New Jersey Weddings

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Yacht Club

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Flower-Drenched Rustic Wedding Film

From Tina Jay Photography…Janine & Mike had an absolutely beautiful summer day for their gorgeous wedding at the Mallard Island Yacht Club in Manahawkin, New Jersey, on August 31st, 2013. The venue is right on the water, and is stunning inside and out. It has one of the most amazing “getting ready” rooms I’ve ever seen! Janine’s details were stunning, from her invitations to her tablescapes. I adored the “beach tag” name cards, and the seashell adorned cake. Plus, her dress was to DIE for! I absolutely loved the details on the front, as well as the strap details in the back. Mike’s parents have a beach house close to the venue, so he had pretty much grown up at the shore, where the reception was held. Mike recently entered the Navy, a lifelong dream of his. Throughout the past year while planning the wedding, he was away at training most of the time. The time apart made them stronger, and now Janine & Mike have moved to San Diego for his job.

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Wedding Dresses

Jim Hjelm

Fall 2015

Spring 2016 Collection

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Tara Keely

Fall 2016 Collection

Spring 2017 Collection

Fall 2017 Collection

Spring 2018 Collection

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My favorite part of this film is the very beginning and these sweet, sweet words from the Groom that will absolutely melt your heart… “Love is not a pretty poem, it’s a collection of these quiet, everyday moments”. The rest that follows from Fairytale Studio is a dreamy wedding story, a day of deep love, covered in the prettiest blooms from Paradise Flowers. Press play below to see every beautiful moment.

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The Pan American Hotel Penthouse

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Estate Weddings

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Rustic

From Fairytale Studio… A Russian-Jewish wedding of Rachel and Daniel from Pleasantdale Chateau, NJ. We were in awe with all the flowers. The floral crowns the girls were wearing, the bride’s bouquet and also the botanic garden inside the chateau. Everything felt so down to earth; one with the nature. Rachel even called me to make sure not to use any posed shots we did, rather only all natural. I think that’s what makes it so authentic. And we absolutely love the red room Rachel was putting on the dress. The contrast of white dress against the red floral wallpaper is just stunning. This was definitely one of the most unique weddings we have ever done.

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Lazaro

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

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We love to find a venue that feels like a fabulous beach destination for you and your guests, but no passports are necessary! Case in point: New Jersey’s Pan American Hotel Penthouse. Featuring panoramic views of the iconic Wildwood Crest beach, each and every event held at this unique locale is truly unique and amazingly beautiful.

Whether you’re planning a small, intimate ceremony or a soup to nuts celebration for 100, the Pan American Hotel Penthouse is completely dedicated to making each couple’s wedding dreams come true. Not only will guests love the luxe accommodations and stunning views, but they’ll also receive discounts to local amusement piers and watermarks which are less than six blocks away! Count me in.

The Pan American Hotel Penthouse provides couples with amazing (and certified!) wedding + event planners to handle all the details of their big day and you’ll find the perfect package no matter your budget or style! For more information and to start planning your big day, head over here.

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Elegant Crossed Keys Inn Wedding

In all honesty, this feature took me far too long to put together. Why? Because it’s impossible not to be completely captivated by this gallery from CLY BY MATTHEW, it’s just soooo pretty. And can we talk about the Bride’s insanely gorgeous Sarah Seven dress from Lovely Bride? I need this dress in my life. Toss on a little seafoam, a little teal, one super adorable vintage red truck and it’s wedding perfection.

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Romantic Beach Engagement Session

From the beautiful Bride…I have never been one to believe in romantic movies and ideas that are prevalent in them like…FATE. I slept through Love Actually to the horror of my now husband who has watched Love Actually more times than he can count and knows lines by heart. As corny as it sounds and even though it goes against every practical, non-romantic bone in my body, I have to say that marrying Ray was fate. We have never lived in the same area and yet kept crossing paths throughout our lives (starting from elementary school). Eventually, when we crossed paths as young adults, sparks flew on one side but not reciprocated by the other. We barely got to know each other before we went our separate ways again and I never expected us to ever cross paths again. But 2 years later, January 2010 somehow brought us to be in the same place at the same time and this time, sparks flew on BOTH sides. Or it could be that I just opened my eyes finally to what was meant to be. And so began a love story 21 years in the making.

