Massachusetts Weddings

Even though I sort of spent my entire summer waiting for my favorite season (fall) to arrive, I can’t stop missing the warmer weather in the worst way.  And this little gem of a wedding sent to us by Love Is A Big Deal has me wishing for a week-long stay on Cuttyhunk Island, like, tomorrow.  A New England masterpiece with pastel hues, succulent-filled blooms from Amy’s Town Florist and all sorts of romantic details, it’s the kind of affair that makes you want to kick off your heels, soak in the salty air and dance the night away.  See so much more right here.

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From the Bride… Our wedding was everything we imagined it could be and so much more. It’s such a unique experience to have all the people you care about in this world, come together in one place to witness and celebrate the love you and your partner in life share. That in itself is pretty incredible, but getting married on Cuttyhunk Island just made everything that much more special. It truly was the best day ever!

When my husband Tom proposed in April of 2012, we knew without a doubt that we wanted to get married on Cuttyhunk Island. Cuttyhunk is a little slice of heaven on earth. The outermost of the Elizabeth islands off of Massachusetts, the tiny island is only one square mile and is home to a couple hundred people in the summer, but only about 20 year round. This island runs at its own speed and no one wears a watch. There are more golf carts than cars, a working phone booth, a one-room schoolhouse, and someone’s garage has been turned into a pizza place. Everyone knows everyone and even if they don’t you say “hi” anyway.

My paternal great-grandfather fell in love with Cuttyhunk after visiting on a fishing trip and ended up building a summer home on the island where all of my family has spent many wonderful summers. Almost every summer since I was born, I spent a few weeks on Cuttyhunk… fishing, reading, playing scrabble, going on treasure hunts and eating lobster. It is one of my favorite places in the world and always has and always will hold a special place in my heart. From his first visit, Tom too relished visiting the magical little island. It is serene, quiet and the epitome of laid-back and it’s the relaxing, low-key nature of the island that is absolutely contagious and what we really love. We knew it was the perfect place to have our wedding.

Everything came together perfectly. Despite a rainy Friday afternoon the lobster bake rehearsal dinner and s’more-filled beach bon fire kicked off the celebration in just the right manner. We woke up to gorgeous clear sunny skies on Saturday and our very personal ceremony was exactly what we had hoped it would be. The party began with an oyster and shrimp filled cocktail hour with Mr. and Mrs. Signature drinks. Then on to tasty food and emotion-filled speeches, followed by an unbelievable dessert bar and non-stop dancing under the tent. Everything about the wedding reflected our location and personal style. From the Save the Dates to our attire to our Polaroid guest book, we wanted people to say “That’s Kelly and Tom.” It was classic and elegant yet laid-back. We paired artisan handmade pieces (many from Etsy) with natural elements and some nautical touches. Some of my favorite details included the things to-do welcome card with accompanying lobster lollipop, the beachy shades of blue ceremony program fan, the lavender at each place setting, the wooden cake toppers that resembled us and the etched wooden place cards. While time consuming, it was the little details and personal touches that really reflected us, made an impression on guests and brought our wedding vision to life.

My advice to any brides-to-be is to make the day what you and your fiancé want it to be. This day is about you and it should reflect your personal style and the things that are important to you. Also make sure you put time and thought into the ceremony. It is after all the reason for the big party and the most important part of the day. It should be as substantial and meaningful as you two decide it should be. Beyond that have fun! It’s easy to get overwhelmed during the planning process and inevitably you will, but try to enjoy it as much as possible. When the big day comes, forget the details and be in the moment. At some point during the reception, take your new husband ‘s hand and look around at all the people that love you two and are there to celebrate your new life together. You will be taken back and humbled by just how happy, special and loved you feel.

Photography: Love is a Big Deal | Flowers: Amy’s Town Florist | Wedding Dress: Augusta Jones | Invitations: Paper Source | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: M&C Café | Hair and Makeup: Tricia Keller | DJ: Cape and Islands Entertainment | Bow Ties: The Tie Bar | Groom: Tai Pan Row Tailors, Hong Kong | Venue: Cuttyhunk Fishing Club | Bride's Reception Dress: French Connection | Cuttyhunk Fishing Club: Cuttyhunk Fishing Club | Dessert Bar and Cookie Favors: Artisan Bake Shop | Musicians: The Con Brio Trio | Raw Bar: Raw Bar Catering: Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farms | Rentals and Tent: Chase Canopy | Save the Date: DefineDesign11 | Wedding Dress Style: Augusta Jones

This is one of those crazy cool weddings where tradition meets romance meets all kinds of awesome.  A wedding which happens to be set against one of the prettiest backdrops I have ever laid my eyes upon (The Mount) and mixes lush blooms from Crocus Hale with a classically stunning Pronovias gown and all kinds of amazing moments between two sweeties who are so in love, it’s palpable.  And don’t even get me started on the beautiful images captured by Christopher Duggan.  Because this gallery?  It’s beyond mesmerizing.  Join me there for all of the pretty.

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From the Bride… We knew we wanted to have the ceremony and reception someplace completely unique and special to us. We thought of every place you could imagine. Finally it came down to either a Chinese restaurant in NYC, a mountain top in Jackson Hole, or if we were very lucky, The Mount in the Berkshires. We had no idea if they even did weddings, but Zach remembers being young and spending his summers in Otis, Massachusetts hanging out in the trees after dark and watching Shakespeare in the Park when it used to be at The Mount. After a few emails with the exceptionally cool Ross Jolly (The Mount’s Manager and Director of Special Events) we made a trip from NYC to Lenox to check out the vibe on the grounds. It was late January and Ross had to meet us at the top of the driveway as the road to the house was completely iced over. Everything was covered in three feet of snow and yet we could feel that this was our place. Ross led us all over the gardens, snow in everyone’s boots, noses frozen. It was magnificent.

