Massachusetts Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

Classic State Room Wedding with Vintage Nautical Touches

Drawing inspiration from the plush gardens of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, this Bride and Groom transformed the beautiful, sleek lines of Boston’s State Room into a classic, New England wedding. With pretty flowers, invitations designed by the graphic designer Bride and Boston Common Band to keep everyone on the dance floor all night, this couple pulled off their vision and made sure all the guests enjoyed their special day. See it all from Lauren Methia Photography in The Vault!

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From The Bride…I met Brett at Syracuse University in 2006, just 3 days before he graduated, while I was just finishing up my sophomore year. We discovered we had been in a lecture together the entire semester but had never connected. So after unknowingly being at the same school for 2 years, we started our relationship back at our parents’ homes at opposite ends of Massachusetts (how’s that for timing?). Brett moved to Boston a year later, and when I graduated in 2008, I headed straight for the coast to start our life together, finally in the same city.

As the days of wedding planning began, we were torn. We had fallen in love with Newport, Rhode Island after our engagement amongst the stunning views on the Cliff Walk. It would be a gorgeous setting for our nautical loving selves to tie the knot (pun intended). But when it came down to it, Boston was just—it was us. We couldn’t think of anything better than hosting all of our loved ones in our beloved city. We couldn’t wait to share it with everyone and show them everything we loved about this beautiful, historic, small town of a city.

We surprised ourselves when we chose the State Room as our venue—a sprawling modern space that starkly contrasted our classic New England style. But we loved the blank slate of the room which enabled us to design it exactly how we wanted. No rugs or wallpaper or drapes to compete with. But most of all, we loved the focal point of this space, which displayed the driving force behind our wedding inspiration: a two story panoramic view of Boston Harbor.

Our vision was set: soft and classic with vintage nautical touches, all inside of a bold modern space. We knew we wanted to soften the look by bringing in natural elements of varying textures; our inspiration came from the plush gardens of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard (our annual vacation destination). These varying shades of natural greens and muted warm floral tones set the foundation of our color palette along with the weathered gray of the cedar homes native to coastal New England. We were also greatly inspired by textures: wood, brass, lace, moss, rope, all used in unison; it gave so much dimension and character. All these elements set against a Boston skyscraper—we were thrilled with the result. It was classic and timeless, with an unexpected twist…which just so happened to be my same goal I had in looking for a gown. I can’t thank my mom enough for all of her help with the details. Her impeccable eye kept us on track the whole way.

As a graphic designer, I was pumped to design my invite set and paper products. I can’t tell you how much time I spent from sketching ideas to refining each piece. I knew I wanted letter press from the start, and was even able to help with the printing process. I cut the paper, inked the press, and ran the machine: it was so immensely satisfying to physically create these pieces from start to finish. The program was another favorite, which featured amazing little illustrations of the bridal party by one of my bridesmaids. (My friends are all so talented, it’s silly.)

We scheduled a lot of time for photos before the wedding, not wanting to miss any of our favorite Boston backdrops. We loved the idea of being able to spend some time together, calming our nerves before the big event. A trolley took us around the city from the Seaport to the Public Gardens to the historic Boston Public Library. At this last stop, we arrived to find a pride flag flying proudly above the city, as just one day before, the supreme court made it’s landmark decision on same-sex marriages. We were so overjoyed to share our special weekend with a nation-wide celebration of love. As Justice Anthony M. Kennedy stated that day, “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.” What a weekend for a wedding!

Our biggest goal for the reception was just to throw a damn good party. We were so thankful to have all our loved ones together with us on our special day and wanted everyone to be enjoying themselves just as much as us. Our marriage could not be without all the people who support us and love us, so it was important to us that this was a celebration for us all. Thus, it became my husband’s obsession to find the perfect band, which he did. We did not step off that dance floor (and neither did our guests!) the entire night.

I could go on and on and on about our wedding, the details, the people, the perfect moments and the inevitable mishaps… but I’ll leave it with this: I truly would not have changed one thing.

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Dream City Proposal at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Is this perhaps the cutest proposal ever? I think that’s pretty safe to say. Because when Boston blogger, Corporate Glitter thought she was signing up to model for a photo shoot organized by Annmarie Swift Photography, she got the surprise of her life turning around to find her boyfriend, Matthew on bended knee. Kuddos Matthew – you’ve officially set the bar for boyfriends everywhere.

From the Bride-to-be…Matthew and I began looking at rings together about six months ago. I wanted the proposal to be a surprise, but preferred to be a part of picking out the ring. We looked a few times before finally deciding on what shape and style I liked: an oval diamond in an oval halo setting.

Fast forward to the end of December. I received an email from Annmarie Swift, a Boston area wedding photographer that we have been lucky enough to shoot with a few other times. The email stated that she was in need of another winter session for her magazine and asked if Matt and I would be interested in doing the shoot with her. I asked Matt right away if we could do it, and he told me he had to check his work schedule but thought it would be okay. I emailed Annmarie right back letting her know that we would LOVE to be models again.

Annmarie and I went back and forth a few times, discussing hair, makeup and of course, the perfect dress! This session was supposed to be a “formal anniversary” shoot, so we decided on a beautiful blush pink tulle gown with sequins embroidery. She even asked if we would bring our dog, Sam, and we discussed how cute a floral wreath for him would be.

January 23 came and I decided to go get my nails done that morning with a girlfriend of mine. We joked that maybe Matt would propose at the shoot. After doing my hair and makeup, Matthew and I made our way into the city and arrived at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston just before 3:00 PM. The conversation on the ride there consisted mostly of how our dog Sam was going to react to being in the city, and how cold it was going to be in a backless dress. Matt never let on that he was nervous or anxious.

Once all of the people cleared the front steps of the MFA we shed our jackets and began shooting. When I say it was cold, I mean it was COLD. I didn’t mind though because I knew this was going to be another wonderful shoot with an amazing photographer, and Matt and I would have the photos to cherish forever.

After about 10 minutes of posing just the two of us and with Sam, Annmarie told Matt to step aside as she wanted to take a few full-length photos of my dress. She was on the steps and I was standing below her. She instructed me to keep looking at the column behind her and to not move. A second or two later she told me to turn around and throw my arms around Matt.

My heart dropped as I turned around to see the love of my life, down on one knee, with the most beautiful ring in his hands. As I stepped closer to him he said the sweetest words and asked me to marry him. I was completely surprised and overwhelmed with happiness that I actually had to ask Matt later that night if I said yes! (I did J) And now we have the most amazing photos of the best moment of our lives.

Little did I know, the whole shoot was Matt’s idea! He had emailed Annmarie, coordinated the day and even met up with her at the MFA a few days prior to go over the plan of action. But the surprises didn’t stop there. At home there were more roses, chocolates, champagne chilling on ice and a very special handmade piece – a wooden sign that read “Katie & Matt 01/23/2016” that Matt had carved himself.

We had made dinner reservations earlier that week to celebrate Matt’s birthday, so we got changed and headed to the restaurant. When we arrived, we were led to the back where both of our families were sitting at a large round table to surprise us (well, me) – another one of Matt’s ideas! We had a delicious meal and got to show our families the proppsal photos that Annmarie had already edited and sent back to us.