3 years later, we were engaged and started to plan what we referred to as “the greatest party of our lives.” We wanted a wedding that would be have a comfortable and relaxing vibe that would allow our guests to mingle and just have a good time without being restricted to a stuffy ballroom. I had seen Crossed Keys Inn in a magazine a few years ago and fell in love with the big white tent and basically everything else it offered. So naturally, I convinced Ray to drive an hour in the middle of January, a few weeks after our engagement, to see the venue in person. We both fell in love and could see ourselves having the perfect wedding here, even when it was freezing and covered in snow everywhere. Without even seeing any other venues, we immediately signed with Crossed Keys and began our long 18 month journey of wedding planning. In search for inspiration for the perfect romantic, vintage wedding that I envisioned, I spent countless hours poring over SMP and Pinterest. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I spent almost every single free minute I had looking through these 2 amazing resources. Obviously, I ended up getting overwhelmed with the endless choices and if it weren’t for my sane, reasonable fiancé and friends bringing me back to reality, I would have ended up planning way more than I can handle. In the end, our wedding day was the perfect amount of detail which I owe to our awesome, talented vendors, bridesmaids who made an amazing team, and the most thoughtful and caring fiancé in the world. Ray and I made nearly every decision together no matter how small of a detail without a single fight. The fact that I could look back at the pictures and videos and see both of our special touches everywhere (like the candle he brought so the girls can get ready in a beautifully scented room) made the day that much more special. Throughout wedding planning, Ray would say he wanted me to be able to look back 10, 20 years down the road and say I had the wedding of my dreams. This alone made our wedding day the wedding of my dreams already and everything else was just icing on the cake.

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Photography

CLY BY MATTHEW

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Cinematography

Kiss The Bride Films

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Bonobos

GroomShop Spring 2014

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We have to agree with Amy Rizzuto Photography; there is something so incredibly sweet about high school sweethearts. So, how fitting to kick off this shoot at the couple’s favorite ice cream shop! The rest of the photos from their romantic beach e-session capture even more off the charts charm, and you can catch it all right here.

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Beach Weddings

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A Fall Speakeasy Wedding in New Jersey

From Amy Rizzuto Photography…There is just something so incredibly sweet about high school sweethearts! Meghan and Kevin met in their homeroom class. She was a McDermott, he a McPartland, and since they were seated alphabetically, they sat just one row away from each other. As they spent more and more time together, Meghan and Kevin’s relationship grew, turing from a friendship into something greater. Years later, Kevin got down on one knee and proposed to Meghan on Long Beach Island! It was just the two of them on a blanket on the beach, and it was perfect.

This summer, I had the pleasure of capturing Meghan and Kevin’s romantic Beach Haven engagement session. Since Kevin’s family has a home here, this sweet couple has spent many summers walking along the beach, trying the best ice cream flavors from Barry’s, and dining at their favorite restaurants along the water. I had so much fun traveling down memory lane with Meghan and Kevin, and I am so excited to share a few of my favorite moments from our time together.

Photography: Amy Rizzuto Photography | Venue: Beach Haven | Barry's: Barry's Do Me A Flavor | Bride's Necklace: J.Crew | Bride's Outfit: J.Crew

If you’re anything like me, you are counting down the days to falling leaves and Pumpkin Spice Lattes. This wedding captured by Pat Furey embodies all the best parts of my favorite season. The moody palette, the foliage and added to that, a speakeasy theme that is one for the books with super romantic blooms by Event Designs By Katherine and film to wrap it all up by NewYorkFilmworks. Click here for more.

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Fall Weddings

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Vintage

From The Bride…Our relationship over the past 7 years has felt nothing short of a fairy tale. We wanted to transport our guests into the magical, whimsical, utterly-romantic world that we feel everyday together. The inspiration was simple. I’ve always found the early 1900’s era absolutely charming and combining the asethictc of one of our favorite lounges, The Edison in downtown L.A., would create that secret world for our guests. If you haven’t been before, you enter through an alleyway and make your way down these grand stairs with Edison bulbs twinkling above and you discover the most enchanting experience. Old black and white movies are projected on old brick walls, a copper top bar serves crafted cocktails, and you get lost through all of the many secret rooms. With that in mind we wanted our reception to feel like a speakeasy, so it felt like a secret space you weren’t suppose to be in but had all of the crafted cocktails and craft beers you could want.

