Massachusetts Weddings

Holiday engagements as adorable as this one from Studio Nouveau deserve to be shared with the masses. And today seems like a perfectly fitting day to do so. It’s filled with festive images these two cuties will treasure forever, and you can see them all right here.

From Studio Nouveau…Sandra & Jeb have a fondness for the Holidays, and what’s not to love? Family time, evenings by the fire, and of course picking out your Christmas tree! We met up with these two city-dwellers at the sweetest little Christmas tree lot in Boston, equipped with vintage trailer! Sandra & Jeb brought a blanket to snuggle while they chose their perfect pine… and of course decorated it on site!

Photography: Studio Nouveau | Venue:: Christmas Tree Lot 680 Dorchester Avenue

As far as I’m concerned, Nina and Gramps are the cutest couple to ever grace our pages. Not only is their UP-themed anniversary session as sweet as they come, but they’ve got a story that’ll touch your heart ten times over. You see, these sweethearts wed 61 years ago but were stood up by their photographer. Knowing some proper photos were long overdue, Lauren Wells, Cambria Grace, Pop & Circumstance and Wild Folk Studio gathered together to give them the beautiful captures they deserve. So here’s to you, Nina and Gramps. Here’s to love 61 years later!

From Lauren Wells Events… Meet Nina & Gramps: they have been married 61 years, have never taken their rings off, remain the best of friends, and have just one picture from their wedding day – their photographer stood them up!

On a personal level, us grandkids (they are my husband’s grandparents) thought an anniversary shoot would be the perfect holiday present for them, and that they would cherish photos of the two of them. On a professional level, I thought it would make for a perfect styled shoot, so I used the movie UP as inspiration. (Gramps is always wearing a bow tie, anyways!)

Caroline from Wildfolk managed to bring the balloon colors to life in her flowers, and Nina cried when she got handed her beautiful bouquet. Working with Cambria is always a dream, and these photos are pure magic – us grandkids cannot wait to see Nina & Gramps’ faces when they open these photos on Christmas morning!

Photography: Cambria Grace Photography | Event Design: Lauren Wells Events | Floral Design: Wild Folk Studio | Vintage Props: Pop & Circumstance

Cape Cod weddings are in a league of their own when it comes to shoreline soirees. They have casual elegance down pat, and when Troy Grover is behind the camera capturing every beautiful moment of said soiree – that’s when Cape Cod weddings get even more fabulous. Take this beauty for instance, it’s perfectly captured and beautifully executed, and you can see them every bit of the pretty right here.

From the Bride…Kevin and I met in Boston playing kickball in 2006 and knew right from the beginning it was meant to be. We spent a few years in long distance while Kevin was at business school and I was finishing my MBA and were finally able to tie the knot in September 2013. We love cape cod in the fall and because a majority of our guests came from out of town and have never been to the cape, we wanted to make sure to give them a weekend getaway to the cape, one of our favorite places. Planning was difficult because we had to plan our wedding from afar from NYC where we currently live but thankfully great vendors helps to ease the process. We both love a big party and wanted to celebrate it in full style with a black tie wedding and incorporate our theme of romantic tones of neutrals, whites and charcoal gray. Thankfully the weather couldn’t have been more perfect for our special day and guests were able to enjoy the cape cod scenery at our cocktail hour on the Ocean Terrace which had an amazing ocean view. Reception continued into the Mansion Ballroom and ended with a sparkle sendoff. We couldn’t have planned a more special day!

Photography: The Grovers | Floral Design: Designers Touch | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Cake: The Casual Gourmet | Invitations: blissfully invited | Invitations: blissfully invited | Church: Our Lady Of The Annunciation Chapel, Dennisport, MA | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | hair and makeup: SERAI Beauty | Band: Kahootz | Tux: Ralph Lauren | Transportation: Cape Destinations | Venue: Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Course

Hold the phones SMPers, because today we’re in for a little something special. A blogger-bride introduction, to be exact. Because when we heard the gorgeous, stylish, CRAZY talented Amelia of Colour Bloc was rocking some new left hand hardware, we knew chronicling her wedding planning adventures was an absolute must. She recently teamed up for a photo sesh with the amazing Cambria Grace, and we’re spending the afternoon getting to know miss Amelia a wee bit better!

Hi lovelies! I’m Amelia and I started an art consulting business and blog called Colour Bloc about a year and a half ago. You’re probably wondering, “What the heck is an art consultant??” In a nutshell, I help collectors build their art collection by identifying their taste and then sourcing artwork that appropriately fits with the aesthetic of their home, office, or restaurant. Whether I’m working with a client who wants artwork specifically for their living space or one who needs assistance with growing a more investment based collection, I thoroughly enjoy the process of locating the best piece for the assignment!

I would not have taken the leap to start my own business if it wasn’t for my fiance, M, short for Mike. He’s been right by my side for every moment of my business ever since; from helping me pick the name to giving advice as to deal with different client personality types. He has celebrated my professional victories and has picked up the pieces when I have felt overwhelmed and stressed. Although he isn’t actually working for Colour Bloc, I know that my business is just as much his pride and joy as it is mine.

On the topic of feeling proud and happy, that brings me to the exciting topic of our engagement! M proposed this past March while we were visiting Amelia Island, Florida for the weekend. That Friday started off with an early morning flight down South and ended with a congratulatory bottle of champagne from one of my closest friends and a new stunning piece of hardware. I felt like we spent the weekend floating on a cloud.