I cannot even begin to explain the amount of happiness I felt that day, and continue to feel each day after, know how much time, thought and effort my wonderful fiancé put into making the proposal such a magical moment. It was the greatest day of my life and I cannot wait to marry my best friend!

Photography: Annmarie Swift Photography | Floral Design: Sweet Annie Floral Design | Venue: Museum Of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg | Bride's Dress: Asos | Puppy's Floral Wreath: Cristen & Co.

Elegant + Organic: Bee in Love Wedding Inspiration

Forget making a reservation this Valentine’s Day and set up shop in the sweetest little way. Ask your favorite someone to Bee Yours by setting the scene for some serious wining and dining a la The Romanticist Studios and Jess Blazejewski. It’s the ultimate sit-down that you’ll want to share and thanks to Ruth Eileen Photography it’s all waiting for you to cozy on up to in THE VAULT!

From The Romanticist Studios… This editorial portrays an elegant fete inspired by a beloved everyday staple: honey. From the romantic invitation suite to the lovely favors, we used honeycombs, the rich honey hue of silk ribbons, the warmth of kraft paper, the texture of black and white linen, and the sophistication of traditional tablescapes to create a cozy and elegant feel. Organic flower arrangements and cascading greenery beautifully adorn this party.

The bride wears Vera Wang paired with romantic flowers and statement bouquet ribbon. The hair is flowy and makeup is soft. She celebrates her upcoming nuptials with bubbly honey cocktails and treats her guests with honey flavored macaroons in pretty custom kraft paper bags.

We wanted the couple to keep mementos of their day. The custom escort card board seats guests gracefully and serves as a pinboard for the home office. Monogramed napkins are a perfect addition to the lovebirds’ nest and vintage candlesticks will set the mood at celebrations for years to come. All timeless details were captured in fine art film for soft, classic photos.

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Blogger Bride Jessye of City Tonic’s Colorful DIY Wedding

We’ve had a front-row seat to our blogger bride Jessye’s wedding planning journey, and today is finally the big reveal. She’s sharing an inside look into her Martha’s Vineyard nuptials photographed by Ruth Eileen, and it’s the ultimate East Coast celebration with pops of color woven throughout. Jessye, it’s been a joy having you guest blog on our pages and your special day, simply put, is everything. Excuse us as we go spend the rest of the day pinning in The Vault.

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From The Bride… I’m so excited to share my wedding with you today! When I think back on the crazy blur of our wedding, a few moments really stand out to me. On the morning of, I woke up to a crisp and cloudless blue sky and an adorable text message from Kevin – both of which put me at ease. After that brief moment of calm, all I can remember is the frenetic energy around me as I finished some last-minute DIY details with my bridesmaids (thanks guys!) and wrote notes to Kevin and our parents. Suddenly, the frenzy of the day came to a halt and I found myself looking at my dad as we were about to walk down the aisle, violin music floating in the background. I remember locking eyes with Kevin and watching a smile flash across his face as I approached. Somehow — even after anxiously waiting and planning and daydreaming about it for months — nothing really prepares you for how exceptional that moment feels.

When we first started discussing the big day, we agreed that we really just wanted everyone to have fun. We also hoped that our guests would be able to see all of the personality and love that went into the planning. My mom and I (and Kevin, at times) planned the entire wedding ourselves and the experience made me realize how lucky I am to have a creative and innovative mom and a supportive husband. Since the wedding involved plenty of sourcing and DIY elements, I thought it would be fun to break it down into pieces — in case anyone else is as obsessed with the details as I am! (And I owe a huge thank you to the immeasurably talented Ruth Eileen Photography for capturing all of those details and moments so beautifully.)

The venue

My family has a home on Martha’s Vineyard and the island has always been a huge part of my life — I spent a few glorious summers there waitressing and babysitting, and it’s probably my favorite place on earth. When I met Kevin (a native Californian), I made sure we visited MV early on in our relationship — luckily, he fell in love with it too! We chose to get married at a private estate in Edgartown where we could hold both the ceremony and tented reception — it was situated right on the water and surrounded by beautiful sea grass and Montauk daisies. As an added bonus, it was large enough to house the whole bridal party so everyone was able to stay in one place (and enjoy plenty of leftover fried chicken the morning after the wedding!).

The fashion

As a fashion blogger and overall style enthusiast, I was particularly excited about dress shopping. I eagerly scheduled appointments at multiple boutiques in Boston, and was pretty certain I knew what I wanted. My first appointment was at L’elite Bridal during a Reem Acra trunk show (one of my favorite designers). I’m generally a very indecisive person and I like to know all of my options before committing to one — so it was pretty surprising when I fell for the second dress I tried on (miraculously, I never second-guessed my choice either). The intricately embroidered bodice was peppered with just the right amount of sequins (although it’s hard to see in the photos!) and I loved the fluid movement of the skirt. I had small silk buttons added to the back as an homage to my mother’s wedding dress and a sequined belt for a little extra sparkle and texture. My favorite addition; however, was the beautiful diamond starburst brooch that was used to fasten the belt – it’s a family heirloom that’s been worn by every bride on my mother’s side since the early 1800s, and I felt very lucky to continue the tradition.

The DIY

After learning calligraphy and designing our save-the-dates and invitations, I knew I also wanted to design all of the other stationery components (like table numbers, menus, directional signs, etc.) to keep everything visually consistent. Our wedding invitations were foil stamped in copper and rose gold, so I decided to incorporate these metallics throughout the wedding. However, professional foil stamping can be really cost-prohibitive when you’re printing menus, ceremony programs, table numbers and advice cards. It simply wasn’t in our budget, so I found a way to print DIY foil at home using foil transfer paper and a laminator. It was extremely time-consuming (I ended up printing a few hundred pieces, which I would not recommend!) — however, I’m one of those weirdos who thoroughly enjoys big craft projects so it all worked out.

In order to achieve the same rose gold theme in my wedding signs, I enlisted the help of my cousin who owns a custom print wear shop. I scanned my own brush script and designed the layouts — and from there, he came up with a way to print these beautiful banner signs in shiny foil. My mom and I constructed frames for the banners using copper pipes and fittings from the hardware store (I thought this added a bit of an unexpected edge to the look). We also made stands for the table numbers using thin copper pipes. For the escort card display, we wrapped an old door in that ubiquitous banana leaf print fabric — the same print I used for envelope liners in our invitations (it was like a little wink to… myself). I ordered a giant box of copper plant markers and wrote all of our guests’ names on the individual tags. My darling bridesmaids helped organize all of the tags by table number and attached them to the display.

The menu

Since we got married at a private venue, we had the freedom to customize everything. Instead of picking a few options from a fixed menu, we worked with an incredible local chef, Gina Stanley, to create our dream menu (think: sweet potato beignets, fresh island oysters, buttermilk fried chicken with Tabasco honey, braised short ribs and parmesan risotto). Kevin and I are huge foodies — and we especially looove comfort food, so we opted for a family style dinner made from all local ingredients. That way, everyone could try everything and the informal family-style meal facilitated more introductions and conversation between guests. (P.S. I always hear that brides forget to eat on their wedding day, but I definitely did not have that problem.)