With that concept, we knew it had to be outside during the fall at The Crossed Keys Inn, where we would be enveloped by ivy, falling leaves and a spectacular rose garden. The color palate became a romantic array of coral, mint and gold. The bridesmaids wore coral, the letterpresses invitations had mint accents, and the gold came from the 100 vintage brass spittoons for the table centerpieces that my mom tirelessly bought day after day from Ebay. The table numbers, all of the signage and drink menus were a custom design I created and drew inspiration from the typography of the era and used the iconic Edison bulb as a accent. I also created the backdrop for the gift table and guestbook by collecting 1900s graphics and prohibition posters and creating a wallpaper. We wanted to create that same magic as The Edison with the projected old movies so my husband put together a collection and projected them over the dance floor onto the white tent while we danced the night away. Every detail drew inspiration from our magical speakeasy world.

The ceremony was my favorite moment of the wedding. We had a guitar and cello play as we walked down the isle, after first playing 1920s songs while guests shuffled in. After we read our vows, which still make me cry till this day, I was able to surprise my husband with a secret performance by my dad, my aunt, and my grandma as they sang and played guitar and the irish drum to “Home” by Phillip Phillips, complimented by the bridesmaids singing the chorus! A moment we’ll both treasure forever.

The dress was an ivory chiffon Romona Keveza accented by an ivory sash and a crystal necklace. The suit was dark gray with suspenders, gray striped tie and a antique brass tie clip.

Tips for future and current brides – Pick everything you love. Seems simple but was ultimately what made decisions easy. The hardest decision for us became what to give as gifts for our guests, so many choices it was hard to even begin narrowing it down. But it ultimately came down to what we love – chocolate and tattoos. So we did exactly that, the most mouth-watering chocolate covered bride and groom oreos and rad temporary tattoos. It was priceless seeing my aunts and uncles adorned with tattoos, we’ve never been happier with our choice.

Pink Peony Wedding at The Rockleigh

These peonies, they’re deliciously pretty. And they seem to have snuck their way into almost every beautiful image from Kay English of this luscious, elegant fete. Crafted by Yumila, they dance with the Bride’s lace-edged veil, flirt with the bridesmaids blush pink dresses and graze the groom’s shoulder for the graceful portraits. It’s a bloom-filled heaven surrounded by so much love.

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Ballroom Weddings Religious Institution

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Lazaro Trunk Show At Bridal Reflections

From the beautiful Bride… Since it was a spring wedding, we wanted to keep everything soft, traditional and romantic but I also wanted a touch glam. I fell in love with my Ines Di Santo dress because it had a blush underlay that really made the gorgeous lace appliques stand out and give a traditional lace wedding gown a very modern twist. That pretty much set the tone for my wedding and why I chose blush as my main color. My veil was a stunning custom-made French Chantilly lace mantilla-style royal length veil. The lace pattern delicately became larger with the length of the veil and just took my breath away.

The metallic gold was introduced to our color palate when we choose invitations and added the glamorous feel I was going for. Our invitations were blush with metallic gold foil. We added a gold foil polka dot envelope liner and a wrap around band that I thought brought everything together so well.

I chose beautiful blush mermaid style Lazaro dresses for the bridesmaids. The groom and groomsmen wore navy and grey suits with blush ties and brown wingtips. To compliment, we choose gorgeous blush, pink, coral and ivory flowers.

My “something blue” was one of my most important wedding details. I wrapped my grandmother’s blue heart shaped rosaries around my bouquet. I felt blessed that a part of her was with me on one of the most important days of my life.

Our cake was simple with gold polka dots adorned with real pink and coral flowers. We wanted to ensure a wonderful dessert course for our guests so we had a Viennese hour which included Belgium waffles, zeppoles, fried Oreos, cotton candy, sundae bar and an international coffee and cordial station to name a few. Jarod is a cigar lover so we also had our local cigar store set up a cigar bar outside so guests could enjoy a smoke along with their after dinner cocktail.

We knew we wanted to give a gift that kept on giving as our favor so we chose a donation. I’ve always been a supporter of UNICEF so we purchased a deep water well which will provide accessible clean water to a community in need for years to come. We left ivory scrolls tied with gold elastic on each place setting that described our gift and quoted Mother Theresa “It is not how much you give, but how much love you put into giving.” Since we love our late night snacks we also surprised our guests with a food truck parked outside the exit which was filled with candy, donuts, pretzels, cold beverages, coffee and White Castle sliders which they could fill personalized to-go goodie bags with.

Overall, it was the perfect day and we danced the night away with our closest friends and family. We are looking very forward to spending the rest of lives together as husband and wife.

