Massachusetts Weddings

This is one of those weddings that just sort of soothes your soul.  One of those weddings where crazy gorgeous blooms from Spruce Floral and fabulous vintage stylings join forces with a Glen Magna Farms setting that can only be described as amazing.  It’s also one of those weddings that simply screams HAPPY.  With a bride and groom who are so in love and so full of joy, it’s an entirely new level of wonderful.  See every last love-filled moment captured by Arielle Doneson right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… I’d had plenty of time to envision our wedding as Tom and I had been dating for a decade before he proposed (on our 10th anniversary)! We met as freshmen in college and have been together ever since, studying abroad together in Spain and moving from Boston to New York a few years ago. We knew from the beginning we wanted our wedding to be natural and easy, very personal, very “us.”

Although we now live in Brooklyn, we always knew we would get married in the Boston area since that was where we met and spent a good seven years of our relationship. A bridesmaid of mine sent me some venues to look at, one of which was Glen Magna Farm, a beautiful old mansion with gardens all around it, just outside of Boston. I knew I wanted the feel to be a little rustic while still being elegant and romantic, incorporating vintage details throughout.

I knew I wanted the girls to be ethereal and bohemian in long chiffon dresses. They wore varying muted tones of lavender, taupe and gray and my sister, as my maid of honor, was in moss green. The ceremony was under a pergola of old stone columns and wisteria and the girls looked incredible with all the vibrant green around them. Their jewelry was mostly vintage, all of which I found in Brooklyn flea markets over the summer. The boys looked so cute in their skinny suspenders and succulent boutonnieres and Tom was very handsome and dapper in his custom three piece suit!

I really wanted to incorporate as many fun and personal details as I could. There was an underlying travel theme which stemmed from an idea I’d had years ago to use names of places we’d traveled and/or lived together as the table numbers. I found old maps online, printed them on linen paper and placed them in vintage frames I found on Etsy and eBay. There were no escort cards; instead we used a world map where guests had to find their name and were then directed to their “destination.” Our “guest book” was an old globe we found at a flea market on the Cape.

Our florist understood our vision from the get-go. We decided to use several small textural arrangements, which she put in all different kinds of vintage glass vessels. She also had the idea to incorporate lanterns, larger on some tables, smaller on others. No two tables were the same. We used the girls’ beautiful wildflower bouquets as the arrangements lining the long head table, placed atop burlap runners. There were lavender sprigs and bunches everywhere.

As the favors, we had trees planted in the name of each guest to re-populate the Atlantic forest of Brazil, a place close to Tom’s heart as he lived there for several years with his family. We wrapped little ferns in twine and placed them on the bread and butter plates with attached tags explaining what they were to our guests.

We wanted our signature cocktails to really be signature, so we did a Maracuja Caipirinha for Tom, a nod to his time in Brazil and his love for their cocktails. Mine was an Iced Green Tea, which was a delicious fusion of green tea, vodka, honey and lemon with a large sprig of mint, because as anyone who knows me knows, I am never without a huge iced green tea in the summer. They were named “The Peep” and “The Caitie B” respectively, for nicknames that started small and have stuck with us over the years.

Photographs were of course hugely important, especially since we decided not to have a videographer, but to have our guests pass around a handheld video camera instead in order to get some different perspectives. Arielle was totally into our whole concept, super excited about the details and captured it all beautifully. We couldn’t have been happier with her!

Our friends and family helped more than they’ll ever know, from my mom hemming lace tablecloths and painstakingly wrapping those little ferns with my sister and mother-in-law in the backyard, to my aunt printing a million custom labels and dipping chocolate pretzels for our hotel goody bags, from Tom’s sister helping stuff invitation envelopes and scouring flea markets with me to my girls frosting homemade cupcakes the morning of the wedding, this really was a labor of love. And it wasn’t just the girls – my dad went on more than one hunt for the perfect decanters and when it was discovered the night before the wedding that the best man had been sent the wrong suit, the groomsmen came together to get the right one the day of- tailored to fit just in time!

All in all, the night was natural and easy, which was exactly what we wanted it to be. It couldn’t have been more “us.”

Photography: Arielle Doneson Photography | Floral Design: Spruce Floral | Gown: Nicole Miller | Invitations: Post Script Brooklyn | Ceremony Venue: Glen Magna Farms | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Catering: Fireside Catering | Band: Live Radio | Venue: Glen Magna Farms

Summers in New England are pure magic. Maybe because we wait so long for them, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a New Englander who doesn’t swoon over that short season. So even though we are making our way into the winter months, this gorgeous shoot captured by Sarah Jayne and designed by The Little Things is the perfect reminder that summer will be back again – until then you can spend your days dreaming right here in the full gallery of gorgeous.

From Sarah Jayne Photography…Summers in New England are simply breathtaking, and yield a bounty of fruits, veggies and wildflowers that are rich with color and textures. The shoot took place during the peak of summer at Green Meadows Farm and the acres of farmland were bursting with an abundance of crops including ripe blueberries and raspberries, fresh herbs like basil and thyme, and a variety of wildflowers. These elements were incorporated throughout the shoot to bring our vision to life!

In keeping with the theme, we offered individually potted herbs for guests to take home, plant, and continue to enjoy each summer for years to come.  We set up a “fresh or frozen” cocktail bar, featuring various types of pre-mixed cocktails in pitchers that incorporated fruit and/or herbs or veggies. Guests were offered ice cubes with fruits and herbs frozen inside, so when their ice melted on such a hot day it would enhance their beverage rather than simply watering it down. We also offered frozen “poptail” versions of each of those cocktails, which were extremely refreshing on such a hot day! In addition to the beautiful cake, the dessert table featured a selection of whoopie pies – a true mid-summer classic in New England.

We had a blast planning and executing this shoot, and we hope you find inspiration for your wedding in these photos!

Photography: Sarah Jayne Photography | Flowers: Lilac And Lily Floral Design And Event Styling | Dress: Occasions Bridal Boutique | Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals | Makeup: Tada Makeup | Hair: Lindsay Griffin | Cake and Whoopie Pies: Topsfield Bakeshop | Design Props: Mad Props | Design and Coordination: The Little Things | Farm: Green Meadows Farm | Letterpress: Daniel Urban-Brown | Linens: Table Toppers of Newton | Rentals: New England Country Rentals

So… I’m pretty much obsessed with this wedding.  Like that swoon over every last detail and memorize every moment kind of obsessed that sort of goes hand in hand with a breathtaking Martha’s Vineyard affair.  You know what I am talking about – sweet blooms from MV Florist and Gifts, fab paper goods from Paperless Post + Minted and one drop-dead gorgeous moment after another captured by Yuna Leonard Photography.  See them all in the full gallery.

From the bride… Vlad and I met in Sydney, Australia while we were in college on a study abroad program. On our six-year dating anniversary, he got down on one knee in our Boston apartment and asked me to marry him with a rose gold ring his grandmother had brought with her from the Ukraine.