With our big day only six months away, I’m looking forward to sharing the exciting planning process with you. I’ll be posting about everything wedding related, from engagement photos to wedding day hairstyles. It may feel overwhelming at times, but I promise you will have the most beautiful and wonderful special day, because you’re marrying your perfect match! xoxo, Amelia

Photography: Cambria Grace Photography | Makeup: Dani Wagener Beauty | Bridal Shop: Ceremony

The only thing I love more than weddings themselves are the stories behind them. Like this Massachusetts bride, who chose to wed in the very same church all the women in her family have for generations. It’s a day that nods to the classics while infusing plenty of personal touches from start to finish. Kate Preftakes Photography captured every moment and you can have a look right here.

From Kate Preftakes Photography… A lovely barn wedding, a “bicycle built for two” theme, and the prettiest lace dress you’ve ever seen! Ellie and Darren were married in Wellesley, MA at the same church where all the women on her side of the family have been married in. Ellie also wore her Mom’s gorgeous veil which had beautiful ribbon hanging down in the back. Their warm and beautiful reception was held at the Holliston Historical Society, one of my favorite places to photograph weddings!

From the Bride… We met at a birthday party for people that neither of us knew, but it’s what happened just prior that makes the story more interesting. Earlier that evening at dinner, my roommates and I each discussed the core traits of our ideal man. I said: tall and bearded, with glasses and a wonderful sense of humor. Little did I know that only hours later, that man would appear!

It seemed right, pretty much from the get-go. It was all just so easy and fun. We quickly found best friends in each other. The more we spent time together, the more we wanted to spend time together. It wasn’t long before everyone just started calling us Dellie.

About 4 years of life, laughs and adventures later, Darren proposed to me on January 5th (his birthday, how sneaky!) at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. It being that time of year, we had been discussing our New Years Resolutions. Darren told me that he had one more: to spend the rest of his life with me. I couldn’t have been more excited to make it come true.
In ‘Dellie’ fashion (and since we live in Brooklyn, NY), our rehearsal dinner is to be an homage to a New York Deli – (this is a surprise! No one knows yet!).

We were both raised Catholic, but neither of us is particularly religious. Despite that, we felt like getting married in a church would really honor the special commitment that we will be making to each other. And not just any church – the church that everyone on my (Ellie’s) side of the family was married in. That’s pretty cool.

I’ll be wearing my mom’s veil. I’m so excited that my ‘something borrowed’ is so very special and significant. In fact, I had wanted to wear my grandmother’s wedding dress, which both my mom and my aunt wore as well. It would have been amazing to carry on that tradition, but alas, I am a larger person than they!

The motif of the ‘bicycle built for two’ throughout our wedding is a significant one for Darren and I for a couple of reasons: Several years ago, Darren planned a weekend getaway for the two of us. The whole thing was a surprise for me. We went to New Hope, PA a charming little B&B kind of town along the Delaware River. We spent one of our days there riding bikes up and down the river—it was such a fun and memorable day. Since then, we’ve thought about how cool it would be to make a trip out of bike riding somewhere. So we looked into it and will be doing that for our honeymoon! We’ll be riding bikes along the southern coast of Portugal!
Second, When I was training for a half marathon this past spring, Darren would sometimes ride alongside me on my long runs. It wasn’t his favorite thing to do, but it meant the world to me!

It’s just symbolic of being really “in it together”. That’s something we’ve felt about our relationship from the very beginning – that we were both so invested and willing to do whatever to make the other person happy. That and the fact that we just love spending time together.

Photographer: Kate Preftakes Photography | Floral Design: Petal Pushers | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Bridesmaids Dresses: David's Bridal | Catering: Ipswich Clambake | Band: Shine | Bridal Gown: Kleinfeld Bridal | Holliston Historical Society: Holliston Historical Society | Ice Cream Bar: Cherry Farm Creamery

As much as I’m all for snowmen and snowflakes and snowy evenings spent by the fireplace this time of the year, there is just something so refreshing about a beach wedding right now, especially when it is as gorgeous as this one from Jenny Moloney Photography. The hint of fresh, warm, salty air in every romantic detail is just the perfect momentary escape, and then it’s back to the hot chocolate agenda.

Such a stunning film from Paperweight Films!
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From the beautiful bride… Andrew and I met at South Station in Boston while we were waiting in line to board a seemingly inevitably delayed Mega Bus to New York City. I boarded the bus first and claimed a coveted window seat. When Andrew boarded the bus a few minutes later he asked if he could sit next to me, and luckily I said yes! We hit it off right away once we realized that we both went to the University of Colorado in Boulder. I have to admit at one point I was worried we would run out of things to say because that is a long bus ride on a Friday at rush hour, but we never did, we talked and laughed for the entire six hour bus ride. When we arrived in NYC he asked for my number.

A couple of months later we met up for drinks in Boston and shortly after that began spending all of our free time together. Andrew proposed two years later on the beach at my family’s house on Cape Cod, which meant the world to me because it has been a special place for my family for many generations and has witnessed many generations of love stories. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect place for the beginning of our lives together as a family to start.

We knew right away that we wanted to get married on the Cape, somewhere by the water. We both wanted to have a wedding that was really personal to us, elegant, yet relaxed and fun with our families and closest friends. June 29th was the best day of our lives! We had an amazing time celebrating our love with friends and family and were even able to sneak out onto the beach for a photo shoot with our feet in the sand, and the Cape wind blowing in off the water. We are forever grateful to all of the amazing vendors we worked with to create and capture our day, especially Jenny Moloney Photography and Paperweight Films!