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Wedding Dresses

Lazaro

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

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Wedding Dresses

Ines Di Santo

Fall/Winter 2015

Spring/Summer 2016

Fall/Winter 2016

Spring/Summer 2017

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Brides-to-be, gather round, we’ve got some exciting news to share! On Thursday, August 28th from 4-8pm, Bridal Reflections is hosting an exclusive Trunk Show + end of summer event for the Lazaro Bridal Collection. And get this — you’ll be able to meet designer Lazaro Perez and have him sketch your gown!

This incredible trunk show will showcase the Fall 2014 Lazaro Collection filled with glamorous gowns featuring exquisite beading + embroidery and dramatic silhouettes. Known for impeccable fit and cutting edge fashion, this Lazaro collection is something seriously special.

The trunk show will run from August 28-30th at the Bridal Reflections Carle Place salon (80 Westbury Avenue, Carle Place, NY 11514). To book your appointment, call 516.742.7788. Special pricing will be available during the show. Happy dress shopping, my dears!

Romantic Pastel Military Wedding

Y’all know we go weak at the knees for a good military wedding, but when it happens to include a stunning blush palette, bouquets by Karma Flowers and was all planned in just four months? Well, that’s cause for celebration. The amazing Michelle Lange captured the day to perfection, and you can get the pin-party started in the gallery right here.

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Upper Story by Charlie Palmer

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Country Club

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Romantic

From the Bride… Stephen and I met about seven years ago in high school. It started out as a little friendly chat online, until eventually meeting in person. Sounds strange I know, but it ended up working out. For about a year, Stephen and I were friends, and ended up building a best friends type of friendship. We were both with other people at the time, so a friendship was all we needed from each other. As time went on and we separated from our past significant others, the stars aligned and we started dating. It’s been history ever since.

We survived the early college days, and it was when Stephen was a sophomore at Rutgers University that he decided to become an Officer in the Marine Corps. This meant 2 summers away for 6 weeks at a time with limited communication, and no visitation. As hard as it was then, looking back on it, six weeks seems like a piece of cake. After he graduated, Stephen commissioned as an Officer, and a year later went off to The Basic School Training in Quantico Virginia for six months. After that came Combat Engineer School in North Carolina. We soon learned how challenging a long distance relationship could be, as well as how strengthening it can be for a relationship.

Stephen and I traveled to Long Beach Island, New Jersey one day at the end of September. Stephen was home for the weekend, and LBI was a really special place for the both of us, but especially Stephen. It was where he grew up going every summer with his family. LBI was a second home for him, and I was able to experience the love for the island over the summers of us dating. We enjoyed some favorite pizza of ours, and then hit the beach for some shell searching. We walked and talked, and found some shells, and eventually it was time to leave. I turned around, and received a big kiss from Stephen, would turned into him getting down on one knee. Stephen proposed on the beach in front of his beach house rental, the same place we had gone every summer. There was no one around, it was just the two of us. But at the moment, no one else mattered. The man I loved so much asked me to marry him, and be to by his side forever. It was romantic, personal, and filled with so much love, just like every proposal should be. I have the honor every day of wearing the family diamond in my engagement ring.

Stephen was in training, and I was in my last semester of undergrad. But a wedding had to be planned. I had always dreamt of a not so cookie cutter wedding. I didn’t want “wedding factory” venue, as I like to call them. I wanted something with character, something that was different. With a few bumps in the road, and a really short amount of time, along with some luck, we chose Lake Mohawk Golf Club as our wedding venue. We decided from the start a church wedding would be important, and Saint Matthews The Apostle Parish was a perfect fit. Venue and church, check. Now photographer, flowers, cake, dress, and everything else needed to be done.

People say that the photographer and flowers are the two most expensive things you will pay for in a wedding, aside from the venue. I knew exactly what I wanted when looking for a photographer. I couldn’t explain what kind of style I wanted when people asked, but I knew it when I saw it. I searched through about twenty different photographers who obviously didn’t work out for a reason. Then, I found Michelle Lange. I found her through accidentally finding her blog. I saw her photos and said out loud “I need this photographer.” Much to my luck, Michelle was local, and was available.

Planning a wedding was so fun and exciting, but there were moments when it was extremely difficult. There were tears, lots of them to be exact, brought along with frustrations, worries, and the list goes on. Now, lets not forget to mention we planned this wedding in about four and a half months. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help of my parents, Stephen, and the bridesmaids.

Our wedding was perfect. I am sure every bride says that, but it was the perfect wedding for us. I had my best friends by my side, and the most important people watch two people solidify their love through the ceremony of Marriage. And we had a pretty kick ass reception too. It was so amazing to see everything we planned come together. When you’re planning, everything is a visual in your head. But the day of, it’s right in front of you. Its such an amazing feeling that all your hard work really paid off, and it turned out to be exactly what you envisioned.

