling through her photos help us relive our wedding day and to be able share them with anyone who couldn’t attend our big day.

As one who’s been to many weddings and been in many weddings, I felt overwhelming pressure to make our day perfect and enjoyable for our friends and family. After many weeks of planning, stressing over details, it finally hit me one day (not to mention the gentle reminders from my now husband Sean) that this day is about us expressing our love and commitment to each other and that no matter what happened (or didn’t happen) it would be awesome, perfect for us!

I would say besides a couple of moments of panic and meltdowns, I was calm. I don’t have enough words to describe how amazing all of our friends and families were for our wedding day. They helped us make our vision come to life as I surrendered to the day and was just a happy bride marrying her best friend, the love of her life. I am forever grateful to them all. We feel so blessed and that it truly was the best day of our lives and the wedding of our dreams.

New England Ballroom Wedding at the Wychmere Beach Club

When Cape Cod meets chic ballroom affair, we tend to get a little excited. Because that’s when nautical weddings go up a style notch, and basically magic happens. Case and point, this Cape Cod stunner from Person + Killian Photography at the beautiful Wychmere Beach Club. It’s chic but still has that charming Cape Cod feel, making for a gallery you can’t help but love.

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New England Fall Wedding at the Peabody Essex Museum

From Person + Killian Photography…The Cape has always been the “happy place” for both Jessica + Jon. Jessica’s family summered on the Cape for her entire life, and Jon’s family has set their roots on the Cape for over 50 years! When it came time for the two to plan their wedding, choosing the Cape was an easy decision. We joined Jessica + Jon for a beautiful weekend at the Wychmere Beach Club, which included a traditional New England lobster bake, seaside photos, a classic church wedding ceremony, and an elegant black tie wedding reception with a contemporary urban twist. The weekend started on Friday evening, with a classic lobster bake rehearsal dinner. A tent was installed on the Wychmere Beach Club’s private beach, overlooking the beautiful New England seaside. Customized games (which would make another appearance at the cocktail hour the following day!) were set up on the sand for guests to play and rustic wooden lanterns were set up along the boardwalk to light the way. Everyone enjoyed dinner, while Jessica + Jon heard special toasts from their closest family and friends. As soon as the sun set, the tent was lit up with sparkling strings of lights and a bonfire was roaring out on the beach for everyone to enjoy. The next morning began the wedding day — Jessica and her bridesmaids got ready in the Wychmere Beach House’s bridal suite, while Jon and his groomsmen hung out in the Wychmere Cottage (sometimes called the “Groom Cottage” for weddings)!

The bride’s bouquet was a gorgeous mix of greens, white roses, and deep red flowers — perfect for an early Autumn wedding. She chose a strapless, mermaid-cut Anna Maier gown, matched with sparkly Jimmy Choo shoes and a glittering silver hair piece. We left her bridal party inside to finish getting ready while we took Jessica out onto the beach for her first look with Jon! The bride and groom had their first look on the boardwalk overlooking the Cape Cod beach. We braved the blustery wind to get some great shots of the happy couple along the beautiful beach before heading back inside. We took a few more romantic photos of Jessica + Jon inside the Wychmere before we were joined by the bridal party and family for formal photos. Following formals, the wedding party hopped a ride in a Cape Cod Trolley to the wedding ceremony while Jessica rode with her dad in a classic white Rolls Royce.

After the traditional wedding ceremony at the nearby Pilgrim Congregational, guests headed back to the Wychmere to await the big arrival of the happy newlyweds. Jessica + Jon made their grand entrance to cocktails on a sailboat, while everyone cheered them on from the dock! Some guests stayed outside to enjoy the seaside view and lawn games, while others moved inside for the hors d’oeuvres and raw bar in the Wychmere’s Hydrangea Room. The elegant evening reception took place in the Harbor Room, named for the panoramic windows giving a perfect view of the Cape Cod harbor right outside. The tables were topped with silver linens, with accented pops of dark navy blue from the table name cards and ribbon-wrapped candy boxes on each place setting. The wooden beamed ceiling and silver chandeliers made the room elegant and contemporary, and the towering white floral centerpieces from Marc Hall Design were definite show-stoppers. Jessica + Jon’s custom “J&J” monogram was even projected onto the dance floor using lights.

We absolutely loved being a part of this traditional black tie Cape Cod wedding at the Wychmere Beach Club, especially knowing how special the Cape was for Jessica, Jon, and their families! Thank you to the fantastic group of vendors we got to work with, the entire team at the Wychmere, and Jessica + Jon for letting us be a part of your fabulous Cape Cod wedding day.