Photography: Jenny Moloney Photography | Cinematography: Paperweight Films | Floral Design: Verde Floral Design | Cake: Delicious Desserts | Stationery: Dulce Press | Ceremony Venue: Popponesset Inn | Reception Venue: Popponesset Inn | Shoes: Kate Spade | Hair & Makeup: Artworx | DJ: Cape Cod DJ - Steve Binder | Officiant: Rev. Faith Lavender | Ceremony Music: Cape Violin Cello Duo | Bride Robe: Plum Pretty Sugar | Dress & Veil: Madeleine's Daughter | Photography - Assistance: Ashley Tilton | Tent Canopy: Chase Canopy

Cape Cod hosts some of the most memorable weddings we’ve ever laid our eyes upon here at SMP, and this darling Shining Tides affair is certainly no exception.  A traditional affair with a lovely rustic kick, it’s everything we happen to adore about fab Cape Cod nuptials… it’s totally pretty, seriously heartwarming and all kinds of awesome.  See every moment captured beautifully by Scobey Photography in the full gallery.

From the Bride… The most important trait that Ryan and I share is our love for family. Our wedding was, first and foremost, about celebrating our union with the closest friends and family. I always dreamed about having a Cape Cod wedding, where I spent every summer I can remember. When we found Shining Tides in Mattapoisett, we could envision guests holding cocktails on the lawn and dancing the night away on the porch overlooking the harbor. Instantly, we knew this was the place.

After finding the perfect traditional New England backdrop, we wanted to go in a somewhat unexpected direction with the décor. Instead of nautical, we felt rustic elegance would reflect our style more accurately. With the raw wood porch and white trim, bright pops of pink florals and twinkle lights created the warm and welcoming atmosphere for our guests, even after the sun set. The lace runners, candles and romantic lanterns finished off the romantic feel seamlessly.

Another really important goal Ryan and I wanted to accomplish was to throw an awesome dance party. We were pretty sure the mission was complete when our guests, from the youngest cousins to the newest friends to the eldest aunts, clad in their navy sunglasses inscribed with our wedding instagram hashtag, almost brought the porch down chanting “one more song!” after the band regrettably announced the party was over. It was truly the perfect night to start our journey together surrounded by the people we love the most.

Photography: Scobey Photography | Floral Design: Flourish Floral And Event Design | Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Bakery: White's Bakery | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Catering: Russell Morin | Band: Gig Masters - PartyPosh | Groom's Suit: Z by Zegna | Transportation: A&A Metro | Dress Boutique: L'elite Boston | Estate: Shining Tides

Seaside soirees have my heart. There is something about that fabulous mix of fresh salt air and easy elegance that just makes me swoon. So this wedding from Orchard Cove Photography? It’s so up my alley. With a Bride in a stunning Monique Lhuillier gown, breathtaking florals from the lovely Sayles Livingston Flowers and perfectly placed details thanks to Wendy Joblon – this fête is the definition of seaside chic, and you can see it all here.

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From the Bride…Our wedding was all about easy elegance – although it was in our backyard, Peter and I wanted it to be more than just a backyard wedding! The setting – our home, the water, and the golf course – was the source of inspiration for the entire day. It was romantic with a touch of seaside elegance. Once I picked the dress, it felt like all of the other details fell into place. It was the perfect gown for the setting – airy and romantic. Since we were not having our ceremony in a church, it was important for us to keep the feeling of an altar, so we used a platform to designate the space on the lawn where we said our vows.

We kept the decor for the ceremony minimal – the water and lighthouse provided the perfect backdrop for the service. A palette of white, navy, and blush pink, with silver accents, kept the details of the wedding cohesive. I’ve always loved white and soft pink since I was a little girl, and paired with navy it provided a crisp contrast that evoked the feeling of a summer seaside celebration.

Peter and I had purchased the house before we got engaged and were renovating it right up until the week before the wedding! It was a miracle that we got it all done in time. Additionally, we were a little hesitant about having an outdoor ceremony. Having played a lot of golf right next door, we knew how unpredictable the weather could be and how windy it could get, even on a seemingly beautiful June day. As we spent more time at the house, we knew that we had to take a chance and get married on our lawn, where we got engaged and would spend the rest of our lives together.

After the ceremony, guests headed directly across the road for cocktails and the reception at the golf club, so there was no “break in the magic” of the celebration. At the end of the night, guests took home jars of rosehip jelly, made from the fruit of the Rosa rugosa plant. The native beach rose grows by the water where we were wed.

The most surprising moment of the day came just after my dad and I walked out of the house and across the stone patio, we were at the top of the aisle when the wind caught my veil, which then completely covered my dad’s face! We both tried to pull it back, but to no avail. After what seemed like an eternity, we decided to just keep going down the aisle, which ended up turning us directly into the wind so the veil blew back into place. It was a moment that had EVERYONE laughing and ensured I had quite the dramatic entrance.

Photography: Orchard Cove Photography | Videographer: Vantage Point Films | Event Planning: Wendy Joblon | Floral Design: Sayles Livingston Design | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Crane & Co. | Reception Venue: The Kittansett Club | Bridesmaids Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Makeup: Shine by Tayla | Hair: Luxx Beauty Bar | Band: Soul City | Dessert Display: Artisan Bake Shop | Gown Boutique: Mark Ingram Atelier

Fact: when two people this adorable tie the knot, it’s one crazy awesome celebration.  One that includes pretty pink hues, two fabulous settings (I’m talking to you Harvard Faculty Club and MIT Chapel) and a whole lot of happy.  It’s basically wedding perfection from start to finish and you can see every last love-filled moment (and there are a lot of them) captured by CLY Creation right here.