Some have asked what my favorite part of my wedding day was, and I don’t know if I can pick a favorite. Yes, officially being able to call Stephen my husband that day was pretty fantastic, but the whole day was my favorite. I got to be a bride, and I had the greatest Groom by my side. The most important people surrounded us that day in our lives, people who only wanted love and happiness and nothing but the best for us. There is no better feeling than that.

When it comes to iconic Manhattan locales, the D&D Building is at the top of that list, so when renowned Charlie Palmer Group announced they would be opening Upper Story, a premier private event space in the stunning space in November of 2014, let’s just say we were smitten!

Offering breathtaking views from the 14th story with oversized windows and an incredible, expansive balcony, Upper Story will be a totally luxe + modern space for your next celebration. Perfect for showers, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties and weddings, the space can be split into two separate spaces (accommodating 80 and 100 guests) or can be combined to accommodate up to 180 for a seated dinner! The jaw-dropping venue will also offer couples state-of-the-art audio visual equipment as well as a bridal suite.

Fresh, modern and able to be transformed no matter your style, Upper Story is a brand-new must-see for NYC brides. I’m already thinking up an excuse to have my next party! For more information, head over here or check out Upper Story on Facebook. Happy planning, dears!

Southern New Jersey Enchanted Woodland Wedding Inspiration

Woodland with a beautiful side of whimsy, this stunning shoot captured by Bri Morse Imagery is not to be missed.With elegance infused into every picture perfect detail, not to mention gorgeous florals from Primrose And Company and gowns from Elizabeth John’s, this gallery is a must see.

From Bri Morse Imagery…This shoot’s inspiration all began with the whimsical, oversized unfinished wood chairs (as you will see in the photos) that my husband handmade actually. I sketched them out, found the right wood, and he made them for me (followed by the sweetheart and cake table too)…how sweet is that?! I’ve been dreaming up an idea like this to photograph for awhile. Something that was simple and beautiful, that had a bit of a fantasy feel to it. We wanted the look to be elegant and timeless, with a whimsical and unconventional twist. A contrast between rough unfinished design elements and fine beautiful details.

The dress is called “The Forrest” (fitting!) by Lela Rose, and the gorgeous alternative bridal jewelry featured is by the talented Anne Sportun. The groom’s band was lent to us by Bario Neal, whose unique jewelry is ethically sourced.

Peonies with a blush bleed and soft Bridal veil flower, touches of wheat and white berry. Handmade ivory paper with fine gold thread as accent. Rustic ruffle cake with peonies and gold branches and a touch of textured greenery. Billows of sheer ivory fabric created a asymmetrical and deconstructed alter site.

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Bridesmaid Dresses

Lela Rose

2014 Bridesmaid

Fall 2014

Spring 2015

Fall 2016

Spring 2016

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Colorful Yacht Club Wedding

I could probably sit here all day and tell you exactly why this sweet Mallard Island Yacht Club wedding completely rocks, but let’s just start out with the obvious. It’s sooo pretty. Think vibrant colors (hello coral, pink, yellow + teal) meets whimsical stylings, all in a seriously breathtaking setting. Now add in the photo expertise of the talented Kay English and, well… happy Wednesday. See it all here.

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Fall Weddings

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Yacht Club

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Nautical Whimsical

From Kay English Photography… Both the bride and groom love the Jersey shore, and in fact, they met there. With Mallard Island Yacht club being as exquisite as it was, the bride and groom felt they should add some more casual and laid-back touches. Little additions like the cupcakes and hints of chevron made the occasion beachy, yet chic. The bride, an art director, tried to create constant surprises for her guests. From personal menus to childhood photos, guests were surprised by loving touches at every turn. The night was special one, as guests enjoyed a beautiful cocktail hour, followed by dinner and a photobooth and then dancing the night away. Truly a beautiful night at the Jersey Shore.

New Jersey Summer Camp Wedding

Any wedding set at a kid’s summer camp gets automatic “cool points” in my book. But when it also happens to include bright, beautiful florals from Garden State Floral Design and gorgeous photography by the one and only Kay English, you better believe it’s a swoon-fest just waiting to happen. So what are you waiting for? See much more in the gallery right here.

