Massachusetts Weddings

I think it goes without saying that I am tad bit obsessed with gorgeous details, but I will tell you the thing that gets me even more giddy – the way the new Mr. & Mrs. look at each other. That’s a moment I could swoon over for hours. Which is precisely what happened when I landed on these gorgeous images by Kara Pearson. This couple’s Topsfield wedding couldn’t have been cozier or move love-filled, and that – I love. See it all here.

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From Kara Pearson… Lauren and Ryan were married at this great estate, Willowdale,in Topsfield, Massachusetts. The fall colors were in full bloom and the rain didn’t dampen their spirits whatsoever. Lauren wore a pair of Valentino shoes which were amazing with her dress. Ryan and Lauren did a first look where Lauren gave him a Rolex as a wedding day present. Not a bad start to the day!

They had to move their outdoor ceremony inside due to the rain. Ryan’s uncle married them. The reception was still held outside under a heated tent. Sunglasses were the guest favors which everyone rocked on the dance floor.

From the Bride… Ryan and I really wanted our wedding to be relaxed, cozy and homey – essentially an elegant dinner party, complete with dancing and all of our favorite people. The moment we stepped foot on the Willowdale Estate in Topsfield we knew it was the place. It was warm and inviting with numerous fireplaces and beautiful inside and out. Rain was forecasted for our wedding day, but we didn’t let it dampen our spirits. We moved our ceremony indoors making it much more intimate and special. We were surrounded by all the people who had been a part of our 9 year relationship, and it was truly what made the day so special.

My favorite moment of the day was our first look. Just minutes prior, I had been up in the bridal suite looking down on Ryan and the groomsmen getting photographed in the courtyard and I could see just how happy Ry looked and it made my heart beat just a little faster. I came down the stairs and out into the courtyard to see him, holding the present I had hid from him for over a year (a Rolex similar to the one my mom had purchased for my dad). I will never forget his face when he saw me in my dress for the first time and when he opened his gift – he looked like a little kid on Christmas.

The day wouldn’t have been so incredible had it not been for our insanely fabulous vendors. The Willowdale Estate and our day of coordinator Colleen Seznac were always 5 steps ahead. They didn’t lose a step when we asked to move the ceremony inside vs. under the tent. Colleen was there with small plates of appetizers for Ryan and me to make sure we got to sample everything during cocktail hour. She was there to take my bouquet before our first dance. Willowdale was just more than we could have asked for. Shelley White and her team at Bow Street Flowers put together the most beautiful bouquets and arrangements. I collected vintage silver pieces all summer long and then turned them over to Shelley to use as vases. I told her the colors I was looking to use and that I wanted the flowers to look and feel very natural, and then just let her work her magic. I was blown away. And for Kara Pearson, our photographer, there are no words. She captured our wedding day just as Ryan and I remembered it. Every moment. Every memory. She kept her eye on the weather to sneak us outside for photos in between rain showers and I’m so glad she did, as they are some of our favorite photos.

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Wedding Photography: Kara Pearson | Wedding Venue: Willowdale Estate, Topsfield, Massachusetts | Floral Design: Bow Street Flowers, Somerville | Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister, Braintree | Wedding Invitations: Swiss Cottage Designs, Brooklyn, New York | Wedding Dress: David Fielden via Lovely Bride in New York City | Wedding Rings: Greenwich Jewelers, New York City | Groom’s Rolex Watch + Bride’s Blue Topaz Bracelet: Long’s Jewelers, Natick | Bride’s Shoes: Valentino | Groom’s Attire: Armani Suit via Nordstrom | Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan via Nordstrom Rack |  Groom’s Tie: Zegna via Bergdorf Goodman, New York City | Makeup: Jocelyn Kadra | Hair: DonaLyn Belmonte of Kenzo Salon, Stoneham

Brides in cardigans?  They get me every time.  Every. Single. Time.  As do birdcage veils, gorgeous Watters gowns and smiles that could light up the entire state.  So, this beautiful Topsfield bride, well… I basically think she’s the greatest.  Also the greatest?  Her Willowdale Estate wedding, which is seriously bursting with romance from the wintery setting to the sweet, sweet blooms from Carroll’s Florist to a downright beauty that will leave your head spinning. See every glorious moment captured by Shannon Grant in the full gallery.

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From Shannon Grant… Photographing Shannon and Chris’s modern day romance was the absolute perfect ending to the 2012 wedding season. It really could not have been any more my style and it was such a DREAM to photograph that I’m still pinching myself to remind me this is real life. Really gorgeous real life.

The details were so lovingly chosen by the couple that I had a field day photographing them! A vintage hat box from Sak’s Fifth Avenue housed Shannon’s birdcage veil, the bridesmaids’ unconventional outfits, and the dessert spreads at the end of the night were some of my favorites!    

There are some couples who are surrounded by so much love that it can steal your breath away. This whole day consisted of moments like this. From the impromptu “Bridal Boudoir” session to their son tearing up during his father’s vows and many, MANY moments in between, I found myself so caught up in their day that the time flew by. Before I knew it, they were ripping up the dance floor and I was packing up to go home.

