Massachusetts Weddings

I am just so in love with this backyard beauty captured by Jennifer Bullock Photography. Completely, utterly in love. It’s this fabulous mix of traditional elegance with a backyard vibe, and you can just tell it was this fabulous evening for all the guests. And of course I would be remiss if I didn’t say something about their dapper pup – it would be impossible to steal the spotlight from this adorable couple, but that pooch could come close! There is so much more pretty to be seen my sweets, so be sure to spend some quality time in the full gallery of images today!

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From the Bride…My husband and I like to keep things simple so for our wedding we did not want to over-think anything.  We knew we wanted to get married in my hometown and have the reception at my parents’ house. On our big day I got ready in my childhood bedroom, we posed for pictures in the front yard, and I rode the familiar route to the church in my dad’s car.  The reception, held in the backyard, was beautiful and relaxed.

Even though we had a pig roast, the reception felt more like a garden party than a barbecue because of the beautiful tent, crisp linens, and arrangements of vibrant summer flowers.  While the caterers served wine and beer, we were sure to tuck away some spirits and sweet tea vodka lemonade in the playhouse normally reserved for grandchildren. It was a big hit! Guests could be seen sipping their cocktails while playing yard games in the garden or lounging on the hammock.  Once it got dark, the garden and brick patio were deserted in order to favor the dance floor under the twinkle-lit tent. Overall, it was a great party and a very magical night for family and friends.

Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Dress, Sash + Shoes: J.Crew / Wedding Photography: Jennifer Bullock Photography / Maid of Honor Dress: J.Crew / Bow Tie: Saks Fifth Avenue / Groom’s Suit: Macy’s / Hair + Make-up: Ochoa For Hair / Flowers: Carey’s Flowers / Caterer: The Log Cabin / DJ: Dan Cavanaugh of And the Beat Goes On / Tent: Michael’s Party Rentals / Tailor: Sweet Peas Tailoring / Transportation: Valet Park of America / String Trio: Classic Wedding Ensembles / Hair Accessories: Pearl Bridal Boutique

I love the story behind this fabulous English inspired garden wedding and how this couple made their romance work across the big pond. I can only imagine how amazing and exciting it must have been on the day of their wedding to know that they will never have to travel that far to see one another ever again! I’m totally digging the whole Victorian garden vibe of this pretty, outdoor fete and think the tablescapes are absolutely out of this world. It’s the perfect mix of elegance and casualness and can we talk about how pretty those lace wrapped invites are? Ashley O’Dell Photography snapped all the details while Couture Parties designed and planned everything starting with the perfectly private venue in Chatham. Click here for even more!

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Take a minute to check out this fab film (and the groom’s adorable British accent!) from Absolute Media Productions:

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From the Bride…Our story began in May 2007 at on the London School of Economics campus.  As a graduate student, Ashleigh had a part-time bartending job at the university bar, and Henry happened to stop in one night for a drink with some friends.  Towards the end of the night Ashleigh declined his request for her number, explaining that she wouldn’t give it out. So, he scribbled his email on a little ripped piece of paper, and Ashleigh spent the rest of the night checking her pocket to make sure the paper was securely there. Ashleigh returned to New York in September 2007, and so began 3 ½ years of long-distance, including a few thousand dollars in phone bills and numerous transatlantic flights back and forth across the pond.

Henry proposed on a surprise trip to Croatia in July 2010 (after a romantic dinner on a deserted beach!) and so began the wedding planning process from across the miles.  Henry moved to New York in March 2011, just in time for the last months of the planning!

From Couture Parties…We started with identifying the feeling we wanted the day to have – romantic, Victorian, English garden, delicate, lace, unique in the details.  We had already selected the location (a private residence in Chatham MA), and we selected this location for reason that we could really make the wedding our own and homespun instead of a typical venue site where there is little flexibility.  From there, we worked with the wedding planner to pick out images, fabrics, flowers and items (using pinterest.com) that embody the feelings we wanted.  Some of these included parasols, antique furniture and keys, soft flower palette and style such as  baby’s breath etc..  The little details were very important to the Bride, unique touches like the striped straws, the seating chart flower pins, wooden signs, the hanging mason jars, the lace wrapped ceremony programs, the lounge area, the chandelier cake table, the pashmina bar.  We wanted people to feel the care that went into even the littlest aspects of the day, and to feel as though they had stepped back in time and into an elegant Victorian garden wedding.

Wedding Photography: Ashley O’Dell Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Absolute Media Productions / Floral Design: All About Flowers for Weddings / Event Design + Planning: Couture Parties / Ceremony Location: Holy Redeemer Church / Reception Location: The Mack House / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Dress: Lusan Mandongus

This Hampshire House soiree by Meredith Perdue is such a fabulous example that DIY can be applied to any party. From barnyard to ballroom, if you have the knack for projects, you can make it work with your wedding. And this lovely bride did just that. From arranging all the flowers to designing all of the paper at the party, this beautiful bride had a hand in making her DIY wedding perfectly timeless and elegant – and it sure turn out gorgeous! Click here for even more pretty!

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From the Bride…From the beginning, our goal was to have a wedding that was special for us, incorporating our own style with things that are meaningful to us. We wanted to make it warm and inviting, while celebrating our different cultures and heritage. As we are both Boston transplants, our families were traveling long distances to share our special day with us.

Many aspects of the wedding were DIY, with a lot of personal touches. We wrote our own vows (which made everyone cry and laugh), Igor played the guitar as I walked down the aisle (this was a surprise to everyone except for me), and I designed and/or printed and assembled all of the paper details, and flowers from Whole Foods. In honor of our upcoming 10 month around-the-world honeymoon, where we would spend the majority of our time in Argentina, we used a personally choreographed version of the tango for our first dance. Given that most of our guests were from out of state, we wanted to incorporate a few New England touches. Our wedding favors were handpicked apples, dipped in caramel and chocolate, from a local apple orchard.