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Beautiful Long Beach Island Wedding at Bonnet Island Estate

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Event Venue

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Casual Rustic

From The Bride…My husband and I wanted to have a wedding that was a little different than other weddings we had been to. Although ballrooms and chandeliers are no doubt beautiful, they just aren’t us. Our favorite past time is sitting outside with a cocktail, listening to our favorite music and so naturally, we were drawn to the idea of making our wedding an outdoor event. We were set on having an outdoor ceremony and thought what better way to have that outdoor feel for the whole wedding than having a tented wedding with the tent walls open and and natural air flowing through. It didn’t hurt that there was a gorgeous lake sitting in the middle of our venue that made for spectacular pictures!

We wanted our wedding to have a fun, rustic vibe; yet an elegant and romantic feel at the same time. From that moment on, we started to refer to our wedding as “Rustic Chic.” I immediately became gleefully overwhelmed with all the details I could incorporate from lace and burlap to mason jars and wild flowers. The possibilities were endless! For starters, I couldn’t wait to pick out the invitation, but didn’t want to pay an arm and a leg for something most people would discard shortly after receiving it. When I started looking for invitations, I did not come across anything in my price range that accurately represented our wedding. I love when weddings have DIY elements to them and so I decided to make my own invitations with a custom made template from a very talented online company. Now I could tailor it exactly the way I wanted detailed with kraft paper, mason jars and twine! It was a labor of love for sure, but I received an abundance of compliments that made all the countless hours of work worth it.

We wanted our ceremony to really represent our personalities and love for one another. We knew without a doubt that we wanted to write our own vows, but still include all the other aspects of a traditional ceremony. In addition, we still wanted to incorporate our catholic backgrounds with passages from the bible and saying “I do” in front of a 10 foot high cross adorned with, what else, sunflowers.

After our ceremony, my new husband and I toasted with mason jars containing our signature drinks of white peach sangria and bourbon & sweet tea. This wasn’t only a wedding; it was a huge party with 250 of our closest family and friends who we danced the night away with. It was an unforgettable day and I’ll always treasure every moment of it!

This wedding is just the definition of lovely. From the sweet shoreline setting to the gorgeous, gilded reception to the stunning couple saying I do – every image snapped up by Vanessa Joy Photography couldn’t be prettier if they tired. And there is even more waiting for you here.

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Estate Weddings Religious Institution

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Bridal Reflections Galia Lahav Trunk Show + A Giveaway!

From Vanessa Joy Photography…A dreamy shoreline wedding at the gorgeous Bonnet Island Estate. Their first ceremony took place at the Greek Orthodox church and then second ceremony at the boat house of Bonnet Island. Aimee chose hints of gold for her reception along with a nautical theme for the ceremony stationary.

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Wedding Dresses

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Wedding Dresses

Pnina Tornai

Dimensions Collection

Metallic Collection

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My dears, get ready to mark your calendars, because Bridal Reflections is hosting an incredible trunk show from August 6-10th, 2014 featuring designer Galia Lahav! Showing a brand-new bridal collection, La Dolce Vita as well as her first ever evening wear collection, Moonstruck, this is a seriously special event you won’t want to miss.

Known in Israel and abroad for her unique and luxe designs, Galia Lahav’s collections are truly spectacular. Focusing on elegant style, incredible European fabrics and beautiful detail work, these fashion-forward dresses are perfect for the modern bride wanting something a little bit different.

To make an appointment from August 6-10th at Bridal Reflections’s Fifth Avenue salon for the Galia Lahav show, call 212.764.3040. OH, there’s more my dears!

The Prize: A lucky reader will win a $250 gift certificate towards any purchase at any of the three Bridal Reflections salons!

To Enter: Comment on this post with your favorite Galia Lahav gown!

To Win: One winner will be selected at random and announced on WIUP on Friday, August 8, 2014.

Terms & Conditions: Can all be found right here. Good luck my dears! xoxo

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Bridal Salon: Bridal Reflections | Gowns: Galia Lahav

Black Tie New Jersey Estate Wedding

A few months back I had a chance to meet the fabulous Kristin behind Reverie Events and let me tell you she’s just as sparkling and sweet as the wedding magic she creates. But when Kristin teams up with the equally lovely Kay English…well, they’re basically unstoppable. *Enter* this spring black tie affair that’s “classic elegance” to a pretty little T. The gallery is what wedding dreams are made of and the film by Right Side Up Productions is just a scroll away!