As we began to plan for our wedding, we tried to stay focused on creating a day that felt true to us, rather than following conventions. We were both intrigued by the idea of a destination wedding, but didn’t want the location to be too limiting for our guests. One place that had been special to us through the years was Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts. We decided to travel there the weekend after Thanksgiving to see what the possibilities might be. We rented mopeds and rode around the island, checking out a few places. When we arrived at the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society barn, known to locals as the “Ag Hall,” we knew it was the perfect spot for us. Not only had we met on an island (albeit a very large one), now we’d be married on one as well!

The very first vendor we booked was our photographer, Yuna Leonard. She has a way of capturing moments that look real yet dreamy. The next decision we made was food. One of our favorite things to do is eat, so it was really important to us to create a delicious experience for our guests, and ourselves. We decided on Southern barbecue from the amazing Blackstrap BBQ. With the major necessities in place, a theme of casual, festive elegance emerged. We chose gray, navy, and shades of coral to help us plan the details for our day.

A few of the most special touches were designed by family members. My mom and grandparents built a gorgeous chuppah out of bamboo and a tablecloth that had belonged to my great-grandmother. Vlad’s grandmother made stunning tablecloths for the reception using fabric we picked out. We weaved the letters M and V throughout different parts of the day, as they are not only the first letters of our names, but also form the abbreviation for Martha’s Vineyard.

The week of our wedding, we rented a historic Gingerbread-style house on the island. Some of our friends and family stayed with us, and others stayed nearby. This allowed us to really take in the whole wedding week and spend time with our guests watching sunsets and eating lobsters fresh from the fishing boats.

On the morning of the wedding Vlad and the groomsmen got ready on the upper floor of the house, while the girls and I were glammed-up downstairs. Two vans then came to pick up Vlad and I, and we rode separately to the historic East Chop lighthouse where we did our first-look. It was such a special moment when we saw each other and we will never forget it. After that we went to the beach to capture some shots with the wedding party, and the sun came out just long enough for us to take our photos. As we were finishing, the sky suddenly opened and we all ran back to the vans as quickly as we could!

Our guests arrived at the ceremony on Martha’s Vineyard sightseeing buses. While they were getting seated, we had our ketubah ceremony under one of the alcoves of the barn. Vlad helped design our ketubah with an image of the island and nautical ropes, using our wedding colors. Our Rabbi worked with us to create a ceremony that was everything we envisioned and more. We wrote our own vows, and I would recommend doing so, because it made the moment very personal and meaningful. Vlad’s grandfather, a talented musician, played violin during the processional and recessional, which was truly special.

During planning we always talked about wanting to have a really fun party. At the cocktail hour we had an oyster shucking station with our favorite oysters, which was a big hit. I created a photo-booth-like area using a banner, chalkboards, and props, so that guests could stop by and take photos throughout the evening. Our southern barbecue buffet created a relaxed and delicious dinnertime. I surprised Vlad with a robot-surfer groom’s cake that combined two of his favorite things, and even had a bathing suit that matched one he always wears surfing. With the huge barn doors open on three sides of the building, guests could wander in and out as they pleased to gaze up at the stars as it got dark. A very close and talented friend of ours DJ’d, and created a vibrant atmosphere for dancing, getting everyone up on their feet.

The most important thing Vlad and I needed to keep reminding ourselves of throughout the planning process was to create a day that was true to us and what we wanted. With that in mind, we were able to bask in a truly memorable and celebratory day, that was absolutely “us.”

Photography: Yuna Leonard Photography | Floral Design: MV Florist | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cakes: Vals Cakes | Invitations: Paperless Post | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Bridesmaid Dresses: Urban Outfitters | Catering: Tastyplates | Makeup: tada makeup | Hair: Lindsay Griffin | DJ: Roman Levin | Men's Attire: Zara | Officiant: Rabbi Richard Winer | Transportation: Vineyard Coach and Concierge | Wedding Venue: Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society | Alterations: Best Fit | Bridesmaids' Bracelets: Bridal Cute Hangers | Bride’s Ceremony Veil: Blissetts | Bride’s Earrings: Cherry Hills Bridal | Bride’s Face Veil: Alisa Brides | Bride’s Shoes: Vince Camuto | Bride’s Wedding Ring: Homsy Jewelers | Cake Topper: N.Hayes Designs | DJ Equipment Rental: Boston Pro Sound | Day-Of Coordinator: Amanda Masson | Groom’s Cake: Oakleaf Cake Bake Shop | Groom’s Wedding Ring: BRAG - Boston Ring And Gem | Hanger: Bridal Cute Hangers | Liquor/Beverages: Ort Market | Personalized Napkins: The Knot Wedding Shop | Rentals: Seaside Celebrations | Robes: Silk And More | Save-the-Dates: Minted | Straws + Straw-flags: Dime Store Buddy | Table Number Bins: Target | Tablecloth Fabric: Zimman’s | Wooden flower holders: Save On Crafts

This is how I picture every New England wedding to be.  A soft, romantic love-fest with an intimate chapel ceremony, followed by a backyard tented reception chock-full of lovely.  In other words, a perfect day crafted by a talented team of vendors (think Lens Cap Productions, Sperry Tents and Greenlion Design) featuring one of the cutest couples you will ever meet.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Though we met in college and shared similar social circles, Christopher and I did not really connect until six years later at an impromptu local alumni get together I helped plan in Boston where we discovered we had a lot in common. After swapping countless pictures and stories of our beloved golden retrievers that night, it was clear we had many shared interests & values and that a relationship was in our future. Our very next date after that was to a Red Sox baseball game a few weeks later where I was treated to cold beer and an extra large “Monster” hotdog at the game. Chris now jokes that watching me scarf down park food on that hot summer day in under a minute, was the moment he fell in love with me!

Five years later, on an unsuspecting sunny St. Patrick’s Day afternoon, outside the very apartment in which I lived for most of our courtship (and as Christopher reminded me “where it all began”) he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.

We knew we wanted a short engagement, so we set a date for four months later. Already committed to one another, our family, friends and cherished dogs, we wanted to exchange vows to reflect these important relationships and let them shine for what they are. So much of our relationship was rooted in our shared appreciation for simple joys, we wanted to maintain that space without the pageantry weddings can often hinder. With that in mind we decided we wanted to create the feeling of an ‘at home’ kind of a wedding. I’ve always admired DIY, crafty weddings and those thoughtful and personal gestures to our wedding.

We were married in a quintessential New England chapel. From the moment Christopher and I saw the beautiful red doors of this quaint Westport chapel, we knew this was the place we wanted to declare our commitment to one another. The ceremony was intimate & simple and reflected our relationship
metaphorically, but it also allowed us to create a focus on the vows…

“I take you to be my wife/husband
I promise above all else to live in truth with you
And to communicate fully and fearlessly
I give you my hand and my heart
As a sanctuary of warmth and peace
And pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor
As I join my life to yours”

As an added bonus to the already charming ceremony, we drove away from the ceremony in my mother’s 1976 yellow convertible Volkswagen beetle. It was special to begin our journey together as husband and wife in a fun and familiar family car, with our dogs in tow in the back seat, a private moment alone on the way to celebrate our recent nuptials. I sat up on my knees the entire ride back waving at every passing car, my veil flying in the wind, while Chris honked the old horn. As we pulled down the driveway one of the members of our band played ‘here comes the bride,’ announcing our arrival.