Our venue, a turn of the century mansion in Beacon Hill, overlooks the gorgeous Boston Public Garden. To make sure our wedding memories stayed with us forever, we had guests sign and leave special notes on quilt squares, which my aunt then sewed together and presented us with the final product on our 1 year anniversary. The wedding was so much fun, and passed too quickly. We wanted to make sure we enjoyed our special day, celebrating with close friends and family, while not worrying too much about the details. We did just that, and I wouldn’t change a thing about the day.

Venue: Hampshire House / Invitations: Two Yellow Shoes / Flowers: Whole Foods / DJ: DJ Shyne / Wedding Cake: Cakes to Remember / Apple Favors: Shelburne Farm / Wedding Photography: Meredith Perdue

There is no denying I love all things Ocean House. I may or may not have hosted my very special day there, and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that magic happens in that pretty yellow place. So when I stumbled on this piece of preppy perfection from Jubilee Events, I just got a little excited. Just a little. OK, a lot. A team of some of Connecticut’s finest – including Datura – A Modern Garden, The White Dress by the Shore and Dana Bartone & Company – teamed up to produce a shoot to that is sure to inspire. Full of bow ties, croquet and beach-side bliss – it’s enough to make you forget winter is just around the corner. Don’t worry it doesn’t have to end here, there is so much more east coast perfection captured by Carla Ten Eyck to soak up in the full gallery of images!

And because I am absolutely obsessed with all things paper – I just had to showcase the stunning stationery for this shoot crafted by Coral Pheasant Stationery + Design. Do you love? Or do you LOVE?

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From Jubilee Events…We had so much fun designing this brightly colored, playful and fun styled shoot inspired by croquet! In shades of coral, bright blue and grey, we drew inspiration from the vintage croquet set I picked up at a flea market in Massachusetts. Some of my favorite details from this shoot are the groom’s seersucker J. Crew suit with a pocket square designed by Datura: A Modern Garden which is made from rose petals and lillies of the valley! I also love the stellar paper from Coral Pheasant, especially our “bow tie” paper details on the champagne glasses, accordion fold menu cards and  intricate favor boxes.

Our tablescape was draped in a gorgeous coral pea de soie linen with clean and modern ghost chairs from Rentals Unlimited. Datura: A Modern Garden created a dramatic floral centerpiece using old, vintage marble lamp bases. We played on our theme of prep and used bow ties in the paper and real ties as chair decor.

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck / Model Styling + Fashion: The White Dress by the Shore / Flowers: Datura – A Modern Garden / Event Design + Planning: Jubilee Events / Hair + Make-up: Dana Bartone & Company / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Ocean House / Invitations: Coral Pheasant Stationery + Design / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Dress: Modern Trousseau / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited of Newport / Cake: Toria Dolce Fine Desserts / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Bow Tie: Southern Proper

I’m pretty sure that this is the sweetest and coolest garden themed DIY wedding of all time. First off, how amazing is the location? The bride’s family owns the restaurant, a 200 year old converted barn, that’s been in business for over thirty years on Cape Cod. Both the gorgeous coral napkins and the mini mercury glass votives were made especially for the bride by her colleagues in India. Her mom grew most of the flowers that were arranged to look “wild” and the bride, along with help from her sister, made all the save the dates, place cards and invites. They even embossed the invites with gold wax. Ladies and gentlemen, I think we found the next Martha! Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, she then slipped on the most perfect dress and did not let the threat of hurricane Irene ruin her day at all. Katie Pietrowski Photography snapped gorgeous image after gorgeous image and trust me when I say, you definitely want to spend a little time in the full gallery this morning! And make sure to check back because we’re bringing you more gorgeous garden inspiration all afternoon…

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And while you’re here, don’t miss out on this adorable stop motion video by Katie Pietrowski Photography!

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From the Bride…Steve and I wanted to have a small wedding, that felt personal and true to who we are.  We decided to have the wedding at my parent’s restaurant, in the building where I grew up.  My grandfather and dad started the restaurant and it felt like the perfect place to have our wedding.  Having grown up in a restaurant, I love food, as does Steve.  We both felt that the food was an important part of the evening- and knew it would be amazing at the restaurant.  The big thing was making sure my dad wouldn’t be in the kitchen, and would be enjoying the night!  We had a raw bar during cocktail hour with delicious Cape Cod oysters.

As a textile and home product designer, I wanted to add a few small touches to the night.  I travel to India for my work, and the people I work with there are really amazing.  They all wanted to help me in any way they could.  I decided to have napkins made on a cotton-slub fabric in 3 shades of coral, each with a different hemstitch detail.  I was also able to have mercury glass votives made, which worked really well with the small vases of flowers. My mom helped track down lots of vintage hollow stem wine glasses for the flowers.  She found them at thrift stores, and it was really an affordable option as none of them cost more than $1 a piece.  My mom grew a lot of flowers in her garden, and we supplemented those with loose dahlia flowers from Meredith Fancy. We wanted to keep things fairly simple, and easy to put together the day before the wedding.  We added in table number to some of the vases that were purchased from BHLDN.  We also got my bouquet from Meredith Fancy.  I had found inspiration images for my bouquet on design sponge’s ‘we like it wild’ posts by studio choo.  Overall I wanted the flowers to feel like wild flowers.