From the Bride… The goal was for everyone around us to see and feel the love between us. I had envisioned romance and simple elegance from the beginning. It was important that the wedding completely represent us as a couple. We love to cook and entertain our family and close friends during holidays. I always put on quite a spread that leaves people talking. We wanted to give them the same feeling on our wedding day… but even more so.

I would say our vows truly represent our journey and how we feel. The roads we traveled to get to this destination have been bumpy with sharp turns and dead ends. The whole wedding itself was a representation of us: classic, vintage, elegant – full of love and fun!

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Wedding Photography: Shannon Grant | Venue: Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts | Floral Design: Carroll’s Florist | Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister | DJ: C-Zone | Wedding Dress: Watters via French Bridals | Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Forever 21 | Groom’s Attire: Vera Wang via  Men’s Wearhouse | Hair: Shag Boston | Makeup: Meaghan O’Brien

I want to cry, happy tears that is, for this elegant and sentimental wedding by Elizabeth Wertz Photography. Between the bride wearing her late grandmother’s wedding gown {something old} to the breathtaking Les Fleurs arrangements {something new}, I don’t know what is most touching. Eat up more of the 1950s elegance in the full gallery here.

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From Elizabeth Wertz Photography… Kara and Duane were married at Willowdale Estate in Topsfield on a spring evening rich in charm and sentiment. My assistant Kristen and I felt like were were stepping back half a decade when we entered the dark wood walls of the mansion. Vintage touches were everywhere: soft peach and creams, throw-back dresses, up-dos, pearls, brooches and tufts of delicate baby’s breath. Kara has such a funny, warm, refreshing personality, and mixed with Duane’s sweet, wacky, Texan vibe (he grew up there), they were so much fun to photograph. The ceremony was led by a friend, and Kara and Duane’s vows were so personal and heart-warming, not to mention hilarious! One significant touch was that Kara chose to wear her late grandmother’s gown, which she donned on her own wedding day in 1959. The elegant gown suited Kara perfectly, hugging her narrow waist and sweeping out in a swirl of cream-colored silk.

One of the most beautiful tributes I have seen was when Kara invited her grandfather to share a dance with her to honor her grandmother’s memory. There were few dry eyes in the room as he led his granddaughter onto the dance floor in the dress his bride had worn fifty-three years before. It was so sweet to watch both of their faces during this tender tribute. Then Kara ran up to the bridal suite to step into her frilly, feminine reception frock, and we strolled around the grounds for some portraits, the sun streaming through the trees for the first time as we reached the front lawn. Kara and Duane jumped into their cowboy boots for some hurried portraits, which were my favorites of the day. And then it was on to the reception, with gorgeous uplighting and merriment lead by talented DJ Shelly Shell, owner of Epic Entertainment Boston. It was rich in memory and tenderness, a beautiful mix of 1950s elegance with a touch of Texas.

Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Wertz Photography / Wedding Venue: Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Les Fleurs / Music: DJ Shelly Shell of Epic Entertainment Boston / Wedding Dress: The Bride’s Grandmother’s / Bride’s Reception Dress: Allure Couture (Shortened to Tea Length) via Bella Bridal Shoppe

Though temperatures might have been chilly at this winter wedding, it is sure to warm your hearts and it will definitely bring you inspiration for days.  There is so much that I am completely wild about not least of which are the gorgeous floral arrangements by superstar Nicolette Camille Floral Design.  The warm, romantic candlelight mixed with vintage bottles and seasonal stems is absolute perfection.  Of course, everything looks amazing in front of the Hannah Persson‘s lens.  Click here to see it all!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We knew we wanted an intimate ceremony and reception that gave us the opportunity to highlight each special person that has supported us. Also we know we wanted it to be an elegant, unique and most of all cozy celebration. Through out this past year, we began to plan and create, detail by detail. As a starting point, we used our invitations to inspire and casually link all the details together. The day of the wedding was cozy, joyous and perfect. We were inspired by a solo cellist that we often hear playing in the Harvard Square T stop and found a beautiful cellist at Atlantic Strings to set the mood of the ceremony! Also, we had my cousin Christian DeRoeck play a rendition of Amazing Grace during the ceremony, which was both personal and beautiful.

Our guest book was a gift made by my mom. She also hand made the paste papers inside based on our color story. She designed the book to allow for photos and memorabilia to be added, which was perfect as we had an old school Fuji instax camera set up next to the guest book. (A modern photo booth would not look right in this beautiful house.) My girlfriends helped me figure out the design for the seating card stand. I had a few fun ideas, but they were all costly and time-consuming. They helped me combine my ideas into an easy-to-make, low-cost version. We wanted to honor our grandparents that have passed away, so we choose to gather photos of them to display at the reception, just like we do at home. The process of searching for the old photos was unique, as each photo search was a little dive in to our family history. My sister’s best friend from childhood, Nicolette is an amazing florist in NYC. I always knew when I got married, I wanted her to do the flowers. She has an eye for color and texture that is so unique. She made the arrangements look effortless and jaw dropping all at the same time. Nikki is the best (not to mention she had a four-page spread in Martha Stewart’s magazine this past February)! At my wedding shower, my dad had made birch candles holders as a little gift for all the women. They were so simple and so elegant that I asked him if he would make them as part of the centerpieces. Luckily, there were some birch trees that had recently fallen on their property, so my dad hand cut each candle stick with love.