My parents were generous enough to let us hold the reception at their riverfront home in Westport, MA. With such a gorgeous backdrop set we made sure to honor our surroundings by serving locally sourced foods from the nearby farming community, beers from the craft brewery down the street, used a local bakery for the cake & desserts and garden picked flowers and herbs from my parents gardens, even using my Mothers watering can collection to show off some of the blooms. My mother is also an incredibly talented seamstress, having made many outfits for my sister and I as children, including my high school prom dress. And while she didn’t attempt to make a wedding gown, she did make the veil for my vintage headpiece, as well as sewed the table runners and pennant banners for the wedding. We even decided to use some of her sewing pieces as props throughout the wedding.

Wedding photos of our grandparents, parents and siblings were displayed – honoring those uniquely different marriages in our families that we reflect and continue to learn from. Wildflower seed packets were given as favors to guests in hopes that they through the simple yet symbolic gesture of planting flowers, we aim to share our happiness, express how grateful we are for the people who have nourished us individually and also in our relationship as it grew. It was the wedding of our dreams… we felt the day reflected who and what we value/are and we were able to share it with the people we care about most in this world.

Photographer: Courtney Perkins Ryan | Photography: Courtney Perkins Ryan | Florist: Greenlion | Wedding Dress: Vows | Invitations: Wide Eyes Designs | Ceremony Venue: Acoaxet Chapel | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Catering: Smoke And Pickles | Hair & Makeup: The Beautiful Bride | Band: Rare Form | Groom's Suit: Tommy Hilfiger | Cake & Desserts: Beach Plum Cafe | Cake Topper: Hand Painted by Bride, supplied by Goose Grease | Guest Book Poster: Once Upon a Paper | Other Rentals: Rentals Unlimited | Tent & Table Rentals: Sperry Tents

A Boston engagement session always sounds like a good idea to me, but a Boston engagement session snapped up by Zac Wolf is pure genius. Because that means you get to walk away with a collection of images as gorgeous as the one sitting right here in this gallery – and ladies and gents, it doesn’t get much better than that. See it all here.

From Zac Wolf… Meghan and Daniel are one of those couples you click with right from that first meeting. So happy I got to photograph their engagement session in their old stomping grounds of the South End. I love the South End, so many awesome spots to shoot and there are always nice dogs walking around while we are shooting.

Photography: Zac Wolf Photography

By now you probably know about our love affair with all things Fall. From our Fall Decor Guide to our Apple Picking Party, from our Cider Donuts to our Apple & Goat Cheese Tartletts – Fall equals love in our book. And now that we’ve seen the what the girls from DomestiKated Life + Little Flower Cottage + Bring to Light Photography can do with a little Fall Apple Goodness. Well, we’re more hopelessly in love than ever. Click here to see the entire spread.

As a couple of New England girls, we’re almost obligated to welcome fall with open arms. With our love of the crisp autumn weather comes the annual New Englander ritual to visit the orchard and get our apple picking fix. Admittedly, we went a little overboard this year, and came home with a bounty of cider donuts, crisp apple cider, and bushels upon bushels of our favorite apple varietals.

How does that saying go? When life gives you apples, make apple pie? Something like that! Well, we made lots of mini mason jar pies, salted caramel apples, and a baked brie with apple compote for a post-orchard autumn apple fete on the porch.

And it’s not a party without a signature cocktail — our autumn apple punch was a perfect pairing for our tasty treats. We mixed up Bulleit Rye, apple cider, and cardamom clove simple syrup with a squeeze of lemon juice and served them in mason jar mugs with an apple garnish. A day at the apple orchard was extended with an afternoon of friends enjoying apple themed food and drink.

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Photography: Bring to Light Photography | Styling & Design: Domestikated Life | Flowers: Little Flower Cottage

Today calls for all things fall, don’t you agree? It is Halloween after all, and although this engagement session is more sweet than spooky, it feels fitting to feature it today. From the foliage to the fashion, every image of these two cuties captured by Gina Brocker Photography gives me the warm and fuzzies, and you can see why right here.

From the couple…We met for the first time in Boston’s seaport at Jerry Remy’s in June 2011 but feel our story started long before that. After all, we had grown up in the same hometown yet had never crossed paths. The very next weekend Joey invited me to his lake house for an annual fireworks show and from that night on we were inseparable. Joey proposed nine months later at the top of a lighthouse in Newburyport. A year and a half later we were married at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Returning from the high of a magical wedding and honeymoon can leave you ready for more adventures together. Doing the love session was an incredibly sweet way to continue to indulge in our love and happiness as newlyweds and took us right back to the water – where most of the pivotal moments in our relationship have taken place. Aurburndale Cove in Newton, Massachusetts was the perfect backdrop for fall romance. The fog was hanging heavy over the river and the sprinkle of rain was the perfect touch – nothing like getting snuggly on a dreary day. Our favorite part of the shoot had to be when we jumped into the canoe together and started to feed the ducks. It felt like a mini adventure as we explored the area during the shoot and it took us right back to all of the emotions we felt from the night we met, to our engagement, and wedding day and night. Lastly, the photographer, Gina Brocker, is absolutely amazing, creative and fun to be around. We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!

Photographer: Gina Brocker Photography | Makeup: Dani Wagener Beauty | Hair: Lindsay Griffin | Her Boots: Frye Boots | Her Dress: Juicy Couture | Her Jeans: J Brand | Her Sweater: LA Made | Her Vest: Adrienne Landau | His Navy Sweater: Club Monaco | His Pants: Club Monaco | His Red Sweater: Banana Republic | His Shoes: Johnston & Murphy | Location: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Outdoor Location: Hale Koa phineas Estate

This wedding had me at three words: Saltwater Farm Vineyard, aka, the pretty little Connecticut locale perfect for celebrating some downright awesome nuptials.  Because this is a place where gorgeous outdoor ceremonies play hand in hand with amazing receptions literally overflowing with lovely, and today’s shining example is this beautiful gem of a day captured by Eric Brushett Photography.  It’s natural + glamorous stylings meets all kinds of happy and you can see it all right here in the full gallery.

From Eric Brushett Photography… Jenn and George got married at the incredible Saltwater Water Farm Vineyard in Stonington, CT. It was a hot, sunny, and beautiful day for a wedding. The day started in the vineyard’s bridal suite that overlooks the entirety of the property. From there we went down into the vineyard for the ceremony, and then moved into the old airplane hanger turned wedding venue.

Jenn and George’s love for each other really came out during two very emotional speeches before the dinner service, and carried all the way through the rest of the night.

My favorite moment of the day was when I caught Jenn and George dancing with each other off to the side of the wedding in front of a wall of wine bottles. I clicked on a long lens and snapped three photos before I left them alone to enjoy each other. It was a truly candid moment, and I was honored to be able to photograph it.