The finishing touch for decorating the restaurant was papel picado banners.  I had seen them in the lovely bridal boutique, and my boss’s daughter had ordered them for her wedding as well.  I loved that they could be personalized, and added a light airy feeling to the restaurant. I designed the save the dates, invitations, and place cards.  I hand-painted some of the text and scanned it into the computer.  Steve helped me cut everything, and my mom helped me assemble.  My older sister Grace is very crafty (she has a blog stripesandsequins.com) and taught me how to use a glue gun for sealing wax.  We used baker’s twine around a piece of craft paper and sealed it all with gold wax embossed with an A.  The most time consuming part was hand painting all of the addresses, but I love how it all came out in the end.

I wanted a wedding dress where I still felt like myself- romantic, yet modern.  We wanted a somewhat casual wedding, and I found the perfect dress at Tibi, and then found an amazing pair of Miu Miu shoes.  My amazing friend Sarah Laskow made my headpiece and sash.  She is a very talented embellishment designer currently working at Alice and Olivia.

Our wedding, despite being threatened by Hurricane Irene, was a perfect day.  It had the personal touches we had hoped for, and the things we hadn’t gotten to we didn’t notice.  We felt so happy to celebrate our relationship with our friends and family, and we knew those that couldn’t make it were there in spirit.

Wedding Photography: Katie Pietrowski Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Katie & Hillary of Katie Pietrowski Photography / Flowers: Meredith Fancy / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Red Pheasant / Invitations: DIY / Bride’s Shoes: Miu Miu / Wedding Dress: Tibi / Rings: Sam Abbay of New York Wedding Ring / Band: Jeff Lowe Band / Paper Banners: Mexican Sugar Skull

Get ready to be transported to a magical wonderland full of color and whimsy!  This Acton wedding by Deborah Zoe Photo is packed with some of the most unique and adorable DIY details I’ve ever seen like a gorgeous assortment of handmade paper flowers in gray, orange and purple and a super fun fox motif brought in with cute masks and favors bags.  Click here to see them all!

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From Deborah Zoe Photo…Cass and Sean were married at her father’s home in Acton, Massachusetts. Cass created all the details of her wedding down to the bouquets for her and her bridesmaids. Every detail was thought out and planned by Cassandra and Sean to create a wedding that was uniquely them. The couple celebrated with close family and friends with cocktails by the pool and a BBQ under a tent in the front yard. They are a super relaxed couple who wrote their own vows and had an impromptu “first dance” with their two pups, Rockwell and Clementine.

Wedding Photography: Deborah Zoe Photo / Flowers, Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Residence / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Catering: Firefly’s BBQ

Happy Monday, lovelies!  We’re kicking off the week here on Style Me Pretty Massachusetts with a delightful Boston affair that is absolutely guaranteed to brighten your day (and week) with lovely.  Simply brimming with fabulous nautical details, beautiful blooms by Studio One Twenty Three, darling paper goods (By the oh-so-talented bride!) and one very breathtaking location, I haven’t stopped smiling since the moment I laid my eyes on each and every brilliant image captured by Melissa Mermin Love Stories.  And the wine bottles decorated with photos of the bride and groom’s cute as can be puppies?  LOVE.  So, don’t wait another moment… Join me in the gallery for even more!

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From Melissa Mermin Love Stories… Brendan proposed to Julie atop the XV Beacon hotel in Beacon Hill, so it was fitting to have their rehearsal dinner there at the new restaurant and wine cellar Mooo. Both Brendan and Julie have family ties to the Navy, and Julie had her grandfathers dog tags from WWII pined to her bouquet. The ceremony and reception were held in the historic Navy yard of Charlestown, Boston at the Commandant’s House, built in 1806. They had favors of nautical maps for the guests as favors. Their dogs Lucy and Oliver were featured on their wine bottles.

Wedding Photography: Melissa Mermin Love Stories / Caterer: Gourmet Caterers / Cupcakes: Five Bites Cupcakes / Florist: Studio One Twenty Three / Linens: Peterson Party Center / Invitations: The Bride +  Friend / Programs + Table Cards: The Bride / Lighting + Tent: Peterson Party Center / Entertainment: Sweet Tooth and the Sugar Babies / Wedding Planner: Ronda Flashen, Entertainment Concepts Inc. / Wedding Dress: Pronovias via Vows / Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom / Oyster Boat: Island Creek Oysters / Pianist: Bill Duffy / Hair: Simply Blissful, Deborah Marcinowski / Make-up: Make-up Faces by Robyn / Officiant: Justice of the Peace, Rosaria Salerno / Venue: Commandant’s House

It’s time to bid a fond farewell to yet another wonderful week of inspiration here on SMP Massachusetts and I can’t think of a lovelier way to send you off into the weekend than with this charming Boston affair by Katie Noble Photo.  To say this wedding is fabulous is an understatement… No, it’s all caps FABULOUS and then some, complete with a crazy cool venue (A bowling alley!), vibrant florals by Whim Events and a DIY photo booth.  Plus, a pizza buffet!  This, my friends, is what awesome dreams are made of.  Click here for even more!

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From the Bride… Let’s just say a traditional wedding really just wasn’t up our alley! Puns aside, I am an event planner and have attended my fair share of beautiful weddings.  Don’t get me wrong, I adore everything about them.  But, my husband I wanted something different… something quirky and a party that would be a blast. We decided to have our reception at Sacco’s Bowl Haven & Flatbread Co. in Somerville, MA (a candle-pin bowling alley and a Somerville staple for the last 50 years). But let me tell you, this is not just any bowling alley. The whole place has been completely re-done, think hipster hangout meets organic farm.  The Flatbread boasts locally grown ingredients and the bar (one of the old bowling lanes) provides a plethora of local microbrews and vodkas.  Huge windows and skylights line the entire place, and the mix of kooky colors, DIY artwork and an old retro feel make this place really special. And yes, it is a fully functioning candle-pin bowling alley!  When we first walked in, we knew we had to have our party there. (For the next 6 months, we continued to joke that our reception would probably be invaded by a 6-year old’s birthday party!)