We left The Mount that day knowing we had to have it there. Having been living in Prague the year prior, and having only gotten engaged on the last day of October, we didn’t have much time to plan our May 18th wedding. The thought of planning for more than six months didn’t appeal to either of us, so we dove right in and got extremely lucky with the availability of all of our vendors. Between Ross at The Mount, Dawn at Mezze Catering and Crocus Hale for the flowers, we knew we could pull off a beautiful and unique wedding weekend for our friends and family who would all be traveling many miles from California, London and various parts of the East Coast. What we didn’t expect, was how completely amazing and moving the entire evening would be. There was something special in the air that night, something bigger than weddings, and even bigger than romance itself. It left us feeling tremendous love for everyone who came before and would come after us.

Some other highlights of the weekend were:

–The speeches, obviously always a highlight, were especially right on that evening. My younger sister, the maid of honor who is so tiny (barely 5 feet) stood on a chair next to me for her speech. It was so endearing.

–The best man’s speech was long anticipated (he’s a former speechwriter for Madeline Albright) and Luke did not disappoint. He secretly gathered five of our friends to stand up and recite part of Shakespeare’s sonnets to close out his loving words.

–My father, who was telling me all weekend how nervous he was to speak in front of the crowd, changed his speech up the morning of the wedding when an email from my mother’s first grade class came in with all kinds of advice for Zach and I. It was a tearjerker and no one will ever forget it.

–Crocus Hale, the florist made me the most perfect flower crown of white roses. I wore it until 4 o’clock in the morning and didn’t want to take it off. She is perfection and everything she touched was sensationally beautiful.

–Christopher and his second shooter Cherylynn were absolutely wonderful. From the beginning of the process to the very end Christopher was the most professional and easy-going person to work with (tough combo to come across)! He was extremely organized and got all the shots we requested (including hundreds more we didn’t even know we wanted until we saw them). Never obtrusive, and always a gentle presence.

–Having everyone stay at the inn next to the grounds was the perfect way to introduce everyone to the beautiful gardens of The Mount, and we encouraged everyone to take hikes and nature walks in the days leading up to the ceremony.

–The Mount is also the perfect location because you can keep leading the guests further and further into the house so that everything is revealed in due time. The ceremony was in the flower garden, the cocktail hour was in the stone garden, the dinner was on the terrace and got to be a real dinner. Not eat/dance/eat/talk. It was a candlelit dinner party before the dance party – exactly what we do when we entertain at home!

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Photography: Christopher Duggan | Invitation Design: William Arthur | Musicians: Rosamund Trio | Invitation Design: Kate’s Paperie | Catering: Mezze Catering | Flowers: Crocus Hale | Veil: Bridal Veil Falls | DJ: JTD Productions | Dress: Pronovias

This, my friends, is engagement session perfection.  A Boston beauty with one seriously adorable duo (see: their sweet engagement story below) and one drop-dead gorgeous image after another captured by MCMD Photography.  It’s also an ode to one of the world’s most stunning (+ amazing) cities, with some crazy awesome backdrops acting as the perfect compliment to every last minute of Bean Town lovely.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From MCMD Photography… Lauren and Nolan will be getting married October 18th, 2013 at the Crestwood Country Club in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Lauren really wanted pictures in Boston but wasn’t specific as to where. So I knew right away that I wanted to start under a gorgeous willow tree in the Boston Commons and this turned out to be the perfect spot, as it began raining! Luckily, it passed quickly, so we made our way to the Boston Common Bridge, where somehow, no one was on it! I’ve never seen it so empty, so we definitely took advantage by doing a few jump shots! It was beautiful to witness the love between these two… they would go from buckled over laughter, into a deeply romantic moment of just breathing each other in. It was truly wonderful to experience and I’m so excited to be shooting their wedding this October!

From the Bride… The story of our proposal is very sweet. Every year there is an event in Halifax, Massachusetts before Christmas where they shut down all of the streets and line the roads with white bags, tea light candles, and beautiful Christmas lights… and at the end of the night they have fireworks. They have these adorable small town activities like ice sculptures and ringing the old school bell and such. We go to this every year with Nolan’s family. His grandmother lives in Halifax, and everyone gathers at her house to open gifts, drink hot chocolate and make gingerbread houses. Anyways, we were at this event back on December 11, 2010 and Nolan suggested that we go for a walk on our own.

He took me to this old playground that was all decked out in Christmas lights and candles and looked beautiful! We played on the playground for a while and then decided to lay down and look at the stars. Looking back it was very romantic in a sweet way. We finally decided to walk back and rejoin everyone for the fireworks. When I stood up, Nolan knelt down on one knee and said, “Lauren Foley, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” Of course, I said yes! And we walked back and watched the fireworks and shared our good news with everyone.”

Photography: MCMD Photography | Shoes: Steve Madden | Ring: My Jewelry Box | Bride's Attire: TJ Maxx

Ruth Eileen is one of those photographers who always gets it right. Whether it’s a pretty pink birthday party or a summer styled shoot and she’s got an ease behind the camera that can’t be ignored. So set her amongst one of the loveliest Cape Cod weddings in all the land, and she’ll give you a gallery worth swooning. Filled with peppy little florals from Poppy Loves Weddings plus paper pretties by Bow & Arrow, it’s the perfect way to kick-start your day. Get started here.

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From Ruth… Chris and Emmy’s wedding day was a photographer’s dream. The event took place at the Overbrook House and Grounds in Buzzards Bay, MA. Throughout the entire day, we couldn’t help but point out each detail and say, “Oh, look at that! So pretty!” Poppy Love Weddings did a phenomenal job with many of these details we couldn’t get over, from the flowers, to the backdrop for the ceremony, and the adorable photo booth “HOORAY” display. We could go on and on about how much this mutual friend of ours and the bride did for the big day, but we will let the pictures speak for themselves.

The time and effort that was put into each part of the day — the ceremony, the cocktail hour, the dinner reception, and the dance party — was well worth it. They truly made it a day of celebration, and each part kept getting better and better. There is no doubt that their guests had a blast and felt equally as special to be there. Many of them traveled from all over the world to celebrate with the bride and groom. And we can’t forget to mention the delicious food from Season to Taste Catering that kept these guests happily fed!

We are so thankful we were able to experience and celebrate such a beautiful, joyous occasion. Congrats again to Chris and Emmy, and another shout out to Poppy Love Weddings for all you did to make it a wedding to remember!