From the Bride… We first met when I was an architecture graduate student at Harvard and Juney was visiting MIT as a prospective architecture graduate student. A large group of us went out to dinner together after all the open house activities and we were immediately drawn to each other. My first words to Juney were, “You’re from California, huh?” With those words, a several month long courtship followed including long-distance phone calls to South Africa (where I spent the following summer on a fellowship), Juney riding his bike all the way to Harvard from MIT to walk me home at night, and hand-delivered soup from MIT to Harvard when I was sick. Juney also moved in down the street from me with my classmates when he came for graduate school. The rest is history!

The most over-the-top DIY item from our wedding is something most people don’t pay much attention to – our table number holder! Juney was interning at a company that designs and fabricates metal building components. After vetoing every table number holder we could find, Juney ventured into the company’s metal shop in search of scrap material to create our own table number holders. With the help of the amazing guys in the metal shop, this turned into a full blown design project. Juney designed and drew shop drawings and the guys at TriPyramid custom fabricated them out of solid stainless steel, even ordering a special blade to cut the slots!

Our family and friends actually ended up choosing our venues for us. Before Juney and I were even dating, my mom would fantasize out loud about me getting married at Harvard Faculty Club. Before we were even engaged, our friends would joke about how perfect it would be if we got married at MIT Chapel and hold our reception at Harvard Faculty Club. The two schools brought us together and became the backdrop for our relationship. In the end, we didn’t even consider other venues. MIT Chapel also happens to be one of our favorite buildings in the Boston area and where I got baptized earlier this year!

Photography: CLY Creation | Floral Design: Madison Floral | Wedding Dress: Vows | Ceremony Venue: MIT Chapel | Reception Venue: Harvard Faculty Club | Bride's Shoes: Louboutin | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Band: La Vie En Rose | Groom's Attire: Nita Fashions | Bride's Hair: Lindsay Griffin | Bride's Make up: Veronica Shin | Photo Booth: Pic Flips Boston

This summer I explored Thompson Island for the very first time, and it was an instant kind of love. With the ultimate mix of sunshine, sand and picturesque charm, it’s the perfect spot for marrying just off the pretty Boston coast. Exhibit A? This gorgeous island affair captured by Sandra Costello Photography and Media Northeast. It’s casual elegance to a T, and we’ve got sooo much more waiting right here.

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From the Brides… We chose Thompson Island, which is located in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, as the perfect spot for our wedding day. The island itself is unique and beautiful, but the location also captured two of our favorite places to be; the beautiful city we live in, and the peacefulness and beauty of being near the ocean. We also picked the Island because we loved the idea that our day could help a great cause. A portion of the wedding expense went to supporting the island’s Outward Bound Education Center which is a not-for-profit organization that provides outdoor adventure and experiential learning programs for young people from diverse economic backgrounds.

The island itself was so gorgeous and we didn’t want to hide that. We wanted the island’s beautiful colors and textures to shine through, rather than cover that up with any additional bright colors or bulky decor. Our incredible friend Marc Hall from Marc Hall Design, helped to make our vision become a reality. He used very natural colors, and very elegant, but minimal decor. The entrance and exit from the boat was a dramatic but simple display of wooden lanterns hanging along either side of the railings down the dock. The tables were covered in a gorgeous fabric that resembled burlap, and beautiful lanterns hung over the long family style tables and gently spun around in the breeze. The flowers were all greens, whites, and champagne colors and all were displayed elegantly down the centers of the tables along with candles that lit up the entire space. In addition to the very natural/minimal approach in our decor, we also had a vision of including some vintage elements into our day. Our lace dresses played a part in this, as well as the lace details on the place cards, invitations, and place settings.

The last, but most important piece of our day, was filling that island with our incredible family and friends. We truly feel that we are the luckiest people in the world to have the friends and family that we have around us. There is no doubt that we will carry the love and joy that we felt on that day with us for the rest of our lives.

Photography: Sandra Costello Photography | Videography: Media Northeast | Event Design: Marc Hall Design | Floral Design: Marc Hall Design | Wedding Dress: Christos | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Ceremony Venue: Thompson Island | Reception Venue: Thompson Island | Hair: Nurture Salon and Spa | Band: Ryan Grow and B-Side Charlie | Officiant: Arlington Street Church | Tent: Peterson Party Center | Quartet: Boston String Quartet | Tent + Rentals: Peterson Party Center

It may be chilly outside but this weekend is all about warmth and goodness as one of our favorite people, Maggie Batista over at EAT Boutique, is hosting her annual Holiday Market highlighting over 60 artisan food and drink makers, authors, culinary experts and food trucks THIS WEEKEND. Held at the Cruiseport Boston, the event will take place from 11am-5pm and will be more yummy than you can possibly imagine.

Awarded 2013 Best Culinary Brand Award by the International Association of Culinary Professionals, Eat Boutique showcases small batch foods by boutique food makers. And personally we’ve worked Maggie a million times and are consistently blown away by the hidden gems that she sources. And we imagine that this year’s market will be better than ever.

Here is what you can look forward to…

· Feast on food from: Mei Mei Street Kitchen, Island Creek Oysters, Union Square Donuts and more.
· Eat, shop for gifts and mix with 60+ artisan food and drink makers, cookbook authors (incl. Joanne Chang), culinary experts, and food trucks at Cruiseport Boston from 11am-5pm
· Drink and be Merry: Small batch beer, wine, cider and cordials from The Brooklyn Brewery Cheer Hall, and Craft Beer tastings with Rebecca Millette (founder of Massachusetts’ GirlsPintOut) and Holiday Bubbles Tasting with Alicia Towns Franken (former wine director of Grill 23)

For a full schedule and information on tickets, click here.