The party

After all of the anticipation, stress and excitement that comes with wedding planning, we were so ready to unwind and have fun at our reception. I was laughing and dancing nonstop – catching up with friends and family, smooching Kevin and repeating “I can’t believe we’re married!”, not caring about my windblown hair or grass-stained dress. It was the perfect celebration. After dinner and our first dance, Kevin and his groomsmen changed into these crazy printed short-shorts (Chubbies) with socks, and danced like maniacs. I wasn’t sure how the outfit change would be received by all of our guests, but it was a hit and it totally kept the party going! After that, we had a sparkler and paper lantern release that, unfortunately, we had to cut it short due to a fire hazard with the surrounding sea grass. For all you brides-to-be: this is a perfect example of those inevitable wedding day blunders you’ll have to force yourself not to stress over! Luckily, no damage resulted and the ordeal was quickly forgotten as soon as the late-night donuts and apple fritters arrived!

Look Back on Jessye’s Journey:

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Elegant Black Tie Boston Wedding

A ballroom wedding in Boston is the gold standard in my book as is, but add in a dash of Southern style from good ole’ Austin and we have a classic celebration that’s been fabulously upgraded. Rachel Red captured the whole shindig from the “I do’s” at Beantown’s King’s Chapel to dancing the night away thanks to The Hub – see every chic second in our VAULT right this way!

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From the Bride… We currently live in Austin, Texas, but I’m from Boston and knew that’s where I’d want to celebrate our wedding. For the groom’s family, and many of our friends, this would be a destination wedding and there’s really no better city in which to spend a June weekend (and escape the Texas heat). Many of our local guests even turned the weekend into a staycation.

We were so fortunate to be married at King’s Chapel, a historic church, which predates the American Revolution. Our reception was held at the Omni Parker House, a beautiful hotel with an incredibly rich Boston history. The hotel offered everything we needed: a classic rooftop ballroom and a home base for the weekend’s festivities located right on the Freedom Trail with easy access to the city’s attractions.

We had a nighttime wedding in the city, so we went with classic tuxes for the guys. The bridesmaids wore chiffon dresses in a nude pink color. Not realizing it at the time, I chose the same color my mother’s bridesmaids wore thirty-five years earlier.

Since our ceremony and reception would be indoors, we decided to take our photos in the Public Garden. The picture of our wedding party in front of the Swan Boats is priceless to me.

The church and reception space were very traditional. To infuse a bit of nature into our formal indoor setting, we chose natural floral arrangements, with lots of greenery. I really embraced planning the little details – from our wedding stationery suite, to the place cards, to our welcome bags with vintage city maps and gummy lobsters, to our ceremony music.

Of course the most fun part of our wedding was having all of our family and friends in one place. We especially enjoyed our band, “The Hub.” Our own wedding being the twenty-fifth wedding my husband and I attended together, we’ve seen some great bands. However, our own band just blew us away. They had the dance floor packed all night, and gave us a party we’ll never forget. We were off to Hawaii the next morning with sore feet and great memories!

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Backyard Seaside Massachusetts Wedding

All the weddings we feature here on SMP are beautiful (Pretty is in our name, after all), but every so often, I stumble upon a wedding that’s extra special. This is one of those weddings. One of the reasons why? The Fiddler on the Roof flashmob planned by the Bride’s mom and sister to kick off the reception. But there are so many more—see them all captured by Rachel Red Photography in THE VAULT!

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From the Bride…Anthony and I met as seniors at Union College. After a month months of casually seeing each other, he officially asked me to be his girlfriend on March 6, 2011. Once we graduated, Anthony moved from his hometown of Wickliffe, OH, to be with me in Boston. Three years later on July 25, 2014, he proposed at my family’s beach house in Gloucester, MA!

Our wedding ceremony took place on September 12, 2015 in the same spot where we became engaged. With a huge lawn overlooking the ocean, we couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in Gloucester and that’s where we spend the majority of our summer weekends now. It has always held a special place in my heart, and has become one of Anthony’s favorite places as well.

We wanted to personalize our ceremony as much as possible. We walked out of my neighbor’s house during the ceremony, which is the same house where my great-grandparents met and became engaged, and our wedding date was my grandparents’ anniversary. To remember those we have lost, Anthony wore a tie clip that belonged to his grandfather, and I wore my great-grandmother’s engagement diamond in a necklace. Anthony and I decided to tie a fisherman’s knot instead of lighting a unity candle, as an ode to the culture of Gloucester. We opted to have Beatles themed music throughout the day, because the song Oh, Darling was our song in college. I walked down the aisle to In My Life, and we shared our first dance to Two of Us.

Our reception was held at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. When we first walked into the museum, we immediately knew that’s where we wanted to have the wedding. It was the perfect mix between classic and modern, a blend of both our styles, and was more unique than anything else we had seen.

Anthony’s family is Italian, and my family is part Chinese, so we tried to fuse the two cultures together. We did family style Italian food, played Dean Martin throughout dinner, and danced the traditional Tarantella. For the Chinese side, we used a traditional Chinese wedding basket to hold cards, and our cake topper was the Chinese symbol for ‘double happiness,’ which is a sign of goodness and marital joy. Our favors were the traditional Italian almonds, with a double happiness charm enclosed.

One of my favorite details was the surprise flash mob that my mother and sister had planned. We had asked our minister to give a blessing before dinner, but he instead sang Sabbath Prayer from Fiddler on the Roof. After he was finished, wedding guests started jumping from their seats singing the song To Life, from the same show. I had been in a production of Fiddler on the Roof when I was younger, along with several family members and friends. Sabbath Prayer was also sung at my mother and step-father’s wedding years ago. It was a total surprise for Anthony and I, and a great way to kick off the party!

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Classic Marblehead Yacht Club Wedding

Combine sweetly classic details with carefully crafted nautical stylings and the results are a seriously stunning affair we can definitely get behind. From the lovely bride in her Hayley Paige gown to the gorgeous Eastern Yacht Club setting to the navy blue stripes filling the party with seaside-inspired pretty. See it all captured beautifully by Rachel Red Photography in THE VAULT.

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From Rachel Red Photography… In August 2014, Phil proposed to April under a 300-year-old oak tree while they were on vacation in Les Baux-de-Provence, France. The proposal was simple and romantic, despite the fact that it took Phil three attempts to coax April into joining him in the picturesque spot under the tree where he planned to pop the question.

Phil and April were married on July 11 in Marblehead, Massachusetts at St. Michael’s Church, the oldest episcopal church in New England. The wedding weekend involved numerous festivities, including a lobster bake rehearsal dinner at the Arnold family’s Marblehead residence, a reception at the Eastern Yacht Club and an after-party on the Hannah Glover, a ferry which took guests on a leisurely ride from the yacht club back to the hotel.

Planning to take their wedding photos at a historic location, Phil and April headed to Marblehead’s seaside Fort Sewall, where they got a little more history than they bargained for. Unbeknownst to them, there was a Revolutionary War reenactment going on at the fort that day. This led to some truly memorable moments, such as the regiment’s fiddler welcoming them with his rendition of the Wedding March, a chance for the couple to fire off a revolutionary cannon and unique wedding photos.