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Photography: Ruth Eileen | Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta | Floral Design: Poppy Loves Weddings | Invitations: Bow & Arrow Paper & Design Co | Wedding Signs: Sweet Carolina Collective | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Lula Kate | Catering: Season to Taste| Hair: Lindsay Griffin | DJ: DJ Action Jackson | Band: Metropolitan Hot Club | Groom’s Suit: J.Crew | Bridal Shop: Allegria Bridal | Bride’s Ring: Joseph Gann Jewelers | Groom’s Ring: Michele Mercaldo Jewelry | Makeup: Charlotte Phinney | Reception Dress: Ivy and Aster | Save the Dates: Poppy Loves Weddings | Venue: Overbrook House | Rentals: Party Cape Cod | Farm Table Rentals: New England Country Rentals

This wedding looks like an amazingly good time.  Like the kind of wedding where the smiles are never-ending and the crazy awesome party never seems to stop.  So if you are in the mood for tons of fun, tons of love and a whole lot of pretty, you’ve come to the right place… and it’s all wrapped in some seriously breathtaking scenery (the amazing Ocean Edge Resort) and an entire gallery of lovely captured by Shane Godfrey Photography.  Click here for every amazing moment.

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From Shane Godfrey… Lauren and Greg both live in Manhattan and were coming up to Brewster, Massachusetts for their wedding at the incredibly beautiful Ocean Edge Resort. After finding me on the web, and a phone conversation, they hired me on the spot. Lauren knew exactly what she was looking for in her vendors. Both she and Greg met at work at an ad agency in New York City, and they seemed to have an amazing understanding of each other and what they are both looking to get out of life.

Both the girls and guys got ready on site at the Ocean Edge Resort and after some getting ready photos, headed down to the beach on a hot day in July where most people were shoeless and where a hundred or so chairs were set up facing towards the water during low tide. The ceremony was short and sweet, followed by photos of the family, bridal party, and bride and groom right down on the water. Afterwards we headed up to cocktail hour off the beach and deeper into Ocean Edge Resort’s grounds at the Links Pavilion followed by the beach themed reception.

Photographer: Shane Godfrey Photography | Florist: All About Flowers For Weddings | Caterer: Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Course | Wedding Venue: Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Course

Barn weddings might bring visions of a more rustic fête, but you know what I love? I love when Brides sprinkle in a little glamour and add a touch of elegance just for good measure. Because the result is always a wedding that makes my jaw drop right to my desk, and there is nothing I love more than that. Take this Gibbet Hill captured by Iris and Light for instance, it’s the perfect marriage of rustic and elegance, and it’s the definition of lovely. See it all here.

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As an art director and graphic designer, I really wanted to be hands on with the design of our wedding. From the save the dates, to the invitations, to the menus and programs, I designed all of the pieces of our wedding. I wanted to give it a whimsical rustic look to tie into our theme. I created little tags that I tied with peach bakers twine to bubbles, and we placed them on each of the guests’ seats for the ceremony. The favors were little muslin bags with hot air balloons or Chinese lanterns imprinted on them, and filled with cow tails candy. We had the most fun creating our cake topper – the little flags that we arched over two kissing cows.

I was never that girl who already had her entire wedding planned before even being engaged. But the one thing that I did know was my photographer. John from Iris and Light is a very old friend, and I always knew that I wanted him to photograph my wedding. Iris and Light’s photography is absolutely stunning, and so we flew them out from Los Angeles for the big day. We couldn’t have been happier with how the photos turned out. They perfectly captured every emotion of every moment that day. Absolutely priceless.

Photography: Iris And Light | Floral Design: Flourish - Kathryn Liebowitz | Wedding Dress: David's Bridal | Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister | Invitations: Designed by Bride | Shoes: Vera Wang | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Hair + Makeup: Atmosphere Salon | DJ: Robert Guay | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Wedding Venue: The Barn At Gibbet Hill | Bridesmaids' Earrings: Kate Spade | Earrings: J.Crew

I’m not typically what you would call a girly girl, but when it comes to pink, there’s just no resisting its beauty.  Because pink is the kind of color that adds a dash of romance to every mesmerizing detail it touches, and it’s shining brightly in this gorgeous affair captured by Melissa DeSchamp Photography. From the lush blooms from Kerianne at Les Fleurs to the sparkling (+ yummy) cocktails to kick off the party, this, my friends, is all kinds of pink-filled pretty.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

And an amazing film from Whit Wales for even more lovely…

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From the Bride… Derek and I fell in love with the Crane Estate from the first time we saw it in a magazine. When we first went to visit and saw the rolling hills, the beautiful water views, the magnificent estate, and the romantic Italian garden, we knew that was where we wanted to get married. We drew inspiration from our venue for the wedding decor; it provided a true romantic and vintage feel.

When I awoke on our wedding day, it was pouring buckets. So much for an outdoor ceremony in the Italian Garden and Dancing Under the Stars as our invitations had promised! Luckily we had a beautiful Plan B and all that mattered was that we were going to be married surrounded by every person we love and care about.

When I walked down the aisle toward my best friend, I had my father by my side. I also had a piece of the three most amazing women in my life along with me; a piece of lace from my mothers wedding gown was sewn into my dress, my Grandmas brooch was attached to my bouquet, and my Nana’s engagement ring was on my right hand. The involvement of our family and friends was the foundation of our wedding planning. They all truly played a part. My mother learned calligraphy so that she could address the invitations; my cousin designed our wedding logo, invitations, menus and programs. Family even took part in the reception entertainment! After their first set, our band let my brother take the drums and my cousin take the microphone, and they performed an amazing rendition of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” for Derek and me.

When I heard the band call Derek and me back up front later on in the night, I didn’t know what was going on. My Dad, my cousin, and my brother took the stage, handed us Boston Red Sox hats with our wedding logo monogrammed on each of them, and started to sing Kenny Chesney’s “She’s from Boston.” I looked around and Red Sox hats were being handed out to all of our guests. I did have a favor for our guests (which was the only detail I never could quite decide on) and it was perfect! Just as the song was finishing, the late-night sausage cart rolled in. Amazing!