Vendor: Eat Boutique

When it comes to jewelry, I’m a statement necklace kind of girl. A pop of color, a splash of bling, you name it, I love it. So when I saw this Cape Cod bride rocking a major J. Crew sparkler on the Big Day? Well, I was instantly obsessed. It’s a wedding full of unexpected pretty tucked around every nook and cranny, all captured by Julia Cumes and Media Northeast. And for those of you who can’t get enough, we’ve got a whole lot more sitting right here.

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From the Bride… I absolutely fell in love with the Cape the minute I saw it on one of my new husband James’ and I first vacations together. He grew up near Boston, and his family has a summer home in Eastham. The quaint towns with the untouched beaches resonated with me, and the amazing seafood couldn’t be beat. We would take many more trips there, before James proposed to me three years later in Paris, France. I loved the effortless style and the classic beauty of the City of Light, so I knew we had to incorporate that into the big day, too!

When James and I told our families we would get married on Cape Cod, they threw themselves into helping us out. We are both busy medical residents in Rochester, NY( me in Anesthesia and James in Internal medicine)- so it was amazing to have all their support! My mom and I crafted the favors together (jars filled with salt water taffy), the photobooth backdrop, the bridesmaids robes, and the petal toss cones. My sister-in law designed and printed the invitations, the programs, and the signage. My brother drew the chalkboard welcome sign. James’ parents planned and hosted both the wedding rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch at their home. James even spent a couple late nights putting the flower place cards together!

We incorporated both New England and Parisian style with toile table cloths, oil table lanterns, and the clean, fresh backdrop of Wychmere right on Harwich Port. Our wedding coordinator Heather was amazing- she made sure our day ran like a dream and that we were well fed and watered! In the end, everything came out perfectly- our big day was the best day of our lives (despite all my anxieties and worries leading up to it)! The girls got ready in a house we rented, and we rode to the ceremony in a cute red trolley. The ceremony took place on the front lawn, and the reception happened in the Harbor Room right next to the water. Even the weather cooperated- it was sunny with blue skies, and the wind settling down just in time!

We owe all our vendors the warmest of thanks- they gave us everything we had hoped for and more. All our family and friends from around the world (from Japan, to California, to Montreal) danced the night away with the extremely talented and personable band, Clockwork. We kept it going all night long into the after-party at the bridal party house! I look back on the stunning photos from Julia on a daily basis, with very fond memories and a warm heart.

Photography: Julia Cumes | Cinematography: Media Northeast | Florist: Fancy Flowers | Wedding Cake: Becky's Bakery | Bride's Shoes: Louboutin | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Band: Clockwork | Groom's Attire: Valentin's | Groomsmen's Attire: Tuxedo Junction | Beach Club: Wychmere Beach Club: A Longwood Venue | Bridal Gown: Amsale | Bride's Necklace: J.Crew | Bride's Second Dress: Ted Baker | Cake Topper: kikuike studio | Hair and Make-up: Lisa George | Invitations, Programs, Signage: Bride's Sister-in-law | Photobooth: New England Photobooth | Table Numbers: Ava Orsini

I can’t even begin to describe how much I love this Martha’s Vineyard wedding. Nothing I would say would do it justice. From the Bride’s vintage gown and veil (that just so happened to be her mother’s) to all the heartfelt details – there aren’t words worthy of such a fête. Luckily Jenny Moloney‘s images speak for themselves. And you can see them all right here.

From the Bride…Martha’s Vineyard is a place I grew up going every summer as a kid. I had great memories there with my family. When Jayson and I started dating we brought back the tradition and we went down in the summer with my family and created new memories there. He loves the island as much as I do. We only thought it fitting, that we get married there. It was very important for us to have a great party for everyone we love, in a place we love. We found the Sailing Camp Park on a whim, last minute when we thought Martha’s Vineyard was not in our budget. When we met John the keeper of the grounds and saw the camp, we knew it was right. It had a great view, with a casual feel, perfect.

Jayson coming from a restaurant/banquet background, knew we could create a great party on our own, so we went for it. We wanted a meaningful party, where inspiration came from friends and family and our own experiences. We used Buckley Catering from the island, who put on an amazing NE Clambake. Guest feasted on mugs of clam chowder, steamed lobster, cornbread, clams and muscles. The MOH, sister of the bride made the cake! We got so carried away at the rehearsal we forgot to cut it! My 89 year old grandmother folded over 900 paper cranes for the hanging decorations, I wore my mothers vintage Pricilla wedding dress and veil. Classical guitar played from the islands own Erick Johnson, and Jenny Moloney from Jenny Moloney Photography captured every moment and emotion of the day. The weather was amazing, guests came from all over the country and overseas, a perfect day.

Photography: Jenny Moloney Photography | Dress: Priscilla of Boston Atlanta | Reception Venue: Sailing Camp Park | Catering: Buckley's Catering | Hair: Maggie's Salon | DJ: Erick Johnson

It honestly doesn’t get more charming or more adorable than this Boston engagement session from Zac Wolf Photography. This couple is just as cute as they come, and the images in this gallery? Equally sweet. So do yourself a favor, and allow some time to get lost today in all the lovely right here.

From Zac Wolf Photography…Clancey and Andrew are an adorably smart and well dressed couple soon abandoning their New England home for the sunny West Coast, I am glad we got to celebrate their Boston home by basking in the sun around Beacon hill and the Esplanade.