After they arrived at the yacht club by launch for the reception, the staff invited Phil and April to set off the club’s cannons for “colors,” which initiates a moment of silence while the sun sets behind Marblehead Harbor and the American flag is lowered for the night. “How could we turn down participating in such storied tradition, not to mention firing two cannons on our wedding day?”

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Gedney Farm Massachusetts Wedding

This sweet couple is living proof that every now and then a good, old fashioned blind date ends in the real deal. Fast forward a couple years and many dates later and you get this gem of a wedding planned by True Event. It’s a celebration of all things New England, with amazing East Coast vendors like Paper Moss and Gabriella New York Bridal Salon making every detail perfection. Leila Brewster snapped the photos, Elysium Productions filmed the day, and you can follow me to THE VAULT for even more.

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From The Bride…Dan and I met on a blind date, set-up by a dear friend of mine from college. My friend, Sarah, worked with Dan and according to her, thought of me “immediately” when she met him. Incidentally, the timing wasn’t quite right for us to meet until about two years after Sarah had her initial gut feeling. When we finally did meet in November of 2013, it was only a few months into our relationship that we knew Sarah’s intuition was spot-on. Dan was certainly worth the wait! He proposed to me in September of the following year.

Living in Brooklyn, Dan and I are both “city people”, but spent many of our formative years in New England and knew we wanted to get married in a more rural, rustic setting. We also couldn’t quite get the idea of a barn out of our heads. Not knowing quite where to start, we enlisted the assistance of True Event who immediately helped us crystallize our very rough ideas and led us to the charming and exquisite Gedney Farm, in New Marlborough, MA. Gedney Farm embodied the “rustic elegance” we were craving and The Berkshires seemed like a centralized location, with most of our friends and family coming from either New York or Massachusetts.

Dan and I are both pretty “go with the flow” people, which we learned is both an advantage and disadvantage when planning a wedding. We wanted to hire a team of experienced and trusted vendors who would help us figure out exactly what we wanted without us being able to articulate much of a vision. With the wonderful people at both True Event and Gedney Farm now guiding us, we soon surrounded ourselves with a stellar team, making the planning process infinitely easier and more enjoyable.

For flowers and lighting, we used Maryanne Gillooly of Gillooly & Co. Design, who knew the space at Gedney incredibly well and completely encapsulated what we wanted in neutral and natural tones (ivory, pale pink, green) with splashes of jewel toned blue and purple. I love soft lighting and Maryanne illuminated the barn with numerous candles and strings of Edison bulbs, keeping the “rustic elegance” theme very much alive. She also created the most picturesque and enchanting spot for our ceremony on the knoll at Gedney Farm.

One of the highlights of planning was the tasting and with the incredible chef Rob Burnell in the kitchen at Gedney Farm, we had a difficult time narrowing down what we wanted, but were incredibly pleased with our choices. The cheese board in particular was a highlight and so exquisitely arranged! Numerous guests told us the food was some of the best they had ever tasted at a wedding.

As the wedding day approached, Sarah True of True Event was instrumental in making sure all the details came together. She also proved to be an extremely calming and nurturing presence in a very vulnerable time. The same should be said of Colleen Granahan, Michael Smith and James Love of Gedney Farm who were the perfect combination of kindness and professionalism. Leila Brewster and Elysium Productions were incredibly talented, creative and easy to work with and did a fantastic job of capturing the beauty of the day. And big kudos to both Emily Reale and Katie Bouchard who made me look more glamorous than I ever thought possible, while ensuring I still looked and felt like myself. Ceremony musician Steven Rutledge “nailed it” (as Dan so succinctly put it) and Unity (Wedding Band) was an energetic musical force able to get the most unlikely of guests on the dance floor.

Somewhat unexpectedly, the ceremony was the highlight of the day for me. Jim Sexton (a local interfaith reverend) officiated and was someone we had just met, but with whom we felt immediately at ease. The atmosphere gifted us the most glorious weather and with the sun shining down on us while we recited our own vows in front of all our favorite people, I knew it was a magical moment I would never forget.

THANK YOU to all those who helped make our day better than we could have ever imagined!

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Amy Kuschel

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Elegant Boston Wedding

A fabulous team of vendors, a chic purple, pink and gold color palette and DIY details that will make your heart happy: say hello to your new best friend, lovelies. Think total elegance planned to perfection by I Do… Weddings & Events meets a breathtaking ceremony meets all kinds of crazy beautiful captures from Readyluck. Head to THE VAULT to soak it all in.

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From the Bride… I envisioned my wedding to have a vintage feel that was very much present day. I wanted subtle, elegant colors with a spurts of chic radiance. I certainly did not want to convey an uptight, “don’t touch anything because everything looks perfect” feeling. Instead, I wanted loose, flowing, asymmetrical. I wanted the overall appearance to be artsy! The old and worn out coupled with the new and pristine. Lots of lace and pearl but not in an overwhelming way. Delicate touches of it here and there.

I spent A LOT of time on this wedding; most of the elements you see were DIY. From champagne bottle favors, selfie-stick favors and entry table signs to the flower girls framed signs, outfits and floral halos. You name it! If it could be made, I made it myself. It was not easy juggling a full-time job and taking care of all the wedding details but I knew it would add a personal touch that you can not put a price on.

My favorite moment of the entire wedding is a tie between: The moment the church door opened for my father and I to make our way down the aisle and the moment in the night when all the formalities were done and I could literally kick my ridiculously high heels off, let loose and jump around the dance floor…barefoot! In that moment, I was really and truly IN the moment!

My flowers were arranged by Caroline from Wild Folk. I knew I wanted to work with Caroline the moment I met her. She has an air about her – very artsy and unique. Her work reflected my exact vision. I never wanted perfect looking arraignments, rounded with clean edges. She was able to deliver with the natural, free falling look. As if the perfect selection of flowers were randomly picked along with the greenery to accompany them and just placed in the perfect pretty vases to give them that dressy, wedding-appropriate feel.

My gown is designed by Inbal Dror. It was the very first dress I tried on. I knew the moment I saw the picture of the dress that it was the dress meant for me! It had the fitted sexy feel while remaining very elegant and very vintage. It showed skin in all the right places without being too revealing. The dramatic train and train extension were to die for! Lace and pearl again sprinkled all over the gown. It was just so me! And the color! I never wanted white. So it was just the right shade of ivory. Soft and timeless.

My cake was done by The Icing on The Cake. I worked with the wonderful Paula on the design. I gave her the exact design that I wanted and she brought it to life!

My hair was done by my most amazing hair dresser and maid of honor, Elisa Ortiz from Salon Viva. All I had to tell Elisa was I wanted lots of volume and nothing “perfectly in place” looking and as you can see, she delivered! The sweeping, big hair, loose strands off to one side allowed the gown to still be the main show piece but added that perfect touch to complete the look. Elisa also did hair for bridesmaids, flower girls, and mother and aunt of the bride. Makeup for myself, bridesmaids, flower girls, and mothers of the bride and groom were done by Angela Zatzos.

Our videography was handled by Ready Set. Jeff Brouillet and his fantastic team of videographers were a delight to work with. While we have not seen the final product yet, I can say they made us feel so comfortable and just blended into the background of what was going on.