Our wedding day truly was perfect. We couldn’t have had a better day surrounded by those who mean the world to us. A huge thank you to my Mom and to Ashley at the Crane Estate for making our vision for the day a reality– you executed each detail better than I could’ve imagined.

(And you never would’ve known it rained!)

Photography: Melissa Deschamp | Cinematography: Whit Wales | Wedding Dress: Badgley Mischka | Wedding Cake: Jenny's Wedding Cakes | Invitations: Bride's Cousin | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids Dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | Bridesmaids Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Bridesmaids Dresses: Carol Hannah | Caterer: Vinwood | Calligraphy: Bride's Mother | Transportation: Antique Limousine | Wedding Venue: Crane Estate | Bridal Boutique: L'elite Boston | Bridal Boutique (Bridesmaids): Bella Bridesmaid | Floral: Les Fleurs | Hair and Make-Up: Viselli Santoro Salon | Music: First Class Band | Tent and Rentals: Peterson Party Center

This wedding makes me happy. Plain and simple. The colors are enough to make me smile from ear to ear – the pretty pastels, the pops of coral, the patterned dress on the maid of honor – I couldn’t love it more. But the couple at the center of it all? They really take the cake. Because their love seeps through each gorgeous image from Molly Anne Photography, and that just happens to be my favorite thing ever. See every last moment here.

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Chapter L: Love Story
The spring semester of their freshman year, is when it all began. On the first day of a mandatory Psychology class, Leigh chose a seat in the second row, next to a girlfriend (who would later be dubbed The Matchmaker). Joe sat right behind Leigh which made poking and other childish flirtatious activities way too convenient. The Matchmaker knew him and the Matchmaker knew her. This Matchmaker saw something special in the two of them, that they didn’t quite see yet. But after a brief summer break, they had no choice but to see it too. The Love Story that lay before them was unavoidable and overpowering…

Chapter B: Bentley Days
Their Love Story picked up full speed during their Bentley Days. Joe and Leigh were both Falcons – Joe at the pitcher’s mound on the baseball field and Leigh at first base on the softball field. They shared a similar friend group which made their free time effortless and fun. They kept each other focused and motivated through many late night study dates in the Bentley Library, and they encouraged each other into the professional world as their college internships became careers.

Chapter W: Willowdale
When the two first stepped onto the Willowdale Estate Grounds in Topsfield, Massachusetts, they instantly fell in love. It’s handsome, masculine features coupled with its rich history and flawless flower gardens create the magical and unique event venue that the couple had dreamed of for their wedding reception. Since booking the venue in June 2012, the couple frequently visits the Willowdale Estate for special seasonal events. Joe and Leigh are so excited to have their reception at this Estate and are even more excited to make it part of their future memories.

Notes from the Bride & Groom:
During the past year of planning and creating for the wedding, our main goal throughout everything was to share Our Story with our guests. After all, Our Story wouldn’t be complete without them. Rather than typical table numbers, we assigned each table to represent a chapter of Our Story. Therefore, instead of Table 12, we had Table W for our “Willowdale” chapter. Each chapter description was written on the back of the menu cards, giving guests a sneak peek into Our Story. For interested guests, our Guest Book (which we invited everyone to sign) contained all chapters and was laced with images from our engagement session.

In terms of style, we wanted to use elements that were meaningful and beautiful to create a romantic garden party. Our color scheme of peaches, corals, yellows, pinks and greens formed a romantic and colorful combination that directly reflected our vibrant and playful personalities. Almost all elements were handmade projects – from the various signs and favors to the menu cards and Guest Book, each element was made with love, over a bottle (or several bottles) of wine! Throughout the past year, leading up to our wedding, we poured our hearts into every single detail as our small condo became a design center and storage facility.

For our vendors, we were careful to only book vendors we formed a connection with. From our beyond fabulous photographer to our impeccable florist, we booked each one because we knew they would accurately portray us. It’s so important to maintain your personalities and ideals throughout the entire process. Because after all, you want your wedding to reflect your relationship, to preach Your Story.

Our biggest piece of advice for brides and grooms-to-be is to keep your center, don’t sweat the small stuff. Your wedding will be absolutely perfect no matter what…so enjoy the planning, sprinkle it with some laughter, and look forward to your best chapter yet!

Photography: Molly Anne Photography | Event Planning + Design: LoveLeigh Creations by Bride + Groom | Floral Design: Petalena | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Invitations: Minted | Ceremony Venue: St. Patrick Parish | Reception Venue:: Willowdale Estate | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Necklace: J.Crew | Rings: DeScenza Diamonds | Groomsmen Suits: Jos. A. Bank | Crinkle Fans: BHLDN | Earrings: Anthropologie | Maid of Honor Dress: BHLDN

Seaside soirees have my heart. My subconscious draws me to them, and before I know it, hours have passed as I pour over all the prettiness. Take this beach beauty by Ze Liang Photography for instance – I opened this gorgeous wedding quite awhile ago, and here I am, still drooling over all the sweet details and lovely seaside settings hours later. Not that I am complaining of course, because this gallery is one fabulous way to spend a day. See it all here.

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From the Bride… Shortly after we were engaged, we knew we wanted to celebrate our nuptials somewhere near the water. We are beach people at heart and knew no other place to get married than Westport, Massachusetts. Westport is a special spot – a place where I spent my summers with family while growing up, and a place we both visit whenever we can get out of the city!

A few adjectives to describe the day would be colorful, preppy and blissful!

Our vision for the wedding was nautical chic while also keeping it casual and intimate. When we found the Acoaxet Club, we knew immediately that this was the right venue for us. What I loved about this venue is that they only host a handful of weddings each year and we were lucky enough to be one of them. The charming seaside scenery really appealed to us. While it’s typical to see navy with the nautical theme, we wanted to switch it up a bit and have a little pop of color. I was drawn immediately to this coral/knot fabric and knew then and there that our primary color for the day would be coral.