Now, imagine me telling my parents that our wedding reception would be in a bowling alley!  Luckily they trusted us… and honestly it was probably the best day of my entire life. We did give my parents the church element though.  We got married at St. Peter’s Church in Cambridge MA, about 1/2 mile from our apartment. Then we trollied our 100 guests to the bowling alley via the Upper Deck trolley (a huge yellow and green double-decker).  Upon arriving, the guests had signature cocktails and appetizers to the tunes of 50’s and 60’s bubble gum oldies. Our DJ set up shop on Lane 1 and the party began!

As for DIY decor, each table was lined with custom monogrammed orange and blue flower boxes filled with beautiful garden flowers, and bottles of “Pinney’s Pale Ale,” a home-brew that our wonderful friend Kevin brewed for us as our favors.  My friend Jen, a local artist and designer, made the labels for the bottles.  One label was hand-drawn based on a photo of bike ride on Nantucket, where we got engaged.  The other was a hand-drawn love bird theme. Guests swizzled their drinks at the bar with our “Cheers” drink stirrers hand-made by another friend.  And when it was time to bowl, we gave every girl a pair of checkered retro socks to slip on under their bowling shoes.  My florist even made me a flower snap bracelet.  Amazing.

Besides bowling and dancing on the lanes, our handmade photo booth was also a huge hit! For eats, Flatbread provided a never-ending pizza buffet & organic salad. (We hear the taco pizza was a favorite!) and a local baker, Andrea Cordis, put together an amazing display of cupcakes.  My mom even brought a local favorite cookie from Jamestown, NY to the party (they’re called  “pink stripe cookies” and they’re amazing).  All in all, we had a blast.

Wedding Photography: Katie Noble Photo / Photography Assistant: Hannah Persson / Floral Design: Moira Thompson of Whim Events / Cupcakes: Andrea Cordis of Cordis Confections / Wedding Programs + Beer Labels: Jennifer O’Donnell of Cut Paste Love / Trolley: Upper Deck Trolley Tours of Boston / Wedding Dress: Flair Boston / Wedding Venue: Sacco’s Bowl Haven & Flatbread Co.

There isn’t anything better than some lovely nuptials to brighten your workday and this uber-charming Cape Cod affair is sure to do just that and then some with a big bundle of cheery goodness, including a sunny yellow and blue color palette, some fabulous nautical touches and one seriously adorable bride and groom.  And the grin-inducing pretty doesn’t stop there… take one look at those beautiful DIY florals and the breathtaking images from Lauren Methia Photography and you’re sure to be smiling for hours.  Yes, this is one seriously happy day simply brimming with lovely, so be sure to join me in the gallery for even more!

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From Lauren Methia Photography… Eliza and Rob planned their Cape Cod nautical, yet classy wedding from Manhattan where they live. Eliza’s grandparents live in Brewster, MA making it an easy choice for Eliza who grew up visiting Cape Cod from the Boston area.

Given the couple live in NYC, my first meeting with them was on their big day. Just from speaking with Eliza on the phone I knew she was as sweet as she was in person! Their wedding was on the smaller scale of around 90 guests giving it a more intimate feel with close family and friends only present.

Eliza and Rob were a pleasure to work with – so easy going, relaxed and happy!  It was easy to see why they chose the type of wedding that they did – casual yet sophisticated. Some details that I love about their wedding – Eliza wore a vintage necklace that was worn by her mother, grandmother and I believe great-grandmother and their cake topper has been passed down several generations through all happily married couples!

Wedding Photography: Lauren Methia Photography / Wedding Venue: Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Course / Band: Smoking Jackets / Flowers: Mother of the Bride / Baker: The Casual Gourmet / Hair: Friends of the Bride, Jui Martinez + Rita Duggan / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Men’s Ties: Vineyard Vines

This is what I love about Massachusetts – you can be at the beach, in Boston or in the Berkshires with just a quick little trip down the Mass Pike. And if you have to be anywhere, the Berkshires are not a bad place to be. Time stops still, main street always bustles and the scenery is something that brings people from all over the country. So it obviously makes for the loveliest of lovely places to get married. And this Berkshire beauty by Orchard Cove Photography is the perfect example of how the gorgeous countryside serves as the guest of honor. It’s completely adorable (the chickens are even adorable!), and there is more to see in the full gallery!

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From the Bride…I spent summers in Lenox at camp and have always loved the Berkshires. Brett and I enjoyed a number of weekend getaways in Lenox and celebrated a joint Sodha/Harsch Family Thanksgiving there in 2009 not long before we got engaged. I read about Stonover Farm in a few magazines and wanted to stay there. In January 2010, we were on our way up to Deerfield and decided to spend a night at Stonover Farm. Even though it was the middle of winter, we fell in love with it. When we got engaged, we didn’t consider any other venues. We knew that Stonover Farm would be absolutely perfect. It offered everything that we were looking for – a beautiful setting that was relaxed and sophisticated at that same time. We loved the idea of having multiple and distinct events (ceremony on the lawn, cocktails by the pond, dinner under the tent, and dancing/dessert in the barn) all at the same venue. Not to mention the fact that the blue trim of the buildings perfectly matched our colors of navy, light blue and pink!