There are some weddings I could cozy up with all day, and this fall New England wedding at the Peabody Essex Museum is definitely one of them. Give And Take Pictures was behind the lens to capture moment after moment of pure prettiness, leaving us with a gallery so good, you’ll need to set aside some serious time. Bonus? Their film from Long Haul Films below is equally time worthy…

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Budget, DIY Massachusetts Wedding at Rockport Golf Club

From the Bride…Our wedding was an immaculate culmination of love and hard work. Alastair and I live in Sierra Leone, West Africa. When he proposed to me in early January 2013, I knew I had to work fast and smart to have a New England Fall wedding. Alastair is British, and most of his family is in the U.K., while I am American and, although I grew up on the North Shore of Boston, my family is spread out across the States. Planning a transatlantic wedding from deep in the jungle of West Africa was no small feat. I had to rely on gut instinct and as many recommendations as I could dig up. I researched on the internet like crazed woman to find the vendors that I knew would help us create a stunning experience for our family and friends.

Finding the reception venue was the biggest hurdle. I wanted something with more character than your average hotel ballroom, and I didn’t trust New England weather for an outdoor ceremony, but I still wanted something classy that held the personality of the North Shore. The Peabody Essex Museum is like the crown jewel of Salem. I had been there to visit galleries in the past, but when I saw the opportunity to actually have a reception under the spectacular glass ceiling of the Atrium, I knew we had our location.

The church where we had our ceremony was only 100 feet from the PEM, so all of our guests walked from one spot to the other en masse. It felt as if we were parading down the streets of Salem. This was especially felt when guests were greeted outside the museum by two traditional djembe drummers!

Many guests traveled from the UK for our wedding and we did our best to combine traditional elements from British and American weddings, but also putting our own personal flare to it. The church even had both flags waving to celebrate our union. We were intent on everyone really enjoying the celebration that we had prepared. The wedding was an entire weekend event, starting with a picnic on Friday and ending with a brunch on Sunday. By the end of the weekend, continents collided and we were all one big happy family.

When trying on wedding dresses, I had a completely different vision of what I wanted to look like. I remember seeing the dress I ended up purchasing on the hanger and thinking, “No way!” But, I tried it on and it ended up being the one! So, it is important to keep your mind open when wedding planning and not stay too fixed on one particular vision. My headpiece is an original piece that was constructed from a vintage brooch.

The ceremony was incredibly sacred to us. We constructed it the way we felt best, using the Pastor from my childhood who knew and loved us. Leaving the church, we were greeted by an array of sparklers

For the reception, it was so important to us to have good food, music and an incredible vibe that made everyone feel welcome and important. The Hawthorne Hotel did an outstanding job setting up the Atrium with beautiful food stations for hors d’oeuvres and then a leisurely four course meal. Our DJ was phenomenal with all the perfect music and lighting to fit the mood of the evening.

All in all, it was the most perfect day (and weekend) for us. Our friends and families from all over the globe came together and were able to enjoy celebrating together on our behalf. Our photographer and filmographers did an exceptional job capturing the day in their creative styles. We couldn’t have imagined how emotional it was going to be to see the photos and trailer, rushing all of the memories of the day right back to us. Both were fantastic!

My advice to brides is to be true to what you want but be flexible, remember to create a meaningful day and not just an event that has a whole bunch of little pieces that only you like. Lastly, if I can do it from the back of beyond in Sierra Leone, anyone can plan a great wedding!

This Bride and her amazing family are one talented bunch. They took DIY to a beautiful and sophisticated level, and made this budget wedding nothing short of perfect. Every perfectly planned detail was beautifully captured by Kristin Jordan Photography, and it’s all waiting for you right here.

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Traditional Wedding at The Crane Estate

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From the Bride…Planning a wedding for 130 guests on a budget is a hard thing to do for any bride and groom. Thankfully for Matt and I, we both come from families of incredibly talented, hard working, and generous individuals who were more then willing to put in the time and effort to make our day as beautiful and special as any expensive wedding.

When looking for the perfect budget friendly venue, it never crossed my mind to consider the Rockport Golf Club in my home town until my mother reminded me she and my cousin used to throw parties, weddings, and benefits there on a regular basis and that she could do so with her eyes closed. We went to look at it and I fell in love with its rustic, elegant charm. Matt and I knew right then this was the ideal location for our wedding.