Photography: Eric Brushett Photography | Catering: Coastal Gourmet | Wedding Venue: Saltwater Farms Vineyard

Cape Cod and gorgeous weddings go hand in hand, but they enter a whole new level of pretty when this team of talents joins forces. And it’s the kind of pretty you’ll want to sit down with for awhile. I’m talking invitations by the amazing Ruby the Fox, lovely florals from Lilacs Floral Design, and a picture perfect cake from Delicious Desserts all captured by Sweet Monday Photography – it’s image after image of lovely inspiration, and you can take a peek at all the pretty right here.

And you won’t want to miss icing on the cake – this couple’s gorgeous film by Long Haul Films …

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From Sweet Monday Photography… Lindsey & Mike grew up in the same town, knew of each other throughout school, and went to neighboring colleges but it wasn’t until a chance encounter at a bar that led to a night of dancing which eventually led to a realization that they were soul mates. Lindsey was working in the fashion industry in NYC and Mike was in Boston, but Lindsey soon returned home so they could start their lives together. Needless to say, with so many years of mutual friends and family on hand to celebrate, and all of them passionate dancers, Lindsey & Mike’s wedding was a serious party!

Since Lindsey worked in fashion, we had high expectations for her dress and boy, did she bring it! We are obsessed with her Reem Acra gown that was both traditional but also stunningly modern and unique. The entire wedding party looked fabulous! All the rest of the details of the day took a cue from Lindsey’s dress, keeping with the classic themes of a Cape Cod wedding but with a refreshingly contemporary spin, from the Blue & Blush color palate to the paper suite by Ruby the Fox.

From the Bride… Michael and I were childhood friends whose paths crisscrossed many times over the years – we attended the same middle school, belonged to the same church and even attended rival colleges in Maine. After graduating school, I moved to Manhattan and Michael to Boston, and it wasn’t until a chance encounter when I was home visiting family over Thanksgiving when our paths crossed once more, and as they say, the rest is history!

I have to admit that as a young girl I grew up not dreaming about my perfect wedding, but rather more specifically about the perfect groom and perfect dress! Michael and I were married on Cape Cod on a beautiful, sunny, 75 degree day, and as every bride will tell you, the whole day was a complete blur – but a perfect blur. I married the most perfect man in the wedding dress of my dreams, surrounded by 225 of the most wonderful family and friends – and after that everything else just fell into place.

As a slave to details, I put a fair amount of thought and energy into planning every single detail of our day. As most brides do, I spent countless hours browsing magazines and blogs for inspiration. While I didn’t have a wedding theme per say, the décor and overall design aesthetic was influenced by the romance and charm of “Old World Cape Cod” – from the organic lush and candlelight filled centerpieces by Lilacs, to the adirondack chairs (with custom made pillows to match our invitation envelope liners!) and row boat filled with beer on the lawn for the cocktail hour. While we wanted a formal wedding, we still wanted it to still be youthful and fun. In order to set this tone, we worked with the super talented Megan of Ruby the Fox Designs to create the most perfect invitation suite and day of elements, which were traditional with a touch of whimsy. Sweet Monday Photography and Long Haul Films were the ultimate “dream team” to work with, documenting every detail of our day so beautifully.

I could not have been more in love with my Reem Acra wedding gown. Working in fashion, I knew I wanted something a little different and unlike what I had seen on any other bride – traditional yet unique, structured yet romantic – and to me, this dress accomplished all of that. The bodice of raw silk strips and skirt of layers (and layers!) of tulle and organza simply took my breath away. When I tried it on I couldn’t take it off, and knew it was the dress I was meant to dance the night away in! I also had a bit of fun outfitting the wedding party – all 25 of them! The bridesmaids wore Joanna August dresses in five different shades of blush and nude, and the groomsmen wore Navy Bonobos suits with Brooks Brother’s ties.

The weekend unfolded more perfectly then I ever could have imagined, with my all-time favorite moment being our first look, followed by our first dance to “Never Knew Love Like This Before” (Stephanie Mills). I remember thinking that it was pretty darn miraculous that I got to marry this incredible guy on this beautiful summer day surrounded by such amazing friends and family, and I can’t thank everyone enough for helping to make it the best day of our lives.

Photography: Sweet Monday Photography | Videography: Long Haul Films | Coordinator: Lynne Enos | Florist: Lilacs | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Delicious Desserts | Invitations: Ruby The Fox | Church: St. Elizabeth Seton | Reception Venue: Oyster Harbors Club | Bridesmaids Dresses: Joanna August | Makeup: Katrina Hess | Hair: Stacey Kuehn | Band: Night Shift Entertainment | Men's Ties: Brooks Brothers | Men's Suits: Bonobos | Bridal Boutique: Bella Bridesmaid | Rentals: Be Our Guest | Rentals:: Chase Canopy

Is it just me or are Cape Cod weddings always fabulous?  Not just me?  Great.  Because this gem of a day captured by Person + Killian Photography is the epitome of Cape Cod perfection, with a preppy meets classic vibe that is all kinds of amazing.  Think gorgeous blooms from Lilacs, the fab planning skills of Cape Cod Celebrations and one beautiful moment after another set against a stunning Chatham Bars Inn setting.  See it all right here.

From Person + Killian Photography… When deciding where to have their late summer wedding, Jessica and Michael instantly knew that Cape Cod was the place they wanted to be. Their family has been vacationing on the Cape for over 50 years, traveling all the way from Texas each summer to enjoy the beautiful New England seaside! The happy couple started their classic Cape Cod wedding weekend with a traditional New England lobster bake for their rehearsal dinner Friday night.

A tent was installed in the backyard of their rented house in Chatham, MA to host their friends and family for the beautiful evening dinner. The long family-style tables were decorated in navy blue and white with lots of fun nautical details, even the bottles of water were kept in a classic rowboat filled with ice with a custom “Jessica + Michael” life preserver on the front! We loved getting to meet all of the Jessica + Michael’s closest friends and family, and hearing all of the heartfelt toasts about this wonderful couple the night before the wedding.

Here’s what the bride and groom had to say about their beautiful Chatham Bars Inn wedding:

“We wanted to feel like we were throwing a casually elegant dinner party at our own home so that people can literally kick off their shoes, put on flip flops, and dance the night away. We chose a destination wedding in Cape Cod because Jessica grew up going there in the summertime. Her grandfather started the tradition when he lived in Boston, before moving to Texas and carrying on the tradition. We also decided to do a beach wedding because we both LOVE the ocean, and we wanted to limit our wedding to the people that we know will be lifelong family and friends.”

The next morning the wedding celebration began — Jessica and her bridesmaids got ready for the day in their rented house, while Michael and his groomsmen spent the morning at the Chatham Bars Inn. The ladies wore beautiful eggplant purple bridesmaid dresses, and Jessica looked stunning in a lace-topped Elizabeth Fillmore wedding gown. The men looked perfectly “Cape Cod” in light grey suits paired with soft green ties and a simple calla lily boutonniere.

Rustic wooden boat signs pointed the way towards the outdoor wedding ceremony at the Chatham Bars Inn, which took place under a beautiful white arbor overlooking the ocean. The long winding staircase leading down from the Inn itself made Jessica’s big entrance especially stunning and unique! After the “I do’s,” the happy newlyweds were led down the aisle and back to the Inn by a traditional Scottish bagpiper.