We had the pleasure of working with Lindsay Hite from READYLUCK and her fantastic team of photographers on our day. I met Lindsay at a Starbucks long before the wedding and instantly I knew she was our person! She was kind enough to allow Akil (my fiancé now husband) to chime in from NC on speaker phone. He too was convinced that Lindsay was the right person to shoot our wedding! I recall Lindsay asking me for a hug when our meeting ended that day at Starbucks and I remember thinking to myself, wow, not many people are that warm and personable these days. It’s so refreshing! We are so fortunate to have chosen READYLUCK because we are absolutely in love with our photos and what Lindsay was able to create for us. The last thing we wanted were stiff, ordinary photos of us posing in common places around the city. So, Lindsay found hidden gems around the city instead! A bridge underpass with graffiti as a backdrop and an abandoned, vine-covered little building. How artsy and perfect to offset our look as bride and groom! The photos were playful and very much in the moment and that is exactly what we asked for. Lindsay exceeded our expectations. The best part though is that her and the team were SO MUCH FUN to have around at various stages of the day. Especially in the limo when they suggested we pop the bottle of champagne to celebrate and we felt so comfortable that we could be totally 100% ourselves even with them there!!!! Best decision we made!

The piece of advice I would give future brides is, no matter what people tell you about not stressing during the planning process, do be prepared for all sorts of things not going “according to plan”. Be prepared and be ready to shrug it off because on THE day of your wedding, the year or so you spent planning, the hiccups, the stress, the sleepless nights, all the little things that will go wrong, no one will know about them but you! Your guests will be too busy oohing and ahhhing over the bride and groom, the gorgeous venue, dancing, laughing and having a grand ole time! Believe me, no one will notice a thing! Just be prepared to dance the night off and create memories you will look back on for the rest of your life!

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Engagement Session Around Boston’s Most Scenic Spots

The best kind of engagement session is one that incorporates personal details from the couple’s love story into their photos, and this beautiful Boston e-sesh does just that. After winning an engagement session from Shadi Boulos Photography, this Bride and Groom-to-be retraced their love through Boston stopping at places like the Public Library, the Thinking Cup and the Boston Public Gardens. Experience all the love in THE VAULT!

From The Bride-to-Be…My name is Veronica, and these photos are from an engagement session my fiancé Stephen and I shot this spring with the amazing Shadi Boulos. We were fortunate enough to win the shoot in a promotion Shadi held last December, one which we entered three days after Stephen proposed and the last day of the promotion. I’ll never forget the moment we found out we had won, since Shadi has always been one of our favorite photographers! Furthermore, we were overjoyed that he was willing to travel to Boston for our session, as it is a city very dear to both our hearts.

Stephen and I met years ago when we were both still college students and instantly became friends. From the moment I met him, I knew that he was special, something that I even mentioned to several of my close friends and family members. Over the years, we stayed in touch but lived in different states, and shockingly enough (and completely unplanned), ran into each other constantly in various areas we both did not call home. Four years ago, Stephen moved to Boston, where I attended college, to begin a Masters program in Theology. Within a month, there was a tea-stained, handwritten love letter in my mailbox on Valentine’s Day, from him of course. From there, things fell naturally into place. Our first date lasted almost eight hours. I never had to complete my thoughts because he did it for me. Every day, we discovered more and more how perfectly made for each other we were. Sure, we had our difficulties when I began medical school and he was completing his Masters, but even the difficult times only increased our love and admiration for one another.

He eventually moved to Pittsburgh to pursue his Ph.D., and three years from when we started dating, he asked me to marry him with an astoundingly creative movie theatre proposal. He had written the lyrics, composed the music, and was the star in a music video which he had the theatre play on the big screen. That day, he also recited a poem that he had written a month into our relationship which asked me to marry him, and at that point our family and friends emerged from the hidden side aisles to congratulate us. There is no doubt that God brought us together and that He is planning our every step. Our engagement period has been filled with nothing but love and peace as we grow closer in heart and mind. We are getting married next May and we could not be more excited!

From Shadi Boulos Photography…Last year, after a great year with workshops and different events, I decided to have my first giveaway. Since there were many recently engaged couples, I knew an engagement session would be very popular. After my nephew randomly chose a name, I was excited that Veronica & Stephen won since they had only recently become engaged. After discussing the giveaway with them, I knew that the Boston are was the best location for the session since it held so much sentimental value to them. So from there, a road trip was underway as I headed to Boston during a beautiful summer weekend. The session was incredible! We couldn’t have asked for a better day! I had arranged different locations throughout the beautiful city of Boston to photograph in. Since they were both very studious, with Veronica being in medical school and Stephen studying for his Masters, incorporating the Boston Public Library and some vintage books was a certain addition to the session. Followed by some much needed coffee during a study session, we headed over to the popular and beautiful Thinking Cup on Newbury Street. A stroll through the stunning Boston Public Gardens followed by a dressed up evening by Pier 6, concluded the beautiful session. I was beyond thrilled to photograph Veronica & Stephen and I know that their wedding day will be just as beautiful!

Classic Wequassett Resort Summer Wedding

This Bride wins awards in my book, for first off, having one fabulously chic dress, and number two, saying “I do” in one of the prettiest locales I’m lucky enough to know. Deborah Zoe and McElroy Weddings caught it all on camera so we can all sit back as winter rolls in and sink into the beauty of this seaside summer celebration in all its glory – join me in the VAULT right this way!

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From Deborah Zoe Photography… Sarah and Justin wanted their guests to experience all the beauty of the Cape. Surrounded by a warm summer breeze and the beautifully manicured grounds of the Wequassett Resort, Sarah and Justin’s guests were treated to stunning ocean views and the very best Cape Cod has to offer. Sarah meticulously chose each detail to create a timeless and elegant feel to the day, reflecting who Sarah and Justin are together. In short, it was breathtaking. Sarah and Justin grew up just a few towns away from each other but didn’t meet until a chance encounter on Valentine’s Day in NYC. Though they live in NYC, they wanted to marry on the Cape, a place that holds has much meaning for them and their families. The couple mixed classic details with their own unique modern style for a tailored look throughout the day. Sarah got ready at her parent’s historic home on the Cape while Justin got ready with his groomsmen in a suite at the Wequassett.

From the Bride… Justin and I met on Valentine’s Day in the West Village and quickly bonded over our Massachusetts roots. We learned that we grew up ten minutes apart in small towns; it was easy to fall in love with someone with such a similar background. While dating we made many trips north to my parent’s house on Cape Cod and once we were engaged we knew it would be the perfect setting for our wedding.

The Wequassett Resort has always been a family favorite to celebrate special occasions. I have always wanted to get married there and thankfully, Justin loved it immediately. We both wanted to get married outside and Pleasant Bay provided a stunning background. The lush setting combined with the exceptional staff at the Wequassett made it an easy choice for our venue.

Walking down the aisle, I could barely keep it together. Standing at the top of the stairs and seeing all of our closest friends and family in one place was so overwhelming. The love we were shown that day took my breath away. We wanted to have a ceremony that was personal, intimate and non-traditional. We wrote our vows together and added in a few surprises, bringing in a bit of humor. We worked with our officiant to create a ceremony that was very personal and special to us. Neither of us made it through the first line of our vows without crying; it is my favorite memory from the day.