There were many DIY projects we took on that kept us busy during the planning process.from the beautiful table runners to the monkey fist knots. One of my favorite details was the lobster trap that we used for both our card box and escort cards. I loved the buoys which were all hand painted by my mother and I. We really wanted to create an original wedding that showcased our personalities. It was important to us that all the small little details showed through on our special day.

Some special touches that were incorporated into the day included my brother who officiated our ceremony which made the atmosphere of the day even more warm and intimate. We felt truly blessed to have the people we love around us while we exchanged vows with each other. Another little touch that really was special to me was the bouquet.not only for the gorgeous flowers but for my late grandmothers handkerchief that was wrapped around the stems and a charm of my father who passed away. Having that charm was a reminder as I walked down the aisle that he was there with me on my special day.

All of our vendors were wonderful to work with. Our biggest priority of the day was music. We wanted all of our friends and family to have fun and dance all night long. We have attended many weddings in the past and we knew even before we were engaged that we a live band was a must. We chose Now & the Forevers and they were incredible. Our dance floor was packed the entire night! They played music from classic oldies to old school rap and everything in between. I love that they are not your typical wedding band — they were hip and fun and original.

The whole day turned out beautifully. My husband and I made sure to take in every minute of the day. There were times where we would both just stop and enjoy the moments. We both agree that it was the best day of our lives and it couldnt have been any better!

Photography: Ze Liang Photography | Floral Design: Bettes Finishing Touch | Wedding Dress: Anaiss | Cake: Cakes by Jenn | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jasmine Collection | Makeup + Hair: Caitlin Murphy Stylist | Wedding Venue: Acoaxet Club | Charm: AristoCrafty | Day of Coordinator: Jennifer Corvese Hyde | Hair Piece: Misun Bridal | Second Photographer: Wandering Seaman Photography

Jess is near and dear to our hearts for so many reasons. She’s one of the warmest, sweetest ladies on the planet and her talent and creativity know no boundaries. Now infuse that spirit and all around awesomeness into her very own wedding day to her beloved and the result is total, unabashed magic with a big, whopping side of do-it-yourself details. Captured by Ebersole Photography, this is just the kind of affair we crave around here; spirited and full of love. Have a look at the gallery for even more and if you missed it, get to know Jess and get cozy with some of the DIYs from the day (here, here and here)!

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From Jess…Michael grew up in Adams, MA and I grew up in Lenox, MA (a couple towns over), so when we started planning our wedding we knew wanted to get married in the Berkshires. As soon as we saw the Lenox Club, we knew we had found the right place. It’s a classic New England estate, built in 1860, with a beautiful sense of history and the feel of a sprawling Berkshire summer. We were ready to move in, but settled for renting it out for the weekend!

My favorite part of planning was creating all the small details they tell you not to worry over! I might have stressed out over them a little too much, but they have become some of my favorite mementos of the wedding. I designed our invitations and used vintage postcards of Lenox and Adams for the RSVP cards. I loved picking out the vintage stamps- I even found a stamp commemorating Poland’s millenium to represent Michael’s heritage! For our ceremony programs, I drew portraits of everyone involved in the ceremony and tied them all together in a little story of how the ceremony was going to go. I really took my time on those because I wanted everyone who was involved in our wedding to know how important their support was to us. One of my bridesmaids and my mother helped me make my veil, which was such a nice way spend time getting ready for the wedding- and a much easier project than you would think. My mother has been wanting to make my wedding cake since I was 12 or so, and we had SO much fun designing it and taste-testing until we hit just the right flavor of almond buttercream!

I think for both of us, the best part of the day was the ceremony. We didn’t do a first look, so seeing each other’s faces as I walked down the aisle was so special. Standing there, holding hands and feeling all the love and support around us in that room was an amazing feeling. Our pastor had us write letters to each other before the ceremony that we gave to her without showing each other, and then she read them as part of the ceremony. That turned out to be the hit of the wedding- not only was it so great to hear each other’s words for both of us, but our guests could not stop talking about how meaningful that made the ceremony for them. Sharing that much of ourselves with everyone there made it such an intimate experience.  Immediately after the ceremony, we ran up to the balcony of the church to steal five minutes alone, connect with each other, and savor the awesomeness of being newlyweds!

We got so lucky and had beautiful, sunny, 75 weather, so cocktails were on the wide porch and lawns of the Lenox Club. When guests arrived at their seats they found little cards with instructions to write us a note as our guestbook. Waking up to a whole basket full of sweet, hilarious, heartfelt, crazy notes from all our loved ones the next morning was so amazing!  We had an easy-going, delicious barbecue buffet (Mike’s favorite!) and spent the whole night talking, laughing, and dancing with our nearest & dearest- we couldn’t have asked for a better day!

One last detail- we spent our honeymoon in Italy (and Poland, and Austria), and as a nod to an Italian tradition, we got a vintage padlock engraved with our wedding date. When we arrived in Rome, we hung on it on the Ponte S’Angelo, and now we’ll always have something of ours to look for when we go back!

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Photography: Ebersole Photography | Day of Coordination: Tara Consolati | Floral Design: Groom’s Aunt | Ceremony Venue: Church on the Hill | Reception Venue: The Lenox Club | Invitations + Programs: Designed + Illustrated by the Bride | Catering: Savory Harvest Catering | Rentals: Classical Tents | DJ: Girard Brothers DJ Service | Wedding Cake: Bride’s Mother | Wedding Dress: Dabra by Enzoani | Veil: Made by the Bride + Mother of the Bride | Earrings: BHLDN | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Lord & Taylor

Can I get real with everyone for a quick second? This wedding from Alexandra Roberts is rocking my world right now. It has the perfect amount of gorgeous and then a whole lot of personality thrown in for good measure. I love that. Couldn’t love it more actually. Add images so pretty I could cry from Alexandra Roberts and flowers from the super talented Sayles Livingston, and ladies and gents, consider me a happy camper. See it all here.

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From Liz about the dinosaur elements: We wanted some non-traditional elements in our wedding. Dinosaurs are nerdy and fun, two qualities we love in each other, so we went for it. They also provided an excellent challenge for the caterer when making our cake!