While guests began cocktail hour in the Chatham Bars Inn Boat House, we took the opportunity to get some great formal wedding photos with Jessica, Michael, and their wedding party. After the formal photos, we kicked off our shoes and took just the bride and groom out to the beach for some romantic beach wedding pictures. With the beautiful blue water, grass-covered dunes, and sailboats in the background this was the perfect place for classic Cape Cod wedding photos!

The evening reception was set up inside the Beach House Grill, with classic silver linens and ballroom chairs paired with white napkins and cushions. The floral centerpieces were a beautiful mix of white, green, and blue summer flowers, and each place setting featured a customized wedding logo with Jessica + Michael’s initials inside a silver ship’s helm. Dancing took place outside under the adjacent clear tent, which was lit with purple uplights as soon as the sun started to set.

After a night full of eating, dancing, and celebrating with their friends and family, the beaming bride and groom made their exit while guests held up sparklers and threw white dove-shaped confetti. The celebration didn’t stop there, as guests who weren’t ready to stop dancing headed to the late-night after party for even more fun!

Thank you Jessica and Michael for having us there to photograph such a special weekend for you, to the team at the Chatham Bars Inn and team at Cape Cod Celebrations for being so great to work with as always!

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Photography: Person + Killian Photography | Flowers: Lilacs | Wedding Cake: Chatham Bars Inn | Event Planning: Cape Cod Celebrations | Hair & Makeup: Lisa George | Lighting: Chase Canopy | Entertainment:Wilson Stevens Productions | Invitations/Paper Products: Hayley Hardcastle | Linens: Rentals Unlimited Boston | Wedding Venue: Chatham Bars Inn | Rehearsal Dinner Rentals: Party Cape Cod

I’m fighting every urge in my body to let the girly “oh my gods” gush out of me right now. This wedding, from Lauren Methia Photography, has done it. The couple, the flowers from Winston Flowers, the beautiful sunset on the beach, the colors… it’s brought out my inner wedding nerd, and I’m loving it. Everything is so beyond perfect, it’s kind of ridiculous.

From the Bride and Groom… We met and fell in love as students at Tufts University. After six years of creating wonderful memories together, from study sessions in the library to weekend getaways exploring new cities, we were both excited to get married and start our life together as husband and wife. Greater Boston has been home to both of us for many years, our dream was to get married within Massachusetts, in a venue that would be a fun and memorable retreat for our friends and family traveling from all over the world to celebrate our special day. After visiting Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Cape Cod, we knew that it was the perfect venue for beach-loving souls like us.

True to our heritage, our wedding was performed in customary Hindu style with elements of Western culture interspersed within. The wedding was held on the Mansion’s front lawn, followed by cocktails on the terrace overlooking the ocean, and the reception in the ballroom. Indian weddings are large, full of color, and particularly busy, and our wedding was no different. It was exciting to see the long hours and months of planning culminate so beautifully in a day we’ll remember forever. The ballroom decor, by Winston Flowers, was especially amazing. Lauren Methia Photography was not only able to prepare extensively for the weekend and capture it beautifully, but was also adept at adjusting on the fly with ease to overcome changes in the itinerary seamlessly. Lauren’s attention to detail and talent was a source of comfort to us, not only during the wedding weekend, but also the entire planning process.

Cinematography: Imagique Weddings | Floral Design: Winston Flowers | Makeup: Dana Dodson | Hair: Kristen Moshiek | Baker: The Casual Gourmet | DJ/Music: DJ Yogi, Boston Sound and Light | Mansion: Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Course

Cape Cod weddings are always special, but this one takes the cake. Because it’s not only down right gorgeous thanks to the talented team of Cape Cod Celebrations, but it’s also filled with heart (their description alone sent the good kind of shivers down my spine). You see, on top of planning a wedding, this amazing Bride also donated her kidney to her soon-to-be hubby. I’ll let you take a moment to soak that in. They are literally the perfect match in so many ways, and their chic Cape Cod celebration must have been not only magical, but meaningful. See the entire day from Hike Photography right here.

From Cape Cod Celebrations… I had the pleasure of working with Marci and Bob this past May and what an amazing couple, on every level of amazing. I was inspired to work with Marci and Bob by Judy Fligg from All About Flowers for Weddings, when she told me that Marci actually donated her kidney to Bob in order for him to basically stay alive. I mean, talk about love!

From the Bride… Bob and I met years ago while working at the same company and formed a great friendship. We are very similar with our sarcastic nature, so we had a lot of fun together. Three years ago we took our friendship into a relationship. Our relationship was always so easy, a part of me always knew that I would move to Newburyport where Bob was living and that we would be married. I never thought about it, just knew that was the direction. Our love for each other grew very strong and for the first time we both felt like we could truly love and be loved.

From the beginning of our relationship I always knew Bob had health issues. He struggled with a kidney disease for many years and we knew that at some point in his life he would need a kidney transplant. In January of 2012 he was told that it was time after dealing with his disease for 12 years, he would need to go through the process of becoming a recipient for a transplant and to start talking to family and friends about donating. Two family members wanted to get tested to become a donor for Bob, so we started that process. Bob and I tried to go on with life as usual. In March we went on an amazing trip to Scrub Island in the BVIs. To my surprise Bob asked me to marry him on that trip and everything was perfect.

After the trip Bob’s family members that were being tested could not be donors. It was very emotional because of the willingness for them to donate as well as not being able too. Bob started to have other complications. I could not see him like this and wanted to do anything I could to help. I decided to call the transplant center and schedule to be tested, I didnt know my blood type, but wanted to try. Within three weeks of getting tested, I was a match for Bob. When I found out I was the match I knew I was going to have surgery. I was scared to death as I had never had a major surgery let alone spent a night in a hospital, but I knew I had to help and could never live with myself if I did not help him.

The week before the surgery Bob was admitted to the hospital with a pain in his arm. The surgery was cancelled and he was devastated, really not sure what was even going on. Later on we found out that Bob was suffering from a minor heart attack due to complications. The doctors handled his condition, but it left Bob with no choice, but to go on dialysis. With hope we would be able to be back on track in three months and have the surgery.

Three long months went by; Bob and I were once again cleared for surgery. There was excitement and so much fear. We were both so worried that this would affect our relationship. Neither of us wanted to resent each other we just wanted to be there for each other. On October 1st we had surgery and I donated my kidney to Bob. The surgery went well for both of us and we both had a long recovery ahead of us. With the help of our families we had the support we needed to get through a full recovery and although it wasnt always easy we made it through, together. Everything you go through in life makes you stronger and this made us as individuals stronger and together in our relationship resilient. We truly are the perfect match!

After surgery we started putting all our energy into planning our wedding. Since I was a little girl I always wanted to get married at the Popponesset Inn. I grew up on Cape Cod and really wanted to share that with Bob. Bob grew up in Newburyport, so we knew we wanted to have the wedding near the water. When I brought Bob to look at Popponesset, he thought it was perfect location for a romantic, casual and fun setting. I already knew the vendors I wanted to work with some old friends and some new faces. I met Judy Fligg from All about Flowers and instantly fell in love. Her creativity and ability to understand your vision is amazing. I met with her 6 weeks after surgery and she brought me back to life, her heart so fill with love and joy. Because of her I am able to work with the best vendors on Cape Cod. We chose a nautical theme of anchors, lanterns, sea glass, seersucker, and beautiful peonies in soft ivory and pink. Our invitations were custom done by Jen at Dulce Press, which set the scene for our Cape Cod wedding. We incorporated Cape Cod in our invitations and guest book. Cape Cod has become a second home for Bob and is special to both of us.