We envisioned an elegant, sophisticated wedding and wanted to avoid the nautical aspects you typically see on Cape Cod. Small details were important to me, like the monogram on our invitation suite and all paper goods, which changed after we became Mr. and Mrs. (most people probably did not notice, but I knew!). My mother spent the year collecting unique pieces of silver for the flower arrangements and escort card table. They are pieces we now have in our home and treasure. If you asked Justin what he cared about his immediate response was “great food, wine and music.” The Wequassett more than delivered with the food and wine and Kahootz kept people dancing all night long. People raved about them the next day.

What a gift it is to spend a weekend surrounded by the love of your closest family and friends. I wish I could relive the weekend over and over again. Even my parents want to do it again, it was that fantastic.

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Tuscan Inspired Summer Wedding

I had to double check the location of this elegant affair to confirm that it really didn’t take place in Tuscany. Set instead in the Berkshires, 42 North created an Italian-inspired escape, complete with a stunning set up by Sperry Tents and Classical Tents, beautiful blooms by Dana Markos Events and chic calligraphy courtesy of Posh + Prep. Shannen Natasha captured all these details and more – all found in our VAULT right this way!

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From 42 North Planning… When we first met Geoff and Taylor, we noticed immediately that they were in love. We were both so blown away by how the two of them had such a shared vision for their wedding, and the planning was a true team effort – which they navigated with such grace and patience for one another. Geoff and Taylor each took on their own individual roles: Geoff handling the wedding website, accommodations, and pre and post parties, and Taylor diving full force into decor and all other things pretty.

Geoff and Taylor had decided they’d like to get married at Geoff’s family home in the Berkshires before we first met with them, so when we came on board with the planning one of our first orders of business was to visit the property.

Needless to say, we were in a planner’s heaven. The property sprawled over acres of rolling hills of wildflowers, surrounded by farmland as far as you could see on all sides, and even featured a meadow (bonus!) and pear and apple trees. We had an absolutely stunning blank canvas to create an entire weekend experience for Geoff and Taylor’s guests.

We assembled a stellar team of vendors, to include Chive Catering, Dana Markos Events, and Classical Tents among many others. Together, we spent countless hours talking logistics and strategy to create an event environment from the (grass) up. Of course – we had to be prepared for the possibility of rain, so we had engineered a few contingency plans (with the help from our very trusted “tent guys!”), and luckily we didn’t have to use them.

Geoff and Taylor’s wedding day turned out to be a perfect summer day, which did such justice to the incredible environment our bride and team of vendors imagined up. The ceremony site was marked by a chuppah adorned with roses, hydrangea and lots of wild greens by Dana and his team, with rose petals lining the aisle, and the on-property pond as the backdrop. Cocktail hour sprawled through the property’s apple orchard, barn, and lawn, with lounge areas throughout. The tidewater tent was dramatically draped with silky mink curtains by Exquisite e=Events, which we pulled back at the end of cocktail hour to “reveal” the reception space to the guests.

Chive served up the most delicious family style dinner, while the band played dance music all the way through. Guests were eating, dancing, drinking, mingling, and enjoying! Between the magical setting and the beautiful couple, it was truly a night to remember.

We couldn’t describe it any better than the gorgeous photos by Shannen Natasha. She truly captured every essence of the evening, beautiful from the inside out.

From the Bride… Geoff and I first met in high school through mutual friends but we didn’t start dating until the summer going into our junior year of college. We dated long distance for a while and then broke up while I lived in Los Angeles, but we remained best friends throughout it all. When I moved back to Boston, we got back together and have been inseparable ever since. About eight years after our first date, Geoff proposed while we were taking a walk in the rain (under umbrellas) near our apartment.

When we got engaged, we knew right away we wanted to get married at one of Geoff’s family’s homes in the Berkshires, where we had spent a lot of time together. We both absolutely love the natural beauty of the area, and it truly is such a special place for both of us.

Even though we had a guest list of about 170 people, Geoff and I wanted the wedding to feel very intimate and elegant – like a chic Tuscan dinner party. We worked closely with our planners, 42 North and our caterer, Chive Catering, to customize our guest’s experience. We really wanted everyone to feel right at home! Our cocktail hour was outside, with lounge areas set up around the property to encourage our friends and family to explore and mingle. Chive Catering served the most delicious local, and sustainable food. For dinner, we opted for a family style first course of big plates of heirloom tomatoes and burrata, served with focaccia, olive oil for dipping, and small bowls of olives to be passed around; we wanted our guests to feel like they were at their own dinner table with old and new friends.

For the florals, we went for a very elegant look juxtaposed against the slightly rustic style of the property. Rather than wildflowers, we chose a lot of roses and hydrangeas. The florals outside of the tent were bright greens and creams and then entering the tent, we opted for darker greenery along with a lot of candlelight to set the mood. Dark green vines with white roses were placed sporadically on the tables. One of our favorite details was the beautiful floral garland that our florist, Dana Markos, created for us and wrapped around a tree above one of the lounging areas.

The small tiered cutting cake had subtle white butterflies and flowers to go with the enchanted look of the wedding. For dessert, in addition to the tiered cake, we had slices of organic lemon cake made by Pure Pastry, as well as the most delicious individual, warm fruit cobblers. Later in the night, servers came around with trays of late night snacks like pigs in a blanket, mini burgers, and homemade ice cream sandwiches. It was very important to us that we honor our loved ones that couldn’t be there with us on our wedding day. We incorporated small details to pay tribute to them, such as our late night snack of pigs in a blanket in honor of Geoff’s late father (they were his absolute favorite snack).

Our entire evening was magical – exactly the way we had been dreaming of it for the nine months leading up to it. The best part was that the party didn’t end after the band went home; we hired a late night DJ to play old school hip hop, and we stayed up until 2am dancing with our closest friends (bonus of having your wedding at home!). It was perfect.

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KENNETH POOL

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Elegant Charter Oak Country Club Wedding

It’s no secret that we love, love, love a Ruth Eileen wedding, and this charming elegant Oak Country celebration is no exception. First of all, how sweet is it that this perfectly sentimental setting was also exact venue where this couple shared their first date!? Talk about a magical day, overflowing with lovely Les Fleurs blooms and soft romantic details. From the Bride’s hand sewn cathedral veil (by her new mother-in-law!) to the delicious dessert table, we’ve got every detail waiting in THE VAULT!

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From the Bride… After my husband and I announced our engagement, we couldn’t wait to find the perfect venue to celebrate our marriage! On a cold snowy day in January we visited Charter Oak Country Club and were immediately drawn to its charm. Located less than 5 minutes from the home I grew up in, and a short distance from the restaurant we shared our first date, we knew it was the perfect fit for us.