I wanted our wedding day decor to match the vibe of Stonover Farm – relaxed and sophisticated at that same time. Blue is my favorite color (hence my sapphire engagement ring), so I decided to play off the blue trim on the buildings with light blue accents and then use navy as the primary color. Pink was the perfect compliment to the blues and added a preppy sophistication. Honestly, Crocus Hale (my florist) and Clover Bell-Devaney (my event planner) deserve much of the credit for the style. Early on, we met with them and explained the feeling that we wanted and our colors. I also told them that I love France and hydrangeas. Crocus immediately came up with an incredible design plan to mix hydrangeas, toile, ribbon, galvanized buckets, trees and other beautiful elements to give a French twist to an otherwise classic and chic New England look. Clover referred me to a stationery vendor that had perfect letterpress fleur de lis invitations.

Although I am not that artistically inclined, I love things that are handmade/unique, so we made a lot of use of Etsy: directional signs, stamps for the table numbers on the escort cards, scalloped table numbers to match the scalloping on my dress, an antique locket (fleur de lis!) for my bouquet, and the birch table number holders. All of the artists were wonderful to work with and worked so hard to make things perfect for us. Brett’s dad is a talented artist, so we added his handiwork to the day in the form of the signs on the welcome bags, a hand drawn map of Lenox, and cards featuring his pen and ink drawings of the barn at Stonover Farm and other local landmarks.

Wedding Photography: Orchard Cove Photography / Ceremony + Reception Location: Stonover Farm Bed & Breakfast / Wedding Coordination: Impeccable Events / Caterer: Savory Harvest Catering / Floral Design: Crocus Hale / DJ: Gabriel Squailia / Wedding Dress: Reva Mivasagar / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Bride’s Hair: Frederic Boudet / Bride’s Make-up: Patricia Bowden-Luccardi / Pies: Katzie Guy-Hamilton / Rentals: Classical Tents & Party Goods / Calligraphy: Lisa Holtzman of A to Z Calligraphy / Veil: Bride’s Head Revisited / Groom’s Suit: Mr. Ned / Cufflinks: Charles Tyrwhitt / Wooden Signs: Our Hobby to Your Home / Chalkboard Signs: Bragging Bags / Locket: Basil the Cat / Table Number Holders: Button Boy / Table Numbers: Maida Vale / Rubber Stamp for Placecards: Brown Pigeon

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I have been charmed to no end by this delightful Holliston Wedding by Kate Preftakes Photography.  Seriously. Charmed.  In fact, I am so completely enamored with this entire affair, I’m not sure what I love more… The lovely blue and yellow color palette, the beyond gorgeous location, the fabulous bridesmaid dresses (I want one) or the men in paisley bow ties.  And the too cute for words bride and groom, who found out post-engagement that they had actually known each other in preschool?  ADORBS.  If that doesn’t just warm every last space in your heart, I don’t know what will.  See more of this lovely, lovely day here!

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From Kate Preftakes Photography… Sarah and Patrick were married on a hot summer day in July at the Holliston Historical Society in Holliston, MA.  The ceremony was a few doors down at St. Mary’s church. The details were enchanting, from the old window for the table settings (that they drove to Cape Cod to pick up the day before the wedding) to the jars and buckets of flowers everywhere.  The groomsmen’s bow ties (and tying them) were a gift from the groom’s father. Sarah and Patrick dated for only about 6 months before they were engaged but found out later that they had been friends in preschool before there parent’s moved.  Their mothers belonged to the same babysitting coop and watched each others’ children while they were infants. This was definitely one of those weddings that was filled with love and laughter from everyone who attended.

Wedding Photography: Kate Preftakes Photography / Wedding Venue: Holliston Historical Society / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Florist: Debra’s Flowers / Caterer: Ipswich Clambake / Ice Cream Company: Cherry Farm Creamery / Wedding Invitations: Queen of Cups via Etsy / DJ: Sounds Great DJ

I first fell head over heels in love with weddings over a soiree similar to this one captured by Captured Photography by Jenny, and I’ll going to tell you why. It’s obviously gorgeous, with a vineyard on Cape Cod as your venue you can’t go wrong. The bride and groom are obviously adorable, that cannot be denied. But what I love so much about this pretty beach celebration is the relaxed, family-filled, love-filled vibe you get just from looking at the images. A bride that did her own hair, makeup, and flowers with the help of friends and family stepping in wherever they could. It just makes my family loving heart happy to see weddings like this, and you can see all the reasons why in the full gallery of images!

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From the Bride…Our goal in our wedding was to be as laid back as possible. We decided to go on the smaller side, inviting only our close friends and family. We also decided to forego a wedding party since our wedding was only 75 people. I grew up in Cape Cod, so naturally I wanted to have my special day there. Jason’s family was from Florida, so many of them stayed for the weekend and made a vacation out of it (and a break from the FL heat).

The wedding began in the house I grew up in. We put together some of the final details for the day, including making my bouquet. I just used an arrangement of pastel colored roses (my favorite) and wrapped them with burlap. I also put up my hair and did my own makeup.

The ceremony location was a teeny little church just down the street from the reception venue. I loved the white walls and big windows. We put a bucket floral arrangement in each window and then also used ladders with flowers on them as a decor at the front of the stage. Jason and I also wrote our own vows to share during the ceremony. It was the highlight! The reception venue was just down the street from the ocean (in Cape Cod… the ocean is pretty close no matter what). It was such a nice day, we decided to stop and grab a few shots with Jenny, our photographer.

Once we arrived at the reception, our guests were already enjoying cocktails and snacks. The reception was in the vineyard’s outdoor pavilion area. It was a very relaxed set up. We didn’t have assigned seating… and we had an open buffet for our guests to eat. Other details in the reception included pictures from our childhood and our relationship together pinned up on strings of twine. This was nice for our guests to view and reminisce. We also had a guest box instead of a guest book. People could write a little note, word of advice, etc to us and drop it on the box. We plan on opening those throughout our first year of marriage. We had a candy bar since I love sweets. Our guests could fill a bag and bring it home.