The wedding was incredible, everything we imagined it to be. Walking into the ceremony, Popponesset was breathtaking especially with the rain splashing down. Our family was a big part of our wedding party, which made the day that more special. Our twin nephews walked down before I did with driftwood sign that read Uncle Bobby here comes your girl. Rose pedals lined the aisle and at the end of the aisle were beautiful arrangements of peonies, roses, and hydrangeas on pillars. I held an all pink peonies bouquet with a charm to remember my mom; she passed away and wanted her to be part of my day too. We finished the ceremony and started pictures inside the tent, as we were getting through some pictures we noticed the sun peeking through and that the rain had stopped. All of us so excited went outside to the beach and was able to take some amazing shots on the beach thanks to Hike photography. I like to think it was my mom looking down on us sending her love. After pictures we went back into the tent got introduced as Mr. & Mrs. Eiserman and danced our first song I wont Give up by Jason Mraz, that Dan Sky sang for us. We chose Dan because we heard him sing one night and it touched our hearts.

When we sat and looked around the room we were amazed at the beauty of it all. Tables of white linen with cobalt chargers and glasses, white and pink flowers overflowing silver pales and lanterns, sea glass around the room, white lanterns and lights hanging from the ceiling, and the perfect little nautical touch of seersucker on the tables. We incorporated signs made out of driftwood for Mr & Mrs made by Liz Stotz of Newburyport. It was the perfect Cape Cod wedding. We dined and danced to the music of Dan Sky and just appreciated our lives, health and love.

It was a beautiful night for us and really came together with help from our fabulous vendors and planners that out of the goodness in their heart gave Bob and me a wedding to always remember after a year we wanted to forget! Many thanks and love to Jen at Dulce Press, Judy at All About Flowers for Weddings, Jamie Bohlin Cape Cod Celebrations, Jennifer Perry at Popponeset, Lisa from Delicious Desserts, and Dan Sky from Dan Sky music.

Photography: Hike Photography | Coordination: Cape Cod Celebrations | Floral Design: All About Flowers For Weddings | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Delicious Desserts | Invitations: Dulce Press | Bridesmaids Dresses: Lula Kate | Makeup: Robin Liebowitz | Hair: Brady Brumfield of James Joseph Salon | DJ: Dan Sky | Ties: Vineyard Vines | Men's Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Wedding Venue: Popponesset Inn | Bridal Boutique: Allegria Bridal

It’s funny how fate works.  Like when a good friend tells you that they have the perfect match for you and years later you find out that they were so, so right.  That’s exactly how it happened for these two sweeties, and that awesome set-up?  Well, it ended up being “the one” in so many ways.  Love is an amazing thing, SMPers and you can celebrate right along with these two cuties in the full gallery captured by Audrey Courchesne.  It’s amazing.

From the Bride… When I think about meeting the love of my life, Jas, I can’t help but think that everything happens for a reason. We share a wonderful friend and she wanted to set us up for years before we actually met. The timing was actually perfect, but we both wish it had been much sooner and feel very lucky! From the very beginning, we felt like we had known each other forever and blending our lives together has brought us a lot of joy and kept us busy.

Our engagement wasn’t a big surprise, but it was cozy and relaxed just like how we feel when were together. Jas proposed by presenting me with individual cards he had written with the top ten reasons he loves me. As I opened and read each one I was tearing up and he was smiling at me the whole time and wiping my tears. He is not expressive, so when he writes me cards they are so deliberate and thoughtful making them incredibly special.

When I look at our engagement photos (which is often), I feel a swell in my heart! Jas revealed to me that on the first couple of days after we received them he couldn’t stop looking at them, which is so sweet and just how I was, too. The photos, taken in Boston’s Seaport District and on Castle Island, capture exactly how comfortable, caring, and warm our love is.

Photography: Audrey Courchesne

We’re ALL about random acts of kindness around here. And when it comes in the form of styled-to-a-T-bloomage, it’s a win-win. Coined “The Lonely Bouquet,” the idea is to place a bouquet of pretties around your neighborhood and brighten the day of an unsuspecting stranger. Cute stuff, right?! Pollen Floral Design took this idea to Boston’s South End with Cambria Grace there to capture. You can find more info on #thelonelybouquet and this week’s winners below. Happy weekend, indeed! xoxo

From Krissy of Pollen Floral Design… The inspiration for this little shoot came from The Lonely Bouquet Project started by a small, organically run flower garden in Belgium called Fleuropean. In a nutshell, the goal of the project is to spread joy to strangers by leaving Lonely Bouquets around your neighborhood for a lucky someone to enjoy.

From Fleuropean, “The basic concept of the Lonely Bouquet goes a little something like this: 1) pick flowers fresh from the garden or forage straight from nature, 2) arrange the flowers 3) add a signature “take me!” tag, and 4) leave the homegrown arrangement behind for a lucky local to take home. Voila! You have just delivered a handful of flowers that will surely put a smile on a stranger’s face.”

We had a lovely time running around Boston’s beautiful South End searching for the perfect spot to leave our bouquets. Even Max, the black lab, took a little bite out of one! Hopefully, this will inspire florist, gardeners, shopkeepers and everyone else to spread the love with some beautiful blooms!! Check out all the different bouquets at #thelonelybouquet!!

Photography: Cambria Grace Photography | Florals & Concept Design: Pollen Floral Design

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And now for some winner love…

A big ol’ congrats to Mei Ling and Marisa T. who BOTH won a pair of tickets to The Love Tour!

On that same note Jen will be receiving tickets to The Love Tour along with free engagement session with Zoom Theory!

(Psssst: and because they are super awesome… everyone who entered will be getting tickets to the upcoming event + they’re offering $5 off the ticket price for the tour in Rancho Las Lomas!)

Keeping with the good news, Erin S snagged the one night stay for two, including a full breakfast, one reserved hour of wine tasting and its famous 5-course wine-paired meal from the Inn at Churon Winery!

If you didn’t win this time around, fear not! We’ve got some giveaway reminders right here!

Maggiano’s is giving one of our lucky readers dinner for two.

Secrets Puerto Los Cabos is giving away a pair of Wedgewood Vera Wang Love Knots Toasting Flutes.

Allure Bridals is hosting a Win Your Gown Contest with a price of any dress from their collections (valued up to $4,500)!

Adrian Tuazon Photography has a free engagement session up for grabs.

And last but not least, Aravina Estate is giving away a $200 dining voucher to one lucky SMP reader!

And a few fun discounts!

NatureBox are offering all SMP Living readers 50% off their first purchase on any sized box! 

Postable is giving SMPers 10% off your first thank you card order!

PF Films is offering SMP readers $500 off their film package! 