With our date set for the end of May we wanted the decor to have a soft romantic feel by using blush pink tones mixed with light greens and ivory. Our florist helped bring our vision to life with an abundance of candles and arrangements filled with peonies, roses, and my favorite flower, astilbe. For our wedding party the bridesmaids wore long chiffon gowns; while the groomsmen sported gray suits with bow ties we custom created to match our color palette. My favorite touches were the flower girl’s whimsical crowns and my stunning cathedral length veil that was hand sewn for me by my mother in law. Something that was really important to us was making sure the wedding had touches of our personalities. We both love sweets and wanted our guests to be able to enjoy more than the traditional piece of cake. So instead we offered cake jars filled with some of our favorite flavors: peanut butter cup, red velvet, salted caramel and vanilla. We also wanted to make sure we had as few guests as possible in their seats – so before we had even booked the venue, we booked our favorite band Kahootz. We made sure there were flip flops on hand so the ladies could kick off their heels and with the bands amazing music everyone danced the night away until the very last song!

Looking back at our magical wedding day, we feel so blessed to have had our family and friends there to celebrate with us, and our amazing vendors for making it all possible!

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Blogger Bride: Extra-Petite Vintage-Inspired Wedding at the Boston Public Library

From her engagement in Paris, to dress shopping, and every detail in between, we’ve shared our Blogger Bride Jean of Extra Petite’s journey down the aisle, and the Big Day is finally here! Fit for a literary fairytale at the Boston Public Library, and thanks to the work of Katch Studios and Long Haul Films we’ve got it all in THE VAULT, and stay tuned because we’ve got an exclusive DIY from the Bride up next!

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From Jean of Extra Petite… Hi beautiful brides ~ I’m wrapping up my Blogger Brides series with this footage from our special day, as well as a super easy DIY tutorial for two of my bridal accessories! Our wedding had a lot of vintage inspirations mixed with modern touches, as well as influence from our east-meets-west heritage. There were many personalized touches like my tea ceremony wedding dress handmade by one of my best friends, and the small accessories made by myself as finishing touches.

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Jean Wang

Pearls for Every Girl with Long’s Jewelers

Whether you’re a modern lady with a love of all things contemporary, a classic girl with a passion for romance or happily fall somewhere in between, one thing is certain: accessorizing your look with Mikimoto pearls from Long’s Jewelers is THE best decision you’ll ever make. Think seriously stunning pieces perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your Big Day… and beyond. We LOVE.

Pearls for Every Girl with Long's Jewelers

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Pearls for Every Girl with Long's Jewelers

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Family-owned and operated with five locations throughout Massachusetts, Long’s Jewelers knows all there is to know about adding a bit of pretty to your wedding + every day with some of the most beautiful pearls you will ever lay your eyes upon. I’m talking elegant, sophisticated and jaw-droppingly gorgeous Mikimoto pearls, the epitome of luxurious jewelry. And when you combine the finest cultured pearls in the world with the trusted + knowledgeable customer service of Long’s Jewelers, well… it just doesn’t get any better. Just ask our fabulous editors Michelle and Melissa…

Sooo ready to get your pretty on? Visit Long’s Jewelers TODAY to see just why they’ve been the leader in all things lovely since 1878. (Hint: They’re amazing.)

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Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography

High School Sweethearts’ Labor of Love Wedding in Rockport, Massachusetts

Brace yourselves, ladies and gents, because this flower girl is about the make your heart melt. I mean it, she’s that stinking cute. But she’s not the only thing you’ll love about this New England wedding. With Ruth Eileen Photography behind the camera lens, each and every detail—from the gorgeous Dahlia-filled flowers to the Mayflour Confections wedding cake—shines. See it all in THE VAULT!

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From The Bride…Jay and I dated briefly in high school before reuniting five years ago, and got engaged last October on the eve of a long-awaited trip to Paris. We frequently make day trips to Rockport and Bearskin Neck during the summer months, and when we began the search for a venue I was immediately drawn to the charm and character at the Rockport Art Association. The rustic wooden beams and twinkling lights gave the space a warm, barn-like atmosphere, and the constant rotation of artwork was a delightful surprise; the galleries were switched the night before so we didn’t know what the art on the walls would be until we arrived on our wedding day. We wanted our wedding to feel like a reflection of our style and personalities, and the RAA lent itself perfectly to the casual, cozy vibe that suits us best.

Our wedding was truly a labor of love. My husband made our table numbers and our sidewalk easel (which my brother-in-law then illustrated beautifully the morning of our wedding). My mother and I made the flower girl dresses, ribbon wands, and sewed and hand dyed the table runners. We dip-dyed muslin bags filled with saltwater taffy from a local shop, Tuck’s Candy for our favors–and covered plain glass votives with glitter to add a bit of sparkle to the tables. I hand-painted our cake toppers, and love them so much that I hope to repurpose them into ornaments for our Christmas tree. I also decided to DIY all the flowers. My mother-in-law had a hidden talent for floral arranging, and we spent the day before the wedding putting together the centerpieces and bridesmaids bouquets. My sister assembled my bouquet with dahlias grown in my mother and step-father’s garden. When we buy our first house, we plan to relocate the tubers so our wedding flowers can bloom every year on our anniversary.

It was amazing to see the beautiful results of all that time and effort on our wedding day. We chose to say traditional vows during our simple ceremony, because I wanted to speak aloud the same words that other people had said before me, and truly anchor myself in this tradition. I felt suspended in time in those moments. Our last dance of the night was “Shut Up and Dance with Me” by Walk the Moon, and everyone joined us on the dance floor. The room was bursting with joy. We are so fortunate that so many people came together to help us celebrate.

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Nicole Miller

Spring 2015

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Nautical Meets Rustic Cape Cod Wedding

Infusing her love of all things nautical with her groom’s love of rustic detailing, this stunning bride crafted a day that was equal parts timeless + romantic, with a big ol’ side of Cape Cod pretty. Think lush florals from Whole Foods, sweet chalkboards from Posh And Prep and vintage book centerpieces that are sooo awesome. Head to THE VAULT to soak in every moment captured by Zac Wolf. It’s perfection.

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From The Bride… Matt and I met through a mutual friend in 2012. A total matchmaking scheme, but one that worked (who knew?!) and has now, for all intents and purposes, guaranteed a godfather of our future child slot (for said matchmaking mutual friend). Our first two dates lasted hours, and by the end of the second, he had already asked me to be his guest at his best friend’s wedding… one week later. Two years later, we were planning our own.

As much as we love living in Boston, one of our favorite weekend activities is getting OUT of the city, soaking up everything New England has to offer, no matter what time of year. Our favorite adventures have included trips to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cape Cod, so when it came time to pick a venue, those were the areas that came immediately to mind. We had family and friends coming from all over the country, and we wanted to give them their own mini New England adventure, too, leading us to choose the Winslow Estate in Orleans, MA, over the bridge and down the Cape.

Matt’s a big fan of rustic details, while I love my classic, nautically-inspired touches (take one look at my blog–shellchicd.com–and you’ll see what I mean!), and we weren’t sure how well the two would mix in choosing a palette and aesthetic for our big day. Neither of us willing to completely give up our own visions (and unable to find a rustic boat house that would fit our 200 guests!), we took a chance on combining the two in decor, and we couldn’t have been happier with the way it turned out. The biggest compliment we continue to receive? “Everything was just so YOU two!” And it was– we didn’t feel the need to follow any “rules”; we incorporated pieces and ideas based on the simple fact that we loved them– Lilly Pulitzer bridesmaid dresses off the rack, single hydrangeas from Whole Foods as centerpieces… things you’d find in our own home on any given day.