Photography: Zac Wolf Photography

Let’s talk about Martha’s Vineyard weddings for a minute, shall we?  Because this beautiful backyard affair?  It’s the epitome of Martha’s Vineyard perfection, with an extra dose of pretty.  Think beautiful blooms from Tea Lane Farm, a crazy gorgeous tented reception and one heartwarming moment after another captured by Jocelyn Filley.  See them all right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… James and I met in New York and now we live in London, but I always knew that I wanted to get married on Martha’s Vineyard. I have been going to the island since I was born and James has joined for the past few years. It is the only place where we can both completely unplug and unwind and we wanted to share that relaxing experience, as well as the beauty of the island, with our closest friends and family. We decided to keep our invite list small (under 40) and most of our guests stayed close by in houses that we rented. It was a great way to bring our friends and family from both sides of the Atlantic together!

Having our wedding on the Vineyard made planning much simpler, as we only had two or three vendors to choose from for each category. For me, the highlight of the process was designing and personalizing our invitations, right down to creating a font with my handwriting. We screen printed the invitations in white on kraft paper and included in the package a weekend schedule, packing checklist and detachable RSVP postcard. I had a lot of fun searching on eBay to find vintage stamps that fit our Martha’s Vineyard theme, including a ferryboat, an egret and a Coast Guard tribute, all in the blue-green colors of the ocean. I also designed welcome tote bags for our guests that featured a hand-drawn map of the island. Inside we included snacks (Cape Cod chips, chocolate with sea salt and bottled water), sunscreen, the Vineyard Gazette and a fun beach game (Kadima, frisbee, etc.). I also designed a map with illustrations of all of our favorite places on the island and short descriptions. Instead of a guest book, we included vintage Vineyard postcards in the welcome bags and asked our guests to send them back to us so we would have mail waiting when we returned to London.

Our invitations invited our friends and family to “a relaxed weekend of feasting and sunbathing.”  Even though our wedding weekend was cloudy, we still spent every day at the beach and we certainly feasted in the evenings. We kicked off the weekend with welcome drinks on Thursday night, featuring seafood chowder, lobster rolls and a make-your-own G&T bar. People stopped by as they arrived on island and we danced the night away to the tunes of our friend, DJ Sinton.

On Friday night, we hosted drinks and dinner at Beetlebung farm, a quintessential Vineyard experience that showcased local produce and culinary talent. Our guests sipped Bramble cocktails with blackberries from the farm and nibbled on yummy appetizers, including green beans fresh off the vine and red and yellow tomatoes. We then sat down to dinner in the greenhouse–a pasta course with summer vegetables followed by chicken and whole fish roasted in the outdoor kitchen. We finished with a simple dessert of berries, fresh cream and Chilmark chocolates.

The wedding was held on Saturday at a private home in Chilmark. We set up a tent at the top of the hill, overlooking the water. Mike Benjamin played an acoustic rendition of Van Morrison’s Crazy Love as my parents walked me down the “aisle,” a freshly mown path that sloped down to a small rise where our guests were waiting. We knew we wanted to keep the ceremony short and sweet so we nixed the idea of chairs and just asked our friends and family to gather around us. James and I stood on a sequined Moroccan wedding blanket, a tribute to my grandmother, and exchanged vows that we had each written. Given that I had planned every detail of the day, it was nice to know that I could look forward to at least one surprise. It turned out the big surprise was that our vows were very similar!

After the ceremony, everyone climbed up the hill for cocktails (Moscow Mules and Roasted Orange Negronis), appetizers and oysters. We set up two long farm tables in the tent and I found great pink and orange napkins at Anthropologie to set the color palette. With the napkins as inspiration, Krishana Collins did a phenomenal job with the flowers, creating small arrangements in vintage glass and milk glass containers. Each one was unique and they looked beautiful scattered along white linen runners on the farm tables. The final touch that pulled the tent together came from our wedding coordinator, Emily Coulter. She strung hundreds of peach lisianthus flowers on fishing line and suspended them over the dance floor. As they bobbed on the line, the flowers looked like they were dancing in the wind and gave the tent a magical feeling. By far, the best part of Saturday night was Mike Benjamin and his seven-piece band, who kept us on our feet dancing all night long.

Since most of our guests weren’t leaving until Monday morning, we capped the weekend off with make-your-own pizza night at the Orange Peel Bakery in Aquinnah. Everyone gathered around the outdoor oven, drinking wine and coming up with creative topping combinations. It was a fun and delicious way to end our weekend of feasting!

Photography: Jocelyn Filley Photography | Event Coordinator: Emily Coulter MV Wedding Co | Flowers: Krishana Collins, Tea Lane Farm | Wedding Dress: L'Fay Bridal | Catering: The Kitchen Porch | Hair: Boucle | Groom's Suit: J.Crew | Groom's Tie: Marinella | Invitations & Tote Bags:: Printed By City Dog Screen Printing | Music: Mike Benjamin Band | Tent & Rentals: Big Sky Tent & Party Rentals

On its own, this beautiful inspiration session is an amazing work of art; a bohemian-inspired masterpiece crafted by some of Boston’s finest vendors, with enough pretty to last your entire work week.  But look beyond those gorgeous florals from Whim Events  and enchanting images captured by Shannon Grant and this, my loves, is sooo much more than that.  In fact, it’s a workshop dedicated to raising funds for one very, very amazing cause – Images for a Cure.  Heartwarming, pretty and so, so, so awesome. Click here for more.

And a little behinds the scenes peek at all of the amazingness from Shannon Grant Photography…

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From Shannon Grant Photography… Every year I contribute to an amazing non-profit called Images for a Cure that benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Usually it consists of a day of portraits and the session fees are all donated. This year, I wanted to do something different so I planned a workshop for aspiring wedding photographers instead! Reaching out to some amazing local wedding vendors for help styling, we came up with a city chic theme with a Bohemian nod. Something very Boston but with a different flavor to give it that more fairy-tale, organic vibe I love!