Snag a 10% discount from Toronto Bridal Style.

And Unique Visions Studio is offering a 10% discount to all SMP couples inquiring about their cinematography services!

Love stories like this make me happy.  Love stories where two people meet and fall head over heels for each other, totally unexpectedly.  It’s like one moment you’re (begrudgingly) attending an extremely hot 4th of July party and the next your celebrating an amazing wedding captured by Kelly Dillon Photography.  The result?  East Coast pretty meets a fairytale beginning… and it’s all waiting for you to devour right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Jeff and I met on July 3, 2010 at a 4th of July barbecue. I had fully intended on staying home, since the weather had called for 98 Degrees, but with some coercion from my roommate, to include the promise of cold beer and fireworks, I decided to go. Once we arrived, we all stood around huddled under a food service tent, which proved to be the only protection from the scorching sun. Soon after, the host of the party had announced he needed some help bringing down the fireworks from his car. Some guys standing near reluctantly, but politely obliged and scampered off to lug boxes. Once the guys came back, they were all carrying big boxes of colorfully packaged fireworks, including one guy, who wasn’t in the group of people before. This is when I saw Jeff. He must have been persuaded into helping from the minute he got out of his car. After the guys had finished with the fireworks, they returned to the shade of the tent with us.

Jeff was quiet, and I am not! I invited him to be my teammate in a game of Beirut. Turns out we are both horrible at this game, and we lost miserably. We spent some time together for the rest of the barbecue, and parted ways once the festivities of the night came to an end. It wasn’t until days later I received a message on Facebook (yes, that’s right.. Facebook) that we met up again. In his message, he apologized for not asking my number, and he wanted to know if I would like to go out for dinner some night. We went to Gibbett Hill, in Groton, MA for our first date, and he took me fishing shortly after. If wasn’t until later I found out from Jeff’s friends and family that Jeff doesn’t take just ANYONE fishing, and that he must really like me to have been selected for such insight into his favorite place. We spent more and more time together. Eventually we moved in to a small apartment together, and had planned on a vacation in Aruba, which is where Jeff proposed to me. Jeff and I married June 15, 2013.

Photography: Kelly Dillon Photography | Florist: Audrey's Flower Shop | Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Church: St. Anthony Chapel | Reception: Eastern Point Yacht Club | Jewelry: Nordstrom | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Hair: Blondie Salon and Spa

Funny story. I became email friends with Lauren Wells way back when we featured her wedding here on SMP. We wrote back and forth like old pals, but it wasn’t until JUST recently we met and put a face to the name. And while she’s just sweet as a peach in real life, it’s nothing compared to her talent as a budding event extraordinaire — mark my words, this girl is one to watch. Cambria Grace snapped the cutest little sesh of Lauren and her sweetie with floral crown pretties by Pollen Floral Design. And because it’s almost too much cute to bear, we’ve wrapped up the rest for you in the full gallery right here.

From Cambria Grace Photography… Lauren (of Lauren Wells Events) came to me and asked if I could take some photos for her website which is currently being designed. A husband and wife team (Lauren is the lead planner and designer, while Matt is director of special projects/builder of all awesome things), I was excited to work with the creative duo. They had also never done engagement photos, so I was able to get some happy couple-y shots for the two of them. Lauren’s vision for her site was to break away from the super soft and romantic, and to instead have a website that says “Let’s throw one heck of a party.” Adamant there be no kissing photos for fear it would look too much like an engagement shoot (although Matt snuck one in!), my job was easy as they never stopped laughing or looking completely smitten with one another. As a photographer, this couple is an absolute dream to photograph. I loved working with these two and definitely recommend them for any party or event planning!

Photography: Cambria Grace Photography | Event Planning: Lauren Wells Events | Flower Crown: Pollen Floral Design

Intimate and downright lovely, this Willowdale Estate wedding from Zac Wolf Photography is the type of fête that will make your heart do a leap or two. And yes, you’ll grin from ear to ear because of the all the sweet details tucked in this gallery, but what will really make you swoon is just how happy this family is in each and every image. See all the happiness in action here.

From Zac… Katie and Max celebrated their love at Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, MA. Two of the kindest people I have truly ever met. The whole day all they cared about was how everyone else was doing and if everyone else was having a good time. They remembered that I told them I never get to eat the cake… so after they cut the cake, I got hand fed a piece of their cake.

The wedding was filled with DIY details and total perfection that emphasized just how great of a venue Willowdale is for small weddings like this one. They got to bring in so many details of themselves and their son to celebrate their love together.

Photography: Zac Wolf Photography | Flowers: Whole Foods Market Preston | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister | Reception Venue: Willowdale Estate | Makeup Artist: The Makeup Artists | Men's Attire: Vera Wang

There is no getting around it, this wedding from Lisa Rigby is just as lovely as they come. Overflowing with the kind of style that just makes you smile and details so pretty you may just squeal – it’s what we like to call SMP gold around these parts. But you don’t have to take my word for it, you can get lost in all the pretty right here.

From the Bride… It was important to us that our wedding day reflect who were are as a couple, and most importantly, pay homage to our families. We wanted the day to have a casual elegance and a “collected” feel. We tried to transform the Pierce House to make it feel like it was our own. Mantels above the fireplaces became locations to place wedding photos of our family members – from parents and siblings and even back to great-great grandparents. Walls became home to maps of our hometowns and photos of adventures that Rob and I have done over the years. We used Rob’s grandfather’s wooden toolbox from his job as a shipbuilder in the mid-1900’s as a place for guests to leave cards.

Our guests drank from mason jars that served double-duty as escort tags with names and table numbers tied to the rims. Instead of traditional drink and dinner menus, we used windows from my parents’ 1876 barn & covered the glass with chalkboard paint to display what was in store. And rather than the typical photo booth, we decided to hang antique picture frames from Rob’s parents’ house from a tree where guests could take their photos and sign the guest book.

One of our favorite details from the day was the mismatched china we used for place settings– and it almost didn’t happen. Rob and I collected china for over a year and discovered a month away from our wedding that we were short…by a long shot! Luckily, our amazing wedding coordinators at Tribe Design + Events offered to scrounge around antique shops to get us over the finish line!

Rob doesn’t drink and we wanted to do a “champagne” toast that he could enjoy too. We thought using the Coke in glass bottles went nicely with our overall theme of a 1920s garden party. This spring, my dad and I were at the Brimfield Antiques Market and we came across these yellow antique wooden Coke boxes. They were perfect for passing out the bottles of Coke for the toast, and matched our yellow & gray color scheme.

Tea is a nightly ritual for Rob and me, and we wanted our guests to experience a part of that. My parents are big fans of Harney & Sons teas, and we saw the tea tins at their house over Christmas. We knew we had to figure out a way to incorporate them into our wedding. So we collected 20 tea tins over the year and worked with our florist to use them as our centerpieces. They looked so amazing filled with the local, in-season yellow and white flowers we chose, and when paired with the mismatched china place settings on the tables, it really completed the elegant but casual look we were striving for.