Matt picked green; I paired that with navy. I wanted hydrangeas and sea glass everywhere; we added rustic touches with burlap and mason jars. I gave my bridesmaids pearl necklaces with an anchor clasp; he gave his beer caddies made from reclaimed wood.

My favorite part of the decor must have been the vintage books we used as centerpieces– rounding up 100 old books in shades of blue and green with just weeks leading up to the wedding was nothing short of an adventure! But those hours we spent browsing flea markets and used bookstores? Those were some of the most fun of the whole process– such a perfect way to take our minds off of all of those last-minute stressful details.

Not that I’m bias or anything, but it was one heck of a party. From cornhole and fresh seafood hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour, to dancing under the starts overlooking Pleasant Bay, it was everything we wanted to give our guests in a New England escape.

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Sweet + Stylish Boston Engagement Session

I love calling Boston my home and one of my favorite activities to share with visitors in the summer is the beautiful Harborwalk. With views of the city in the background and the ocean breeze in our hair, it’s a wonderful reminder of why I adore my city. What better place to snap some super sweet engagement pics, and that’s just what Annmarie Swift did with these cuties – see it all in our VAULT this way!

From Annmarie Swift Photography… Perfectly casual formal attire, a classic Boston skyline, and romantic sunset light had this bride-to-be and her groom-to-be sweetly embracing at their engagement session this fall! These two adorable puppy parents will be married next summer at the Hyatt Boston Harborside hotel so we decided to celebrate their engagement right in the middle of the view they’ll overlook as a married couple together. Their elegant Boston engagement session will always be a favorite thanks to the love they simply radiate!

From the Bride-to-be… Jesse and I met during the summer of 2012 when we were introduced by one of my coworkers, who happened to be one of Jesse’s college roommates. It was actually a blind date, since we had really only texted and spoken on the phone a few times. From the moment we met, we were inseparable and truly fell in love. It was like I had found a piece of me that had been missing for so long when I met him. Jesse also grew a tremendous love for my dog, Charlie, who has been such a joy in our lives.

In early 2015 we decided to build a house together, and spent time over the next few months making plans for the house. On a beautiful morning in May, we met with the builder and went over to our lot to check out the progress and take pictures of the “Sold” sign they had placed on it. We took a picture together in front of the sign, and that was when Jesse got down on one knee and proposed! It was the most thoughtful and romantic proposal that I could have ever dreamed of, and it took place at the spot where we will continue to build our lives together. He made it even more special by having our families meet us afterwards to celebrate. Not to mention that this day just happened to be my birthday! It was truly the best day of my life and the best birthday present I could have ever gotten. I feel like the luckiest person in the world to be marrying my best friend.

When it came time to decide on a photographer for our wedding, I just happened to come across Annmarie Swift’s blog in my search for weddings at the Hyatt Boston Harbor. Looking through her amazing pictures, I knew that she would be the perfect fit to capture our big day. This was confirmed as soon as we met Annmarie for our engagement pictures in the Seaport District, where she made us feel so comfortable and kept us laughing during our session. We were so happy to get to include Charlie in our pictures, as he is such a big part of our lives. We couldn’t be happier with our decision to work with her.

We are so excited for our upcoming wedding next July, and we cannot wait to celebrate with all of our loved ones!

Find more fabulous engagements here!

Photography: Annmarie Swift Photography

Nautical Chic Yacht Club Wedding

We’ve seen starfish and classic shells galore, but how about the shiny mussel shell for a seaside celebration? These pretty little pieces inspired everything from the color palette to the branding and invites for this Marblehead wedding, led by Always Yours Events. Your old school nautical Pinterest boards are about to get a stylish update with all the picture perfect details captured by Ned Jackson – more in our VAULT right this way!

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From Always Yours Events… This wedding will forever be a favorite of mine as it included some of the most personalized and bespoke details and touches, depicted through the gorgeous light and airy images by Ned Jackson Photography. Eastern Yacht Club was a meaningful venue for the bride, as her parents were married at the same venue 38 years earlier. Tori spent her childhood sailing the coast with her family from the EYC, so the club was without a doubt the ideal venue for the Cruice Wedding. The inspiration for the wedding design came from the gorgeous navy, cerulean, slate blue and mother of pearl coloring of a mussel shell. We enlisted the help of Kearsley Lloyd to create a unique and bespoke wedding brand incorporating the mussel shell and chic monogram for Tori and Blake’s wedding day. Kearsley’s watercolor designs became the central theme of the wedding, which we incorporated into the invitation suite, day of paper and signage, the wedding website, rosemary sea salt escort card favors (handmade by the bride and groom), the cake design, tabletop decor, floral designs, and more. Florals featured gorgeous all white blooms including dinner plate dahlias and clear floral vessels filled with mussel shells. The ceremony took place at the iconic Old North Church in downtown Marblehead. Post ceremony guests lined the cobblestone pathway for a white garden rose petal toss, and were ultimately surprised with an unique second line style parade out of Old North Church and down to Marblehead Harbor led by the lead trumpeter of the Ward Eights. From there, the wedding party traveled by boat to the EYC for the festivities. Guests cocktail-ed and dined on the open air deck and ballroom, and danced in the outdoor pavilion overlooking Marblehead Harbor. Tori and Blake honored “Colors” during the cocktail hour by firing the canon at sunset, a daily EYC tradition. The newlyweds danced the night away to Motown hits performed by the Ward Eights, and we ended the evening with a sparkler send-off leading down to the docks where Tori and Blake made a victory lap on the family boat to bring their perfect wedding day to a close.

From the Bride… Blake and I met in 2008 at college and got engaged on Labor Day weekend in Nantucket after six years of dating. We always knew that we wanted to have our wedding on the water in my hometown of Marblehead. Marblehead has always held a special place in my heart. It’s not only where I grew up, but also where my parents grew up and also got married 38 years ago. Marblehead embodies the quintessential seaside elegance I wanted our wedding to represent.

I consider my style to be very simple and classic. I spent a lot of time curating and coordinating each component of our wedding from the trumpet parade and petal shower to the boat ride arrival and cocktail hour raw bar. Keri was a lifesaver bringing all my ideas to life. She calmed my nerves and made sure all the details were perfectly translated through the whole event.

I used a navy and white color palette, but let the nautical elements from the yacht club carry throughout the day. Kearsley’s beautiful watercolors became the theme of our wedding. My mom even handpicked mussel shells from the beaches of Marblehead put in the centerpiece vases. We knew our wedding would be formal being at the Eastern Yacht Club, but we also wanted it to be fun for all of our guests. The trumpeter leading a parade through the streets of Marblehead and onto the boat really set the stage for a fun night!

I always envisioned myself in an elegant, ball gown with a cathedral train and was so excited to find the beautiful design from Mikaella. The illusion lace off the shoulder with the deep low back and long train made for my dream dress. My veil was my aunt’s from her wedding day and held an extra special place in my heart. I felt like it was the most beautiful part of my dress.

Looking back at our wedding photos, I can’t help but feel the absolute joy we felt on that beautiful September day. Ned did an outstanding job capturing every sense of emotion we were feeling. The amount of support and love we felt from our friends and family was overwhelming. We are so grateful and will forever cherish the day we become Mr. and Mrs.