My aunt made our cake. And my family helped with all of the lanterns and floral arrangements at the reception. Our dog Lucy was at our reception too! My father and his friends played music for us all night. We were able to dance under a full moon and just enjoy being outside at the vineyard. The weather was so pleasant too! It was such a great night.

Wedding Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Ceremony Venue: Chapel on the Pond / Reception Venue: Truro Vineyards / Caterer: Adrians / Flowers, Event Design, Make-up + Cake: DIY / Wedding Dress: WToo / Bride’s Shoes: Nine West / Band: Friends + Father of the Bride

Oh, gorgeous Massachusetts wedding… how I adore you and your lovely ways.  It’s true.  I am more than completely smitten with your warm tones, stunning historic location and beautiful blooms by Country Florals.  Not to mention your fabulous paper goods by Russell Hite Design.  (The dashing groom!)  And those beyond breathtaking images captured by Jonathan Hanson/Readyluck?  Brilliant.  Oh, yes… I am head over heels in love with you, Massachusetts wedding.  And it’s so very, very easy to see why.  Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… I grew up in Massachusetts, and Russell and I spent summers in New England while we were dating, so we wanted to share the area with our out-of-town guests. We wanted to find a location that had a mix of a beautiful outdoor space for the ceremony, and an indoor space with its own historic character for the reception. We fell in love with the Commander’s Mansion, and the details in the space.

We chose to have our ceremony outside in the grape arbor, underneath the pear tree. I’d always pictured getting married outside, at sunset, and this just was perfect.  Sue Elliot married us, and she had married my parents over 10 years earlier, almost to the day. It was really special for her to officiate our ceremony, since she had helped form our family once already, now she helped usher in the next stage of our family.

Our guests were able to explore the house during the cocktail hour, whether on the veranda, or in the living room. Martha Hanson of Country Florals was a key part of my day, and one of the first decisions Russell and I made while planning. I worked on Martha and Tom Hanson’s farm when I was fourteen as my first job, and our families are very close. I loved seeing her sketches for the design, and helping Martha put the finishing touches on the bride’s bouquets on the day of the wedding. It was only natural that Martha design the bouquet I carried down the aisle, and all of the arrangements that our guests admired during dinner. I wanted a rustic, unkempt elegance.

Russell and I scoured antique stores for vintage postcards to use for our invitations. We chose a mix of places we’d lived, and a collection of romantic, tongue-in-cheek postcards. For the invitations, Russell designed a custom monogram with our initials, and we hand stamped the postcards. We then printed out the invitation details on vellum, and placed this over the message area of the postcards. We loved the history that these genuine artifacts imparted to each of our guests. Many of the notes were love letters, and we loved the idea of continuing their legacy with our wedding.

After our fantastic dinner, we danced the night away to Ari of Beat Train Productions spinning awesome beats. Russell and I have really eclectic taste from old school hip hop to folk, and Ari embraced this, giving our friends and family an awesome party.

Wedding Photography: Jonathan Hanson/Readyluck / Wedding Location: The Commander’s Mansion / Catering + Cupcakes: Tastings Caterers / Floral Design: Country Florals / DJ: Ari Rosenfield of Beat Train Productions / Officiant: Sue Elliot / Hair: Keli at Style Salon / Make-up: Madison at Style Salon / Bridal Gown: Oleg Cassini / Bride’s Shoes: Penny Loves Kenny / Groom’s Suit: Men’s Wearhouse / Maid of Honor Dress: David’s Bridal / Custom Cake Topper: Itsy Bitsy Cute / Signs: Adam Schecter / Paper Goods: Russell Hite Design

Martha’s Vineyard is so beautiful. So, SO beautiful. So holding a wedding on the gorgeous sandy shoreline of this perfect little place is always going to be stunning. But this wedding, captured by David Murray Wedding Photography, blew my expectations out of that sparkly, blue water. I am absolutely swooning over the lighthouse locale, the fabulous blooms, the beyond adorable ring bearer. This affair totally ups the ante on Martha’s Vineyard weddings. You’ll see exactly what I mean when you visit the gallery for more!

My husband and I had a New England coastal wedding last June in Martha’s Vineyard, MA. The colors were lavender and tiffany blue. Simple but elegant was our goal with a touch of New England charm and style. We grew up in the same Connecticut shoreline town. (I actually played his pregnant wife in a high school play.) Despite growing up in the same town, our romantic paths didn’t intertwine until years later in New York City. I’d been traveling to Martha’s Vineyard for the summers since I was a young girl with and my husband proposed in Oak Bluffs a year and a half ago on a family vacation.

My husband and I custom made the escort cards – they were old postcards from our hometown in Madison Connecticut. The table names were all first date places of ours. The guest favors and attendant gifts were from local island vendors. Our favorite parts of the day had to be the authentic New England raw bar featured during the cocktail hour and the disguised touches of New York we brought with us – our fantastic DJ and groom’s college friend and the New York Yankee cookies that we included in the welcome bags. We had to stay true to our second favorite city after all!