Photographer: Alexandra Roberts | Videographer: Matt Caputo | Florist: Sayles Livingston Design | Stationery: Designed by the Bride | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Venue: Stone House | Bride's Dress: Sarah Seven | Cake and Catering: Russell Morin Fine Catering | Groom's Tux: Hugo Boss | Hair/Makeup: Demiche Beaute | Music: Beat Train Productions | Rentals: Newport Tent Company

Backyard weddings are nothing short of wonderful. There is something so warm, so intimate about a wedding hosted at a family home, and when it’s all captured by Shane Godfrey Photography, it just gets that much better. This wedding is the perfect example. It’s a beautiful celebration of these two lovely folks, and there is even more to love right here.

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From Shane Godfrey Photography…Katy emailed me to talk more about her wedding, and we found a time that worked for her in the UK and me here. After a short conversation about my background, she told me to send over the contract and we were on for her wedding day. Katy had met Simon while abroad for work and decided to stay to be with him there. My second photographer got ready with the guys up at Katy’s parent’s house in Manchester, New Hampshire, and the girls got ready at the reception location. Everyone walked over to the church which was right down the street from where they had a ceremony filled with laughter and tears and ending to a church bell pulled by one of the ushers. We took the majority of the family photos and bride and groom photos in front of the church as it made for a great location for photographs. We headed back over to the house and finished up with bridal party photos as well as a few more of the bride and groom. As cocktail hour ended and the bridal party was heading into the tent, the humidity broke and the sky opened up for the rest of the night. Because the top of their tent was clear plastic, it made for a cool sight to look up and see the rain coming down as the sun set. They had an emotional speech from the maid of honor, and two hilarious ones by both the groom’s father and best man. We got out during dinner for a few minutes to get a couple of night shots with the house, tent, and twinkle lights during twilight after the bride changed into some gold sequin Tom’s shoes.

Photography: Shane Godfrey Photography | Wedding Planner: Kit Reno (Bride's Mother) | Florist: Nancy Walton (Bride's Aunt) | Ceremony Location: The Dover Church | Reception Venue: Private Residence | Caterer: East Meets West Catering | Makeup Artist: 26th on Hanover | DJ: DJ Maloof | Officiant: The Dover Church | Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier

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For my wedding style I wanted to convey the same natural and effortless look that I loved about West Chop. I ended up choosing an Amsale wedding dress that I immediately fell in love with that made me feel both bridal and relaxed at the same time (it even had pockets!). To make the dress my own, I added a sash to it that my seamstress sewed in for me. For bridesmaid dresses, I went with very simple (and non-bridal looking) silk, elastic waist dresses from Joie. My goal was to have all of the girls feel as comfortable as I did in my dress. For the boys, my husband chose basic khakis, white shirts and navy blazers that were accompanied with Vineyard Vines ties.

To extend this same style into our venue and decor, I wanted to keep my flower arrangements very simple. We chose to go with whites, light pinks and peach and then add a pop of hot pinks and other brights to help add some warmth. We also wanted to incorporate some personal touches and share our love for Martha’s Vineyard with our guests, so I tried to do so by using rocks that I had collected along the beach (with some help from my fiance, friends and family) as the place cards and table numbers. I thought this helped bring a unique and natural feeling to the reception (and it also was a great way to save money).

Other DIY projects that we did included things like the wedding programs, menu board, custom paper straws and mason jar wedding gifts and their hang tags. Although I had been cursing at myself leading up to the wedding taking on too many DIY projects, I must admit that on my wedding day it was so fun to see all of these projects come to life. Not only did it give the reception a personal touch, but it also was a fun reminder to be able to look around and think back on the hours spent with my husband, friends and family putting these all together. I definitely would recommend this to future brides; not only do these projects help save you money, but also allowed for some special memories with friends and loved ones shared over a bottle of wine to create those irreplaceable personal touches on your wedding day.

The day ended up coming together perfectly and it truly could not have been a better day, or representation for that matter, of my husband and me. Everything from the trolley ride to and from the church to the warmth of the small West Tisbury Congregational Church to the perfect fall crisp weather during the cocktail hour where guests sipped dark and stormies out of mason jars to the insanely talented (and fun!) band we had that kept every single guest on their feet all night, helped make this the effortlessly perfect day that we were longing for.

Photography: Jennifer Langdon Photography | Floral Design: Flowers On The Vineyard | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Invitations: Rugg Road Paper Company | Bridesmaids' Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Bridesmaids' Shoes: J.Crew | Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Joie | Catering: Tea Lane Caterers Inc. | Hair: Maggie's Salon | Band: Mike Benjamin Band | Groom's Attire: Brooks Brothers | Wedding Venue: West Chop Club | Bridal Boutique: The White Dress by the shore | Bride's Jewelry: J.Crew | Bridesmaids' Jewelry: Monelle Boutique | Cake + Cupcakes: Black Dog Bakery | Cardigan: J.Crew | Flower Girl Shoes: Toms | Groom's Tie: Vineyard Vines | Guest Book Map: Designs by Tenisha | Mason Jars: Discount Mugs | Rentals + Tent: Big Sky Tent & Party Rentals | Sash: Modern Trousseau | Save the Dates: Minted

Ever since my sister’s engagement last May, I’ve been spending every last second of spare time helping to plan her rustic barn wedding.  A task that is made decidedly easier given that my “non-spare time” is spent perusing beautiful details and drop-dead gorgeous weddings.  And on days like today, when I get to bask in a pretty little Gedney Farm affair from Shane Godfrey Photography, I don’t have to do one ounce of planning… because it’s all sitting right here, perfectly executed, in the full gallery.

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From Shane Godfrey… In the winter of 2010 I shot a wedding out in the Berkshires at Gedney Farms. Ever since then, I had always wanted to go back during the warmer months to really see what this venue had to offer. Anne and Whitney found my work online and once we met up, we both instantly knew we would be a good fit for their wedding last May.