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Estate Weddings

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Bright, Modern Summer Wedding

From Kay English… On the first warm day of the year, March 22, 2014, Nicole & Christopher said their I dos at The Ashford Estate in Allentown, New Jersey. Where many brides had previously played upon the French Chateau nature of the magical mansion, Nicole and Christopher worked with the talented Reverie Events to bring out the luxurious texture and depth, with a resulting fox-and-hound-inspired gala to rally the horses and cheers for a simple, elegant and truly memorable affair.

With a warm color palette of neutrals and gold with navy notes, texture was king. From the suede that held the scrolled programs to the thick, navy velvet ribbon that tied the napkins and five flower girls’ nosegays. From the dark-stained standalone wooden table numbers and suede-wrapped julep cups that held lush arrangements of muted blooms and greenery scattered among the romantic candlelight of the five-pronged bronze candelabras on each table, to the luxurious and intricate lace of the bride’s graceful, deep keyholed gown that glimmered with delicate baby sea pearls and crystals.

Gold-plated plaid marked the custom-designed invitation suite as well as the three best men’s Burberry ties. The matron of honor wore a Pippa Middleton-inspired midnight navy gown, complete with black lace cap sleeves and a stunning black lace back with a mile-long row of nearly 40 covered buttons.

The bride walked into the candlelit barn chapel to a unique composition, “Pachelbel Meets U2,” marrying the classic “Canon in D” to “With or Without You.” A Scottish bagpiper paraded guests into the estate where the signature cocktail — an Old Fashioned — began a cocktail hour in the conservatory where tables were detailed with brass trophy cup vases pouring with opulent greens.

Golden horseshoes — displayed on dark wooden boards with brass pegs, complete with laurel greenery adorning the top inspired by thoroughbred’s winning wreaths — guided guests to the spectacular ballroom as the sun began to set. A decadent black & white chocolate buttercream cake stood tall at four tiers and was dotted with the bride’s elegant blooms of white jeanne moreau d.a. roses, ranunculus and white anemones.

The 10-piece band had the entire 200+ room on its feet as the new Mr. & Mrs. were announced into their first dance, Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing” . . . and well into the night before guests were swept off the dance floor with warm chocolate chip cookies as they made their way to the estate library for post-dancing cocktails.

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Wedding Dresses

Jim Hjelm

Fall 2015

Spring 2016 Collection

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Wedding Dresses

Paloma Blanca

Fall 2015 Collection

Fall 2017 Collection

Spring 2017 Collection

Spring 2018 Collection

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In my humble opinion, happy brides are always the prettiest. Just take a look at this Brooklyn beauty whose wedding day bliss is pretty much contagious. She and her Groom opted for a fresh and fun “I do” that could make any modern design lover go weak at the knees. Luckily Tanya Salazar came along for the ride, and the full gallery is a pin party just waiting to happen.

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Vintage Chic Inspiration Shoot + Film

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Event Venue

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Modern

From Tanya Salazar Photography…Majel and Andre had a beautiful summer day wedding at the Stone House at Stirling Ridge in New Jersey. The details and invitations were done by none other than the lovely bride, and the lovely floral design was done by Allure Floral Design. The bride’s sense of style showed through with her colorful invitation design work and platform shoes from Zara.

From The Bride…We wanted our wedding to feel like a celebration for everyone—a chance for people to relax and just feel that they were part of something joyful. We also wanted to spoil them a little bit—we thought of the wedding as a gift to the people who love and support us and who helped shape who we are.

We avoided any hint of stuffiness or serious formality, even choosing a close friend who is a poet to officiate the ceremony. We didn’t see what she had written before hand because we really trusted her voice, and we wanted to be surprised and in the moment with everyone else.

We also incorporated a ribbon ceremony from my tribe, the Mashpee Wampanoag, that allowed us to really articulate and share what it meant for us to join our lives – each ribbon symbolized a different aspect of our bond and included vows to support its growth. After each vow was made, the ribbon was deposited into our marriage basket. We also added our own vows at the end, to make sure feelings were heard in our own voices by all of our witnesses and each other. When I think of this day I see flashes of smiles and feel the heat and light of the sun—it was a truly uplifting day.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Reem Acra

Spring 2015

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It’s clear to see why Dee Kay Events asker her friend to model for her inspiration shoot. She’s absolutely radiant! We love the updated flapper look with embellished flapper dress from Unique Vintage and heavily jeweled accessories from Happily Ever Borrowed. And it also doesn’t hurt that Love, Sylvia Photography was in on the deal as well. Find more of her images from the photo shoot here.