My dress was a sample I found at Tulle Bridal. The label was cut out, but I didn’t care. It fit like a glove and the lace was old world. Deby helped make the dress perfect by altering the neckline to a sweetheart and adding a sash and applique. She also cropped an old fur coat of my mom’s for me to wear to/from. This was all done effortlessly. My shoes were from Piperlime. I found great shoes that did not rub, gave me height and were my favorite color! Being a footwear designer at Puma, when I found out that a limited release collaboration between Puma and Shinzo Pairs had just been released with a pair that perfectly matched my heels, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity! It was meant to be.

Wedding Photography: Hannah Persson Photo / Reception Venue: Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Nicolette Camille Floral Design / Wedding Invitations: Paper Source / Guest Book, Flower Girl & Ring Bearer Gift Bags, Candles + Seating Card Stand: DIY / Guest Book Source: Graham Hill Bindery / Seating Card Stand Materials: HomeGoods + Michaels / Family Photo Frames: IKEA / Ceremony Cellist: Atlantic Strings / Amazing Grace: Christian DeRoeck (The Bride’s Cousin) / DJ: DJ Ty Jesso / Wedding Dress: Via Tulle Bridal (No Label) / Alterations + Flower Girl Sashes: Deby’s Sewing Service / Bride’s Veil + Fur Coat: From Her Mother / Shoes: Puma (The Bride is a Shoe Designer for Puma) + Vince Camuto via Piperlime / Hair + Makeup:  Heather of I Do / Rings: Bario-Neal

I can’t believe it’s Friday already! I guess the weeks just fly by when you’re lucky enough to gush over gorgeous weddings each and every day. And this next little fete is no exception. I’ve truly fallen head over heels in love with the amazing images from Lisa Rigby Photography. I don’t know what else to say except that this wedding is absolute perfection! Click here for even more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Lisa of Lisa Rigby Photography… These are some of my favorite photos from Courtney and Adam’s wedding at Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts. Courtney wore her mother’s wedding dress from 1976, her grandmother’s wedding band, and carried her grandmother’s beaded purse. For their first dance, Adam’s brother played guitar and sang. Courtney’s brother made their cake topper.

Courtney and Adam did something at their wedding that I’m seeing more often. After their public ceremony, they took time just for themselves and, through hand-written letters, exchanged private vows. It was my favorite part of the day.

Wedding Photography: Lisa Rigby Photography / Wedding Venue: Willowdale Estate in Topsfield, Massachusetts / Flowers: Hamilton Gardens / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston, Circa 1976 / Wedding Dress Alterations: Ann Hamilton of Ann Hamilton Bridal / Bride’s Wedding Band + Purse: The Bride’s Grandmother / Bride’s Necklace: Family Heirloom / Bride’s Shoes: Sam Edelman / Bride’s Hair Piece: Lo Boheme / Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister / Cake Topper: The Bride’s Brother / DJ: Ari Rosenfield of Beat Train Productions

Elizabeth and Brian toured at least ten wedding venues before finding the Willowdale Estate in the heart of the North Shore region of Massachusetts. Located less than thirty miles north of Boston, in Topsfield, It is an ideal spot for a wedding ~ no matter the season! And in Massachusetts, that’s a true claim to fame!

Elizabeth and Brian’s wedding was a lovely affair, uniting their family in a heartwarming ceremony …

photography courtesy of Zev Fisher

When Elizabeth and Brian walked into Willowdale, they fell in love with it immediately. They wanted to be able to create a warm homey feel for their event. “It is something we try to create in our own home with our 4 children” – said Elizabeth. “The staff was very warm and accommodating as well,” she added later.

It was important for the couple to be able to personalize the wedding with the pictures of their families and their pets, including the pictures of their chickens! Elizabeth, Brian and their family did 100% of the planning.

Our congratulations to Elizabeth, Brian and family!

You can see more of their beautiful wedding on the  Zev Fisher Photography blog.

Site and Catering: Willowdale Estate / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Officiant: Robin Zucker / Cake: Konditor Meister / Florist: Michael & Co. / Photographer: Zev Fisher Photography / Music: Good Time String Band (bluegrass) / Make-Up: Makeover by Ligia

As we noted earlier, Willowdale is an ideal wedding venue any time of year. The mansion has a perfect layout for indoor or outdoor events and the Great Room makes a spectacular ceremony location! The proof is in their Winter Wedding Gallery {here}.

Willowdale hosts Open Houses throughout the year ~ the next one is coming up soon {October 12}!  Be sure and check out the schedule to take a tour of this amazing wedding venue!

Weddings at Willowdale

Spring Weddings

Summer Weddings

Fall Weddings