With the help of the generous vendors involved, awesome photographers, and one of my very own “Real Brides,” we raised over $1200 for the BCRF. I’m hoping to do another of these events for 2014 and with any luck, we’ll raise even more to go towards this worthwhile cause!

Photography: Shannon Grant Photography | Floral Design: Whim Events | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Hotel: The Liberty Hotel | Dress Boutique: L'elite Boston | Hair/Makeup: Kacie Corbelle | Non Profit: Images for a Cure

I know we are approaching the holiday season, otherwise known as most wonderful time of the year, but this stunning seaside soiree from Zev Fisher Photography at the Kittansett Club has me longing for New England summers already. With its perfectly preppy style and stunning coastal views, I’d go as far as to say, this gallery gives the most wonderful time of year a run for its money. See it all here and don’t miss the incredible film from Ready Set Film!

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From the Bride…Nat and I got engaged almost exactly one year before our wedding day. He popped the question at my parent’s house in Marion, and our family dog almost swallowed the ring as she crawled between his legs when he was “taking the knee.” When it came to deciding where we wanted to get married, but both knew immediately that it had to be in my parent’s backyard…the site of so many family reunions, weekends with friends and wonderful memories together. Basically, it’s our happy place!

We worked hard to make our ceremony intimate and special. Sharon from Always in Bloom had her husband build our birch arch, and Nat’s fourth grade teacher (and second Mom), did one of our readings. Guests snagged some sunglasses and lemonade while waiting for the ceremony, and the weather Gods were smiling down on us that evening with a beautiful sunset and light breeze.

After the ceremony, guests walked across the street to The Kittansett Club. During cocktails, Nat and I snuck off to take some pictures and we returned to the reception just in time to make our entrance to One Republic’s Feel Again.

Nat and I are both teachers, and from Day 1 of the planning process, I knew that I wanted to put my First Grade craft skills to work in order to make our special day truly “us.” Rob at Goosefish Press designed a drawing of the Bird Island Lighthouse, which sits just offshore from my parent’s house and was visible through the arch during our ceremony. I carried the lighthouse image throughout the stationary and wedding, but most notably on the needlepoint belt that I made for Nat, the needlepoint basket that I made for guests to drop their cards into, and the miniature lighthouses that I painted to look like Bird Island Lighthouse, which I then turned into table numbers. Lucky for my Dad, I only broke one drill bit in the process of making those!

When it came to favors, I wanted to spend the time to make something that would really say “thank you!” to our guests not just for attending the wedding, but also for being the people that we love most in the world. I water colored paper that I then printed a poem that I wrote upon. My Dad and I then attached a scallop shell to each card and in each shell I wrote, “Nat and Katie 8.17.13.” The poem asked guests to place the shell somewhere special, and when they come across the shell, to be reminded of our love for them and why they were included in our special day! In the weeks following the wedding, it has been so fun to hear from our guests about where they decided to place the shell, and it’s even more fun to see the shells in our friend’s apartments or homes when we go to visit!

Zev Fisher captured our day so incredibly, and was also a blast to work with throughout the wedding process. We loved looking up at one point on the wedding day to see that he had climbed onto the roof to capture a group photo. A highlight of the evening was when Jeff from Ready Set Film showed our Same Day Edit. We had worked hard to keep this a surprise for our guests, and I cried like a baby when we watched it. We still can’t believe that he was able to capture the entire wedding day so beautifully, and all before the actual wedding day was over! Lastly, we cannot ever fully thank Emmy from EWhitney Events, who served as our wedding planer. Quite simply, Emmy made our vision come to life. She took care of every detail and knew the wedding so well that on the wedding day, we were all able to fully relax and know that it was in good hands!

The day was more special and perfect that we ever could have imagined. We can’t wait for the day when we can tell our children about how we got married on the Marion lawn. We hope that we started a new family tradition that will live on for many generations!

Photographer: Zev Fisher Photography | Cinematography: readyset[film] | Wedding Planner: EWhitney Events | Flowers: Always in Bloom Marion | Brides Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids dresses: Shoshanna | Hair & Makeup: Special Event Beauty | DJ: C-Zone Entertainment | Mens Ties: Vineyard Vines | Grooms Jacket: Vineyard Vines | Brides Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Country Club: The Kittansett Club | Farm Tables: True North Rentals

It’s been over three years since I was a Bride, but this stunning shower designed by Cape Cod Celebrations and captured by Hike Photography for The NotWedding would have been my bridal shower dream come true. Overflowing with florals from Patrice Milley and hosted at the oh-so-gorgeous Sea Crest Beach Hotel, I think you would be hard-pressed to find a bride-to-be that didn’t want to celebrate in this style. It’s absolutely stunning. See it all here.

From Cape Cod Celebrations…The NotWedding is coming to Cape Cod this November so a bunch of the participating vendors got together on a beautiful Cape Cod fall day and designed a bridal shower shoot to promote the event! The shoot was inspired by The NotWedding Cape Cod’s inspiration board, which is a secret until after the event, but boy is it a beauty!

At the the styled shoot, Peyton, the NotBride for the event, was being showered by her friends poolside at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in Falmouth. The girls drank champagne, completed a DIY paint-by-number canvas for Peyton, had delicious desserts, cooled off by the pool and sent a wish lantern into the sky for her at the end of the party, after opening presents of course! The girls left that night with nail polish favors.