We started the day out at the Salon, followed by a beautiful ceremony, officiated by Scott and Louise Walker, up in the fields at the farm. We then walked around the grounds for a bit and took some amazing photographs in front of a few of the barns as well as in front of the on-site orange old school Chevy truck, which made for an amazing picture. Anne’s mother did all the flowers for the wedding (Orchids, Etc.) and Gedney Farms was the caterer for the event, it was a very DIY style wedding. During the reception there was a sing along with both of their families getting on the mic towards the end of the night, which was a lot of fun, followed by some crazy dancing! It’s been a little over a year now, but this wedding still sticks out in my memory as one of the most fun and beautiful weddings I have ever photographed.

From the Bride… Michael and I are an incredibly low key couple and wanted to keep our wedding as stress-free and intimate as possible. We thought Napa would be the perfect local for a destination wedding because it offers a little something for everyone – not to mention it’s a great place to travel back to for anniversaries!

Planning a Napa wedding from Texas can have its challenges, but Michael and I really shared in the entire process together from start to finish. We made one trip out to Napa to scout vineyards and immediately fell in love with the grounds at V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena. With its lush stone courtyard and stunning barrel room, we knew that it would provide the ideal backdrop for our big day.

The actual weekend of our wedding was perfect – crisp November weather, gorgeous fall foliage, and all of our dearest friends and family. We hosted a welcome celebration at a private residence in St. Helena on the eve of our wedding. This was a great way to relax with all of our guests and kick-off the weekend festivities. The following evening was truly more amazing than we could have ever imagined. Michael and I had our “big reveal” before the wedding at the Old Rutherford Train Station, and then enjoyed a pre-wedding libation with our best friends and siblings. Our ceremony took place in a romantic candlelit courtyard as the sun began to set, with a reception that followed in the winery’s barrel room.

Megan and Michael Gratch live in Fort Worth, Texas. Megan works at an art museum and Michael is in healthcare.

Photographer: Shane Godfrey Photography | Caterer: Gedney Farm | Band: The Pulse of Boston | Wedding Venue: Gedney Farm

We think of all you pretties out there as friends. We may or may not feel like your virtual bridesmaids. So when we hear of an event right in your backyard that would be a crime to miss, we make sure you know about it. It’s part of our virtual bridesmaid duty. That’s why we are pulling out the stops to make sure Project Fashion hosted by the lovelies at Boston Weddings is marked on your calendar in pen. Because, really, what’s better than coveting couture from talented folks like Daniel Faucher, Luke Aaron, Firas Yousif, and Marie Galvin? We can’t think of much.

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And you know what’s even better? They are giving away 2 free tickets to 2 lucky SMP readers – just leave a comment below on why you can’t wait to attend below to enter the giveaway. If you aren’t one of the lucky ladies or gents to win, simply enter projectfashionsmp when you register (do so right here: http://projectfashion.eventbrite.com) to get 20% off the ticket price!

It’s a one of a kind event in Boston, and it’s all at your finger tips! Plus proceeds benefit students attending the School of Fashion Design, so it’s a total win, win. Alright pretties – ready, set, comment! We’ll announce the winners on Friday! See all the details here.

New England barn weddings are special. They are cozy and charming, elegant and casual all in the same breath. This pretty at The Barn At Gibbet Hill is the perfect example of why such a soiree will never grown old. Every image from Julie Surette Photography makes me fall in love with barn weddings all over again, and you can see why right here.

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From the Bride… Norm and I happened upon our wedding venue by total accident! We were traveling around Massachusetts one Saturday, hopping from venue to venue when we passed by The Barn at Gibbet Hill. I was first to notice the actual Barn, Norm was focused on the restaurant (Gibbet Hill Grill) that sits a few feet away. As soon as we entered into the barn we were in love. The cathedral ceilings with exposed beams and hanging iron chandeliers took our breath away. This was where we were going to become husband and wife. Also, The Barns farm to fork method of service was a perfect match to our love of good eats.

The Barn was rustic, warm, relaxed and gave us a clear vision of how we wanted the day to look, feel, and flow. Not wanting to distract from our surroundings, much of the color palette was soft with a vintage/chic feel. The exception being my bridesmaid dresses which were a poppy red. The color red signifies good luck in Chinese culture and was an important piece to include. Red was also incorporated into the bouquets and boutonnieres for an extra pop of color.

Being a big fan of DIY projects, and admittedly being a bit OCD, most of the wedding was created in house. The centerpieces were the first DIY project to tackle. I am extremely lucky that my sister, and amazing MOH, loves to collect glass. Over the past few years she has collected an amazing assortment of vintage glass mason jars, vases, milk containers, bowls, and decanters that we used to create eclectic centerpieces. I placed burlap circles underneath and wrapped the glass in lace, burlap, ribbon, and cloth flower accents. Dried split peas were a last minute addition to give some color and texture.

Other DIY projects included the invitations, programs, card/gift box, guest book, donation cards, and ceremony decorations. There is something really special about putting in your own design on such an important day. Everything was much more meaningful knowing the love, sweat, and tears (only a few!) that had gone into making our day absolutely perfect.

The entire wedding, from ceremony to reception, was laid back, full of laughs, and filled with our most cherished family and friends. It was important for Norm and I to honor both of our families so our ceremony was officiated by an Episcopal priest (a nod to my religion) and was followed by a private Tea Ceremony with Norm’s family, something very special in the Chinese culture.

Watching our two families intertwine so seamlessly was an amazing experience, and one we will never forget. That night, we danced, drank, ate (and ate, and ate) and celebrated the start to our biggest adventure yet!

Photography: Julie Surette Photography | Floral Design: Floral Notes | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jasmine Collection | Makeup: Amber Roma of Amage Beauty Studio, LLC | Hair: LiShay Hair Design | DJ: TSG Weddings | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Wedding Venue: The Barn At Gibbet Hill

You know what makes me happy?  This sweet duo.  This sweet duo with their contagious smiles, love-filled faces and downright adorability.  They rock… and so does their drop-dead gorgeous wedding, a laid-back meets elegant affair literally brimming with pretty.  I’m talking beautiful blooms from Bella Floral Design, a stunning Codman Estate setting and moment after moment of pure amazing captured by Shane Godfrey Photography.  See them all in the full gallery.