Bear has been my dog for almost 11 years and I can honestly say that he is the love of my life (sorry Rob). All joking aside, Bear brings so much joy to our lives. He’s a member of the family, he goes everywhere with us, and we couldn’t imagine getting married without him by our sides. Plus, a dog is the ultimate symbol of unconditional love– how could you not want that at your wedding? He was decked out in a matching yellow and gray collar, bow tie and leash that I found on Etsy at a shop called BW Barkery. 

While all of these details and many others took a ton of time to plan, put together and execute, it was absolutely these details that made the day so special for us and for our family and friends. Rob and I planned our wedding while starting our new company, 88 acres, a healthy snack company free of the top 8 allergens.

Photographer: Lisa Rigby Photography | Coordination: Tribe Design + Events | Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals | Groom's Suit: J.Crew | Wedding Venue: The Pierce House | Belt: Watters | Wedding Dress Style: Marisa Bridals

Weddings fall into many categories, but I think this gorgeous wedding from Katie Hall Photography is in a league all of its own. Because not only is it hosted at the lovely Cape Cod Lavender Farm (a place near and dear to the Bride’s heart), but it’s also it overflowing with personal touches that make this wedding stand out from the crowd. It’s as pretty as it is personal, and you can see every last gorgeous moment here.

From Katie… This wedding was beyond unique! From the location, to the details, to the people! Amazing couple with some really beautiful images! I sent the questions to my clients and here is what the bride wrote!

Our vision starts with the place. I worked at Cape Cod Lavender Farm for 6 seasons. That piece of land quickly became dear to my heart and remains one of my favorite places.  Working on the farm is what peaked my interest in herbalism and helped start my path as an herbalist and nutritionist. So when Charlie proposed to me there wasn’t a question on where our wedding would take place–it would be at the lavender farm.

With the venue set as the lavender farm, my profession as an herbalist and both Charlie’s and my love for nature I started to plan the wedding with a “rustic herbal theme” in mind. I began with the flowers – I had heard that once herbs and flowers provided not only beauty and scent but also a particular significance or meaning in weddings (the language of flowers). I use herbs in a medicinal way but I also find their beauty comparable to or greater than ornamental flowers. At home when making a flower arrangement I will often use the catnip, yarrow, and other herbs growing in my garden to adorn the house. With this in mind, I asked my florist to use mostly medicinal herbs and flowers. I had rosemary and lavender in my hair, while the groom and groomsmen had lavender, rosemary and sage boutonnieres. Each table had three different glass apothecary style vases, holding a variety of herbs and flowers. Instead of using table numbers, each table was assigned a different herb, and that herb was presented in a terracotta pot as the centerpiece.

Herbs also infused the rest of our wedding. We gave our guests a lavender filled muslin bag stamped with “Liz and Charlie 6.29.13”.  The bag holding our rings was filled with linden, a heart warming and soothing herb whose annual blooming three years ago coincided with Charlie and I falling in love. Our gluten and dairy free (the menu was predominantly gluten and dairy free – and delicious!) cake was filled with rose hip and raspberry jam and was decorated with Jonny Jump Ups (edible violet flowers). Our two signature drinks were herb infused. We had the ‘Sparkling Bouquet’, which was made with prosecco, a dash of elderflower liquor, a lemon twist and a sprig of lavender. We also had the ‘Blushing Bride Margarita’, which was made with hibiscus (giving it a bright red color) and lemongrass infused tequila. I made a lot of the herbal restroom amenities at my job at Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary in Boulder, Colorado. 

It was important for us that the look of our wedding be coherent without being too matchy. To that end: no two tables looked the same and my bridesmaids wore dresses of their choice. I told them to choose a green dress, solid or print, not too dark or bright. I sent them paint samples to give them an idea of shades. Charlie told his groomsmen to stick to light colors, nothing black or dark. They could wear a full suit or partial suit–suspenders and vests encouraged! He got them non matching floral ties we found on Etsy.

Along with the herbal theme, we wanted to keep the look natural and rustic. The lavender farm helped with that but we added a few touches to help the feeling of the place carry over in to the tent. We produced many of our decorations and embellishments in a DIY manner and I was regularly inspired by frequent bouts of pinterest browsing! We used burlap on our tables and to wrap the bouquets. I made the place cards and table names from a piece of soft ivory paper with typewriter-style-text printed on it that I then sewed to a piece of stiffer brown craft paper. We made our guest gifts (stamped lavender sachets), we made the ring bearer box, we infused the alcohol for our cocktails. I made many of the bathroom amenities at work including lip gloss, lip balm, scented shea butter, spritzers, etc. I made custom floral print bow ties for Charlie and his grandpa. Charlie and his brother made the wood rounds for the centerpieces. I even made a special perfume to wear for the big day by blending essential oils in a base of jojoba oil.

Other elements of our wedding: the colors were lavender, sage, peach–but again, we didn’t want anything too uniform, so the color theme was subtle. Instead of a photo booth, we used a Polaroid camera and had people tape their photo (using that fun colored decorative tape) in our guest book and leave a message next to it. We also had photos of our parents, grandparents – the marriages that came before ours – decorating the table. Charlie’s dad, a Congregational minister, married us – it was real sweet! We wrote our own vows, which was even sweeter still! Finally, and importantly, it all culminated in a hell of a party!

Photographer: Katie Hall Photography | Event Planner: Ellen Macy Events | Floral Design: Patrice R. Milley Floral Designs | Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller | Cake: Zephir Plume | Catering: Sumptuous Catering | DJ: Modern Artistry Events | Wedding Venue: Cape Cod Lavender Farm | Ceremony Musician: Jonathan Meek | Rentals: Party Cape Cod

I remember my very first trip to the Berkshires. That gorgeous countryside definitely took my breath away when I first laid eyes on it, and made me feel like I was worlds away from the city of Boston not a mere hour. Every corner you turn looks as though it came straight from a storybook, so whenever I see a wedding there, my heart leaps. And when that wedding is as pretty as this one from Christopher Duggan at the Gedney Farm, I can barely contain my excitement. See why here.

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From Christopher Duggan… I’ve been dreaming of a Berkshires barn wedding for years.

I work as the Festival Photographer at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshires each summer and photograph weddings in New York City, the Berkshires and destinations worldwide throughout the year. My wife, daughter and I live in a cabin in the Berkshires woods near Jacob’s Pillow June through August, and I was dying to photograph more weddings in the Massachusetts countryside.

So you can imagine my excitement when I met Paige & Scott, and they told me their wedding was going to be at Gedney Farm in New Marlborough, Massachusetts.

Paige & Scott are great together and a lot of fun to photograph. They live in New York, and my studio is based in Manhattan during the non-summer months, so we were able to do a New York City engagement shoot. We had a great time making engagement pictures on The High Line.

Linda Baldwin did a beautiful job with floral arrangements and table decor. Paige designed all the wedding invitations and stationery herself! Everything was romantic and inviting. From the venue’s chandeliers to the signs pointing guests to the reception. It was a magical day, and I’m so glad I was able to share the experience with Paige and Scott. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Gedney Farm.

Photography: Christopher Duggan | Flowers: Linda Baldwin Flowers | Band: Jon Bates Band | Ceremony & Reception: Gedney Farm | Video: Veracious Productions