Photography: David Murray Wedding Photography / Flowers: Lynda Dandaneau / Event Planning & Design: Bride and Mother of the Bride / Ceremony Location: Edgartown Lighthouse / Catering & Reception Location: Lambert’s Cove Inn / Invitations: Mr. Boddington’s / Bride’s Accessories: Jennifer Behr / Dress: Amsale / Groom’s Attire: Brooks Brothers / Maid of Honor’s Attire: J.Crew / DJ: Chris Sealey / Guest favors: Chillmark Chocolates / Welcome Bags: Dylan’s Candy Bar / Attendant Gifts: Midnight Farm / Linen rentals: Magnolia Linens / Cupcakes: Sweet E’s Cupcakes

I absolutely adore a bride who isn’t afraid to rock a little color on her big day… And I get a little giddy each and every time I see it here on Style Me Pretty.  So, it pretty much goes without saying that this stunning Salem bride just rocketed to the top of my fabulous list for taking the color notion up a notch with a vibrant red (and uber-stunning) Oscar de la Renta gown.  I know… She’s my new hero, too.  And if that amazing dress weren’t enough to have me completely smitten (it is), there’s those seriously gorgeous blooms, the sleek and sophisticated reception space, one cute as can be Koala cake and brilliant images by Ashley Garmon Photographers.  Sounds like a good way to spend a Tuesday, no?  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Ashley Garmon Photographers… This beautiful wedding was an intimate affair held in Salem, Massachusetts.  The ceremony was held at St. Peters Episcopal Church and the reception was at The Peabody Essex Museum.  The bride is in a indie rock band called Shearwater.  She was able to enlist some very talented musician friends to lend a hand.  Members of Hospital Ships played during ceremony and cocktail hour.  Much to the delight of many independent music fans in attendance, Damien Jurado and Ted Leo each played and sang during the reception.   The bride and groom’s nicknames for each other are “Koala and Tree,” which were reflected on the bride’s custom made wedding hanger and on the wedding cake as well.

Wedding Photography: Ashley Garmon Photographers / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Peters Episcopal Church / Wedding Reception Location: The Peabody Essex Museum / Catering: Capers Catering / Wedding Gown: Oscar de la Renta / Musicians: Ted Leo, Damien Jurado, Hospital Ships

Good morning, SMPers and a happy Monday to you!  We’re welcoming you back to yet another lovely week of inspiration here on Style Me Pretty Massachusetts with these oh-so charming Nantucket nuptials captured by the amazing Brea McDonald Photography.  Boasting gorgeous red and blue hues, a breathtaking tented reception and a plethora of fabulous DIY details, this adorable couple braved Hurricane Irene to throw a New England bash to remember.  Plus, my new favorite wedding gown!  Check out all of the pretty details here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We didn’t choose colors or have a particular theme or motif in mind when we started planning; if anything, I suppose we were inspired by Nantucket herself! The only thing I was sure of was the groomsmen’s attire – I loved the quintessential island look of Nantucket reds paired with blue blazers and Sperry topsiders. Jake definitely received quite a few strange and skeptical looks from his Canadian groomsmen when he tried to describe the color of the pants they would be wearing for the ceremony! From there we just followed our instincts and incorporated as many fun colors (like the blue bridesmaid dresses and my blue shoes) and details (like the American/ Canadian flags and starfish boutonnières) as possible and luckily it all came together!

Our wedding wouldn’t have been complete without a little travel complication (in the five years Jake and I have flown back and forth to visit one another NOT ONCE have we had an entirely smooth round trip – it’s become a running family joke), but we certainly didn’t factor in the appearance of a hurricane!! I hadn’t spent my entire year planning for the perfect tented wedding only for it to be spoiled by Hurricane Irene – we broke out the cute yellow rain boots, prepped the Colby umbrellas and fielded phone calls from desperate guests cancelling at the last minute since all modes of transportation off the island had been cancelled for Sunday.

Amazingly, the weather held out for us that day and the overcast skies made for great pictures. The wedding was better than we ever could have dreamed – I was able to showcase all the little DIY projects I had worked so hard on (including the menus, programs, escort card display, signature drink setup and straws), the lanterns my dad and father-in-law stayed up all night stringing looked fabulous, one of our groomsmen got up on stage and sang a song especially for us and my brothers (one being a volunteer firefighter no less!) and groomsmen surprised us with a fantastic self made fireworks display that would have rivaled any formal 1st (for the Canadians!) or 4th of July celebration – only fitting since Jake and I had decided to inscribe our wedding bands with the phrase “To A Lifetime of Fireworks”. We literally missed the hurricane by hours – as soon as the reception ended the wind picked up and vendors were on site to break down the tent and collect the rentals. All of our guests were stuck on Nantucket the next day, but we kept the festivities going by hosting a “stranded” party! We honestly could not have asked for a more fun or memorable wedding weekend!!

Wedding Photography: Brea McDonald Photography / Caterer: A Taste of Nantucket / Flowers: Jean Cawley of A Taste of Nantucket / Band: Jeff Ross and the Atlantics / Tent: Nantucket Tents / Wedding Dress: Amsale / Bridal Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaid Dresses: Lilly Pulitzer / Bridesmaid Shoes: Jack Rogers / Groomsmen Ties: Etro from Barneys / Groomsmen Pants: Murray’s Toggery Shop / Groomsmen Shoes: Sperry Topsiders / Hair and Makeup: Darya Salon / Hairpiece: Bride’s Head Revisited / Table Signs: Marty Kelly Paper

Don’t you just love western Massachusetts in the fall? It’s so incredibly beautiful with all the foliage and pretty, pretty fall flowers. And this wedding just so happens to be the perfect display of all that the Berkshires have to offer. I’m loving all the seasonal touches like the custom made cake topper and the thumb print wedding tree. Gazing at these pretty images from Jennifer Bullock Photography has me excited about the upcoming autumn and all its splendor. And I’m sure it will have the same affect on you, especially once you hit up the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Jennifer Bullock Photography…On October 10, 2010 Andrea and Pete were married on the most lovely fall day, in the town of Pittsfield. . .nestled in the gorgeous Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Their ceremony took place under the beautiful Hillcrest Gazebo at Onata Lake, followed by with their reception at the Crown Plaza Hotel. The beautiful fall foliage, mum filled pumpkins and hanging flower filled mason jars were some of the stunning and sweet eye pleasers accenting their outdoor ceremony. Other details and planning that made their wedding extra special, however, were quite unique — such as the custom made cake topper, an engraved tree trunk used for holding Andrea’s bouquet and all of the wedding party wearing comfy and cool sneakers. Photographing Andrea and Pete’s wedding was nothing less than super FUN, as they planned every detail that showed off their humble, earthy, cool, unique and artsy personalities and style. An incredibly wonderful couple that I had the honor to work with!