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Academic Venue Settings

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Sentimental Seaside Wedding at the Avalon Yacht Club

From Dee Kay Events…Inspiration has a funny way of making itself clear. My motivation for this styled shoot began with a desire to focus on talent in central New Jersey. To show our sweethearts that you do not need to travel an hour to NYC to find vendors. You do not need to be in the mad rush. If you just take a closer look, you may be able to find exactly what you need right in your backyard.

But, as I designed, sketched, created and collaborated ideas, my desire and intentions took a twist. It changed at the very first appointment with our model Jen.

Jen and I have been friends for a very long time. Although we may not see each other as often as we like, it always feels like yesterday when we do spend time together. I also had the honor of surprising her with decor at her baby shower back in February. She gave birth in March and she agreed to be our model bride just four months later. Yes, this beautiful creature is mother to a delicious 7 month old baby and she looks fabulous.

Jen is happy. Jen is engaged. Jen has found her soul mate. For her whole life, Jen has sang to her own tune. She is a woman who knows what she wants. A woman with beauty inside and out. A person who stirs your spirit in ways you would never expect. Jen is simply wonderful.

This was Jen’s first time trying on a wedding dress. And, I was lucky enough to share the experience.

I saw her eyes widen. I saw that twinkle in her eye. I saw in her smile exactly why I do the job that I do. It’s these moments that make me incredibly happy and grateful for the path I have chosen.

She got excited. She was looking at dresses and talking to me about ideas. Her backyard inspired wedding. Her wooden farm tables. Her laid back atmosphere and, of course, the bonfire at the end and a big barbecue pit. Describing all of these details that she has obviously put her heart into already.

“But, forget it. I should stop. We’re just going to get married at City Hall. We are both here for your shoot today anyways,” she said.

What just happened? Jen was just showcasing all the excited feelings you should have while shopping for your wedding dress. Out of nowhere she stopped dreaming and put herself and her desires to the side. It surely was not my day in the least. Sure, Jen was there to help me out, but it pained me to see her just brush her dreams aside. Here she was, a bride in every aspect of the word, and it seemed as if she didn’t feel worthy of being excited. I was truly saddened.

Why was she feeling like this? It was not my place to dig into the reason this was occurring, but it was my duty to fix it. A person filled with such life and spirit deserves only the best. I wanted to give Jen a shooting star in the sky. I was here to inspire my friend and show her that no matter what your situation is, no matter where you are in life, no matter how high or low your budget, your love can be celebrated any which way you want, no matter what the norm says or what society pushes on you to believe is right. Every person in love deserves to dream about and celebrate their wedding.

That was it. It was decided. I was going to give Jen the best wedding ever… styled and real!

My team of fantastic vendors had no idea this was going inside my head. This was my challenge. My motivation. My crazy. Everyone was still on the same page with the style of 1920′s chic. (My husband and I are huge Boardwalk Empire fans and I could not resist a styled shoot with a flapper dress and a bottle of whiskey.) The theme played perfectly with Jen’s own wishes as well.

I needed a dress. No, I needed TWO dresses. I needed the best make up around. I needed gorgeous flowers. I needed details, details and more details. I needed Jen to know that I was on her side, no matter what. That even if she really wanted, as she put it, “just a city hall” wedding, it would be the best darn intimate gathering of vows that the world ever saw. This was my mission.

And, then it happened. After weeks of planning and design, I heard what I had been waiting for all this time. What I needed to hear. What every person should feel on their wedding day. We were just one hour into the shoot when Jen said:

“Wow… I look like a real bride. I love this dress! I’m having so much fun. I need to text Matt and call my Mother. They won’t believe this!”

I smiled and replied, “You are a bride, Jen.” She just smiled back at me and we both understood each other in that moment.

My heart burst into millions and millions of pieces of happiness and hope confetti. Happiness for a friend who deserves all the love in the world. And, hope that I may continue to inspire and move my clients to that moment. The exact crossroads of love, happiness and dreams that turn into a beautiful reality.

Jen wasn’t looking for vendors. She just wanted to help out a friend. And, I will be a friend who will always be just steps away in her backyard whenever she needs me.

It warms our heart when couples incorporate heirlooms to honor their past loved ones. This bride wore the same veil her grandmother did 65 years ago. And to keep their spirit’s up (literally and figuratively) the decided to honor the groom’s mother’s by adding her favorite cocktail, a Mudslide Martini, to the menu. RHM Photography did a beautiful job capturing the day. Just keep some tissues on hand for the video by Be Films.

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Fall Weddings

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Yacht Club

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