Jamie, from Cape Cod Celebrations, designed the shoot with the help of one of the Hike girls, Alissa. Kelly Hike, and her sister Alissa, are the photographers from Hike Photography and they did an amazing job capturing the details and the fun ideas that we wanted to share! The lighting could not have been better! Patrice Milley brought in some gorgeous flowers to compliment the table and linens from Rentals Unlimited, and Vanessa from the The Chocolate Rose Cake Shoppe & Bakery put together a beautiful cake and dessert spread for the ladies. M. Smith & Company designed the invitation and place cards and OnCape Time provided signs for the shower. Shoreline Interiors, a high end shop in Dennis, provided the gift for the bride, a set of 2 Match pewter ice tea glasses, hand-crafted from Italy.

Photographer: Hike Photography | Design: Cape Cod Celebrations | Flowers: Patrice R. Milley Floral Designs | Stationery: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Hotel: Sea Crest Beach Hotel | Dessert: Chocolate Rose Cake Shoppe | Event: The NotWedding | Gift: Shoreline Interiors | Rentals: Rentals Unlimited | Signs: OnCape Time

HENRY + MAC have a way of capturing a day that simply feels magical.  So when they get to capture a day like this one at Codman Estate, I feel beyond lucky that I get to pour through every last image. It’s the perfect combination of stylish and sweet, making for one fabulous gallery of images. See them all here.

From the Bride…When we first started to plan our wedding, John and I did not have the first clue where to begin. I was one of the first of my friends to get married, so I had not been to many weddings and I definitely was not the “party planner” type. Pinterest and wedding blogs quickly became my best friends. I always knew that I wanted a “country” feel to my wedding, something natural and “home-grown” but I was overwhelmed with the ideas I saw online and in magazines. John and I have always appreciated the little things in our relationship; the inside jokes, hand-holding, and car dancing, have made our relationship special. So we decided that it was going to be the “little things” that made our wedding special.

I had long been admiring wedding photos of Henry + Mac, and I contacted them as one of our first wedding “moves.” I knew we had to have them as our photographers because their aesthetic and ability to capture the feel of a wedding day were breathtaking. After booking them, they helped us choose a wedding venue that they knew would bring our idea for a New England country wedding alive. We fell in love with Codman Estate in Lincoln, MA. The Italian Gardens are magical.

I remember my mother and aunt telling me to take a moment, at some time during the day, to step back and take it all in. On a walk back from pictures to the cocktail hour, I remember holding my new husband’s hand, a hand I had held many times over the past 7 years, but in that moment I realized that this was the guy I was going to spend forever with. Corny, maybe, but it was exciting and fulfilling to know that all these people came to celebrate the beginning of our new life together. We are blessed.

If I had advice for anyone planning a wedding it would be to slow down, both in the process of the planning and on the actual day. Think about what is truly important to you and surround yourself with supportive, professional, and talented vendors. I’d like to say do not stress, but that’s silly- we all stress- just don’t stress too much where you lose sight of what’s important.

Photographer: HENRY + MAC | Flowers: Derby Farm Flowers & Gardens | Wedding Dress: KENNETH POOL | Catering: Tastings Caterers | Hair & Makeup: KERRI HERLIHY | Band: Kahootz | Venue: Codman Estate | Alterations: L'elite Boston | Groom Suit: Jos. A. Bank

I know this goes without saying, but… Cape Cod weddings are awesome.  They’re the perfect mix of preppy, classic and elegant, with a dash of whimsy for good measure.  And when we get our hands on a stunning Cape Cod affair like this one captured by Kristin Studio, we go just a tad bit crazy.  Because when the fabulous stylings of The Pink Polka Dot Events join forces with the amazing Chick Invitations and the Chatham Bars Inn, magical things happen.  See so much more right here.

And feast your eyes on even more lovely from Travis Wilber right here…

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From the Bride… Mike and I met almost eight years ago at our very first job out of college. Actually, we met at the interview months before we graduated and were both so excited to find out the other had gotten the job. He from Philly, and I from San Antonio, we packed up our stuff and moved to Chicago for a four month training program. It was there that our relationship grew strong enough to weather three years of long distance, when I moved back down to Dallas and Mike moved back to Philadelphia. Once I made the move to Philly, we spent every free weekend making the six hour drive up to Cape Cod. It could not have been more perfect! We loved everything about being there. It was back then we knew we wanted to get married there some day.

On March 16, 2012, Mike proposed to me days before we found out we would be transferred to Nashville for his job. As Mike packed up, I remained in Philadelphia for a few months as I tried to transfer my own position to Nashville. During that time, I took every opportunity to head up to the Cape to plan the wedding.

I immediately reached out to Jen Chagnon at The Pink Polka Dot to explain that I didn’t have much time before I would be planning this wedding from a thousand miles away. She was amazing! She guided us through finding vendors, gave me moral support, and kept me sane as I planned this shindig while moving half way across the country.

Finding the venue was hard. There are so many beautiful spots to get married there. Spending most of our time in Sandwich and Falmouth when we visited the Cape, we had never been to Chatham Bars Inn before we went for the tour (GASP!). It was absolutely perfect! It is quintessential Cape Cod. Our guests would all be traveling, and I wanted them to be able to experience the best of the Cape, in the short amount of time that they were there. With Chatham Main Street, Chatham Lighthouse and the beautiful scenic views of Chatham Bars Inn… I knew our guests would have it all!

It was the perfect day. Spent with the most amazing people. And we are so thankful to all of our amazing vendors that helped make it beautiful.

Photography: Kristin Studio | Cinematography: Travis Wilber | Event Planning: The Pink Polka Dot Events | Floral Design: All About Flowers For Weddings | Invitations: Chick Invitations | Ceremony Venue: Corpus Christi Parish | Reception Venue: Chatham Bars Inn | Makeup: Painted Red Nails, Emma Josselyn | Hair: Salon in the Mills, Sara Aspden | DJ: Cape Tunes