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From Shane Godfrey… One of my most laid-back couples over the years has to have been Heidi & Jimmy. I shot their engagement session a few months before their wedding at their home, close to the Codman Estate in Lincoln, MA. Their first date was in Jimmy’s backyard, where Heidi came over to garden with him and they got ready the morning of their wedding day. They had a small bridal party of three each, all close friends or siblings that were there with them and drove over to the Codman Estate early to get all the photos done. They were extremely in love, always goofing around with each other and were not shy to kiss in front of the camera. We sneaked into the farm next door to get some shots shooting around the cows and actual farm part of the estate. The ceremony was in the back of the Codman Estate mansion where there is one of the most beautiful settings for a ceremony in New England. Heidi came down the aisle on one side, and they came back 20 minutes later on the opposite side, hand in hand, married. We took a few more photos with the family and then headed back to the other side of the property for dinner and dancing.

Photographer: Shane Godfrey Photography | Florist: Bella Floral Design | Caterer: Tastings Caterers | Officiant: Kezia Bacon-Bernstein | Wedding Location: Codman Estate

We love a good barn wedding around these parts, but when that barn wedding is sprinkled with a whole lot of glam? Well that’s when you hit our wedding sweet spot. Think rolling country fields mixed with layers of Vera Wang ruffles. It’s a stunning barn setting with a chandelier  thrown in for good measure. It’s all around lovely, and it’s all waiting for you right here.

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Katie’s attention to detail was incredible with paper goods ranging from mad lib cards to keep her guests occupied to paper fan programs to keep them cool during the ceremony. The escort cards were antique keys with hangtags presented in frames. Keeping to her elegant vintage style Katie wore a beautiful Vera Wang gown complete with a 1920s style headpiece and carried a bouquet of perfect white peonies and garden ranunculus. Sean wore a three-piece grey and white striped J. Crew suit and his guys all wore vests and pants with black and white polka dot ties. The girls were in pale pink Monique Lhuillier dresses and carried garden inspired bouquets with pops of bright pink and coral. To bring in their nesting theme the guys had birds nest boutonnieres, the favors on the table were nests with chocolate eggs, and on top of their beautiful ruffled ombre cake were porcelain lovebirds. Katie and Sean beamed all day in their relaxed, elegant, vintage inspired day with a side of wayfarer fun!

Photography: Lexi Photography | Floral Design: Dogwood Floral Design | Wedding Gown: Vera Wang | Cake: Konditor Meister | Invitations: Gus & Ruby Letterpress | Bridesmaid Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Makeup: Tricia Utley | Hair: Axle Color Studio | Men's Attire: J.Crew | Venue: The Barn At Gibbet Hill | Headpiece: Doloris Petunia

While a lot of the SMP ladies’ roots are planted firmly in New England soil, mine are not, meaning weddings like this, filled with beautiful Massachusetts foliage, are my only shot at the gorgeous colors. They are so good for my soul. Love, laughter, and a beautiful fall wedding captured by Shane Godfrey Photography are my kryptonite.

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From Shane Godfrey… Bob and Virginia’s wedding at the Willowdale Estate in Topsfield was during the late fall which meant that we were going to get some great foliage pictures. Here in New England, it’s the most beautiful time of the year. The ceremony was at Our Lady of Grace Church in Everett, Massachusetts. They went from the church to the reception site in an amazing Rolls Royce followed by photos in the courtyard and hiking trails at the Willowdale Estate. We didn’t have to walk far to find the kind of setting we were looking for, foliage! The reception was beautifully decorated with signature table numbers, key’s for table cards, and pumpkins on all the tables(a Halloween season inspired idea). Cinnamon Margaritas were their signature drinks! [dotted] Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of Grace | Reception Venue: Willowdale Estate | Photographer: Shane Godfrey Photography | Officiant: Fr. James Barry | Floral Design: Joanne Winters | Caterer: Willowdale Estate | DJ: Vibeology

I’ve been told it’s a crime to live in New England and have never visited Cape Cod. And after poring through this nautical beauty from Trent Bailey, I fully understand why. Because when vendors like Desiree Spinner, Sayles Livingston and Laura Hooper add their touch to an already stunning locale, it’s MORE than enough reason for me to make a trip there, stat! Don’t call the East Coast home? No problem. Grab that coffee and experience all of the Cape’s magic for yourself right over here.

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From Desiree Spinner…Stacy and Steven wanted an elegant (but not stuffy) Cape Cod wedding for their family and out of town guests to be dazzled. Incorporating navy and tiffany blue with a hint of silver was important to Stacy to give an understated nautical/East Coast prep feel to match the gorgeous Chatham location. Chatham Bars Inn was the perfect spot for this amazing couple because they could have their ceremony in the sand, a casual cocktail hour in the boat house and then a sit down dinner in the Beach House Grille.  But most importantly the guests, from all parts of the country and in Stacy and Stevens walk of life, could stay in one place and really get to know each other before the wedding.  

For the reception we made use of some of the Beach House’s decor of old ship replica’s and onion lanterns but brought in some silver lanterns for the cocktail tables.  For the table setting Sayles paired some traditional Cape Cod style white hydrangeas with some delicate orchids down the middle of the long dinner table that we dressed with custom pintucked organdy linens over a linen and cotton mix. We also paired silver chiavari chairs with silver chargers with a navy cotton hemstitched napkin and a Tiffany blue ribbon.  To bring in some seaside we placed the table numbers in custom made sailors knots and placed hurricane candles around the tables.  Outside the Beach House Grille is a great deck overlooking the ocean which is great for dancing, and so we had a clear top tent placed there so guests could see both the ocean and the stars in the sky once it got dark. This wedding brought old Cape Cod to life to many out of towners!

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Photography: Trent & Dara of Trent Bailey Photography | Planning + Design: Desiree Spinner | Floral Design: Sayles Livingston | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Chatham Bars Inn | Rentals: Be Our Guest | Linens: Custom, Settings by Mona | Signage: The Brides Father | Invitations: Sister of the Bride, Casey Flook | Day of Stationery: Laura Hooper | Entertainment: Beat Train Productions | Clear Top Tent: Chase Canopy