Aware that the country club required a lot of sprucing up, I began brainstorming colors and buying lots of white Christmas lights and white candles when I saw them go on sale. Etsy and Pinterest became my new best friends. Rather then renting glasses for all of our guests to use throughout the night, which can quickly add up, we ordered personalized wine glasses to serve as each guests glass. As an added personal touch, I spent several hours mixing, stamping, and using heart shaped cookie cutters to make a Christmas ornament engraved with our initial to hang on each glass. As the wedding got closer our guest room quickly became packed to the brim with decorations, napkins, favors, and supplies

The week before the wedding was purely crazy, as anyone could expect with a do-it-yourself wedding. My mother flew in from California and she spent two days hand writing the signs we were going to use in the ceremony and reception on chalkboards I had made with two dollar picture frames and chalkboard paint, as well as writing out the seating chart on an old window pane my father refinished.

On Thursday, my now mother in law dropped off 150 stems of white hydrangea that a fellow friend had offered us for the table center pieces and bouquets. Knowing that My mother and aunt are both from a family of florists, and that my mom used to create beautiful wedding bouquets and arrangements, this worked out perfect. They got hard to work creating 20 center pieces, as well as 4 beautiful bouquets for all my bridesmaids.

As part of the contract with the rockport golf club, the renters are responsible for set up and break down of the entire venue, including all tables, chairs, linens, decorations, food, and anything else used. So bright and early Friday morning myself, mother, father, step mother and several aunts and uncles got to work putting together what I had dreamed and imagined for the past six months, hoping in my head that by the end of the day it would come out as I had imagined. We worked hard for seven hours while my other step mother, grandmother, and several aunts prepared each and every appetizer we were to serve.

The day of the wedding was finally here, and I was busy getting hair and makeup done, enjoying mimosas with my girls, and trying to relax as I anxiously awaited my walk down the aisle to my future husband. When I got to the country club I wasn’t allowed to look out the windows down to the ceremony for fear of Matt seeing me. I was bubbling with nerves wondering who was there and if Matt was anxiously waiting as well to see me! As I heard my song begin, an instrumental version of Katy Perry’s’ “A Thousand Years,” I walked down the aisle, crying my eyes out, with my father on my arm to the man of my dreams, and I couldn’t be happier.

I watched his eyes tear up as I walked towards him, and all I could do was cry and laugh. The night flew by in a blur as Matt and I said our hellos and thank yous and danced the night away with our friends. It wa the happiest night of our lives.

Overall, without spending all the, at times, frustrating hours planning and researching, as well as without the help of both our families, our dream wedding would never have come together. We were Able to have the fun and beautiful wedding that we dreamed of for a fraction of the cost. The day was absolutely perfect, and despite every person saying “something will go wrong, just go with it,” not a single thing did!

When you pair The Crane Estate with a celebration like this one, you get a wedding that would make Kate Middleton proud. Beautifully timeless and classic at its core, every image from Zev Fisher Photography tells the story of the most magical of days planned by Paula Marrero of Marrero Events – and you can see them all right here.

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Intimate Nantucket Wedding

From the Bride…I’ve been in love with Cape Ann for as long as I can remember. I grew up spending every summer just across Ipswich Bay from Crane Beach in Annisquam, where Eben and I were engaged. We had always talked about being married up there since Eben’s family also has roots in the area. The Crane Estate is breathtakingly beautiful and doesn’t demand a lot of excess decor so we tried to keep things simple. I chose a soft and neutral color palette (ivory, champagne, blush/pale pinks, light gray, natural greens) that wouldn’t distract or take away from the old world elegance of the Crane property and The Great House, in particular. We also wanted the evening to be intimate, romantic and relaxed, despite the formal grandeur of the setting and the fact that we had a fairly large wedding.

I had a piece of my grandmother’s wedding gown sewn into the lining of my dress and wore my mothers blue topaz earrings. Eben’s aunt made the ties (as she did for both his brothers’ weddings) with fabric that we picked and stitched her signature “be happy” labels on the back — the advice given to her on her wedding day by Eben’s older brother when he was a little boy. We used the same fabric to cover the escort card boards and our nephew, Houlton (the ring bearer), also wore a bow tie made by Eben’s aunt. I chose a different pair of earrings for each bridesmaid while Eben had custom cufflinks made for each groomsmen with an image of their favorite record cover. The menu included two of Eben’s favorite things: Sierra Nevada beer and risotto.

One of the most special moments for me was walking down the aisle with my dad to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. This was the music that he listened to right after he found out he was having a baby girl 28 years ago and that then served as the foundation of his toast at our wedding. Despite the 90 degree heat, we barely left the dance floor and made our exit drenched in sweat and over the moon in a vintage Rolls Royce.

Nantucket is made for weddings just like this one. One that truly embraces the beauty of the island and lets the couples’ love shine. Captured beautifully by Katie Kaizer, everything in this gallery – from the stunning florals by Soiree Floral to the stunning couple – is pure magic. See it all here.

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