Photography: Jennifer Bullock Photography / Ceremony Location: The Hillcrest Gazebo at Onata Lake / Reception: Crowne Plaza Hotel / Flowers: Carolyn Valenti / Flower Hair Accessory: thehoneycomb / Cake topper: DIY by bridesmaid Carrie Shepard / Cake: Morningside Bakery / Tree Trunk: DIY by bride’s father / Candied apples: Bartlett’s Orchard / Tree Table: DIY by bridesmaid Jill Lida Svirida / Mason Jars and Pumpkin-Filled Mums: DIY by groom’s mother

It’s never too early in the morning to be talking about wedding cakes, right? Okay, glad we’re on the same page because we’ve got three local and amazing cake makers to share with you and trust me when I say these babies are not only pretty, but delicious too! I don’t think I’m alone when I say that cake tasting has got to be THE best part of wedding planning. And even if you’re going the less traditional route and having cupcakes or multiple mini cakes, these talented cake makers have it all under control. Up first is Cakes for Occasions out of Danvers. These dessert masters craft beautiful nut-free cakes in custom flavors like dulche de leche and red velvet…Ummm, hello, delicious!

Oh, and then there’s the amazing Konditor Meister out of Braintree. Don’t let the name scare you, people; it’s German for pastry master and that’s just what these people are! And I say that from experience because I’m lucky enough to live right around the corner from these cake geniuses. Günther, the owner has been training since the young age of twelve, so you are guaranteed to get a delicious and gorgeous creation custom designed just how you want it.

Last but certainly not least is Delicious Desserts on the Cape. Pastry chef Lisa is the real deal. She’s won three medals from the Food Network Cake Challenge and has fun, whimsical flavors for you to try like chocolate chip cookie dough and peanut butter. And of course, she does the classics too! Her cakes are gorgeous creations and will make your guests drool just at the sight of them!

So there you have it, three amazing and local cake makers that will make sure your cake cutting ceremony or cupcake tower are truly things to be remembered! Happy cake tasting! xoxo

There’s nothing quite like a fabulous Cape Cod wedding to start the morning off right and when that fabulous wedding also happens to be a gorgeous beach chic affair boasting romantic blooms by Bee & Blossom, a stunning seaside location, charming paper goods from Lion in the Sun and the prettiest of aqua blue bridesmaid dresses, well, it doesn’t get much lovelier than this.  Lucky for us, Elizabeth Horne Photography was on hand to capture each and every ounce of pretty, so join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… After our engagement, I spent a LOT of time trying to figure out what style of wedding I wanted.  After looking through lots of magazines, everything started to look the same.  Fortunately, I found one of your Inspiration features which helped me see that you could do an elegant beach wedding without all the starfish, sand dollars, and sea horses.  In an attempt to be a little more unique and original, I decided to avoid everything “over-done” at our wedding.  I still tried to achieve an elegant beachy look by using very natural, beachy colors and by using textured fabrics and flowers.  Fortunately I found great vendors to help me achieve the desired look. I tried to add personal touches as well.  My mother made my veil, my father made the window shutters for the seating cards, and I made the frames, fans, and lanterns.  Etsy also proved super helpful for decorations, jewelery, and accessories.

Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Horne Photography / Bride’s Dress: Jim Hjelm / Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Wedding Invitations & Day-Of Paper: Lion in the Sun / Flowers: Bee & Blossom / Linens: Be Our Guest / Lighting: PSAV / Wedding Venue: Ocean Edge Resort / Wedding Cake: Casual Gourmet / Hair: Artworx

These charming Cape Cod nuptials have me completely smitten this wonderful Tuesday morning… And when you jump right into all of the breathtaking images by davina + daniel, you’ll most definitely see why.  From the vibrant purple and green hues to the beautiful florals by Flowers by Fancy to one seriously stunning wedding gown, it’s just one uber-romantic moment after another in this elegant New England soiree… And I, for one, can’t seem to get enough.  I’ll be spending my day in the gallery, soaking in all of this lovely.  I suggest you do the same!

Click here for the entire image gallery!

From the Bride & Groom… Planning the wedding was, in all reality, pretty quick and painless.  We had a lot of “input” from family which at times made things a little hectic but in the end everything worked out well.  Julie’s family has always had a house on the Cape and she had spent every summer growing up there.  Dominic proposed to Julie on the family’s private beach which is part of the Monomoy Trust.  In choosing a venue we wanted something that wasn’t too big, but that could benefit from being right on the water.  Julie’s father is a member of Eastward Ho Country Club which has one of the best views of Chatham on all of the Cape.

The wedding was meant to have a modern beach glam feel.  We chose soft purples and greens as the colors.  The flowers were a mix of tall and short lilys.  Originally the wedding ceremony was planned for outside along with the cocktail hour.  However, due to rain, the ceremony and cocktail hour had to be relocated to the slate porch off the club house which had a tent erected over it.  Two dance floors were used, one in the main dining room and then another on the slate porch where everyone seemed to congregate.  All in all, everything went off without a hitch and we are so pleased with the photos from the night!

Wedding Photography: davina + daniel / Wedding Venue: Eastward Ho Country Club / Florist: Flowers by Fancy / Bride’s Dress: Amsale / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Groom’s Suit: Hickey Freeman / Groom’s Shoes: Stanbridge Clothiers