New York Weddings

Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes and sometimes it’s of the four legged variety. This is a mash up of the springiest of florals by Cecily F. Grand, Inc., beautiful outdoor styling by Stacie Shea Events and a lineup of almost too pretty to eat cakes by Lovely Cakes, all with a decidedly equestrian flair. Think high tea with the horses and you’re on the right track. So pull up those boot straps ladies and gents because we have a whole gallery captured by Photography & More by Stefanie Kapra worthy of some major ogling.

Now hows about a peek at this shoot in moving, breathing sing-songy action captured by Fairytale Studios?  It’s inspiration come to life and we whole heartedly approve.

From Stacie Shea Events… Getting inspiration for this equestrian-styled wedding was quite simple. Lauren, my assistant at Stacie Shea Events lives in North Salem, New York, a quaint, intimate, little town known as “horse country” to the neighboring cities. You can’t go a day without seeing a rider and their horse walking up and down your road, whether it’s in the morning or night. Lauren came to me with a vision — she had always loved the elegance of horses. She felt a deep relationship with these animals, as she grew up riding and living on a horse farm and to this day, many of her family members still ride at a farm not far from their family home. Lauren came up with this idea because she thought it would capture a more casual yet heartwarming side of a wedding, bring out a wedding’s true meaning and show a love for animals at the same time.

After some serious brainstorming sessions, we could not think of a better theme to bring to the Hudson Valley area of New York when the shoot took place on May 2, right before the Kentucky Derby. All the vendors and I knew this would be a great way to celebrate all the upcoming horse races across the states this spring and summer. What better way to motivate brides to head to the track this summer for some wedding inspiration!

Photography: Photography & More by Stefanie Kapra / Second Shooter: Karen Schlink / Location: North Salem, New York / Planning: Stacie Shea Events / Styling Assistant: Lauren Megerdichian / Floral Design: Cecily F. Grand, Inc. / Cinematography: Fairytale Studios / Catering: Pascal Fuchs / Cakes: Renata of Lovely Cakes / Paper Goods: Jessica Haley Weddings & Style / Ring Pillow, Cake Poms + Stir Sticks: Michelle Edgemont / Wedding Dress + Accessories: The Plumed Serpent Bridal / Hair + Makeup : Bethany Groves + Stephanie Loulakis of Larissa Lake Makeup Artist & Co. / Model Bride: Melissa Bale / Model Groom: Dewan Tarek / Model Bridesmaid: Lauren Megerdichian

Today we’ve got a real treat. We’re spending it with Rebecca + Greg, and their beautiful, beautiful wedding festivities. First up on the agenda is the simply elegant rehearsal dinner, captured by Gulnara Studio. We’re head over heels for this sweet soiree to kick off the love fest. And as much as we love the barn and the pool, the striped straws and the whiskey centerpieces, we love the couple at the center most. The relaxed love that seems to float between them is gorgeous. Spend your morning in the gallery… but make sure to come back this afternoon for the main event!

Click here to see the rest of this sweet soiree in the full image gallery!

From the lovely bride … Growing up on the Jersey shore I visited New York City more than I can remember.  I’d loved it since I was a little girl so I always knew I’d end up there.  What I didn’t know is that my move to the big city after living in London for 3 years would also mean an introduction to my future husband!  After four years of dating and enjoying New York together, Greg asked me to marry him at one of our favorite restaurants in the city.  July 2010 was hot hot hot in New York and as I noted that I had to wear a cocktail ring on a different finger due to the heat, Greg pulled the ring I had been waiting for out of his pocket and said, “Well I hope this one will still fit!”

Wedding Planner: Events That Matter / Photography: Gulnara Studio / Second Photographer: Sebastian Kloskowski / Florist: Linda Baldwin Flowers & Event Design / Stationery: Lettuce Paper / Videographer: Fred Marcus / Catering & Cake: Oliver Kita Fine Catering / Tables & Chairs: Party Rentals Ltd.

Classic weddings and Hudson Valley were meant to be together; like peanut butter and jelly those two. And Glenmere Mansion? Could easily be mistaken for a crazy, gorgeous villa in the Italian countryside. So toss that all together along with images by Cappy Hotchkiss and you have a dream fête full of elegance and a whole gaggle of wee little attendants ready for their camera debut. See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We met in 1989 when I was a freshman and he was a sophomore at Connecticut College. We were friends throughout college and had one platonic date on New Year’s Eve 1992. After graduation, we went our separate ways. Michael stayed mostly in NYC, while I lived abroad in Mexico, Tahiti, California and Hawaii before returning to NYC in 2002. Fast forward to October 2009 when we crossed paths on Park Avenue. Divine intervention must have been at work because he recognized me after 16 years (Michael wears contacts). He called my name and I actually heard him (I can be hard of hearing). So … eight thousand and eighty days  (8,080!) after our first meeting, we were married.

Wedding Photography: Cappy Hotchkiss / Wedding Venue: Glenmere Mansion in Chester, New York / Floral Design: Dennis of The Green Cottage / Officiant: Rabbi Maurice Salth of Central Synagogue / Wedding Cake: Sylvia Weinstock / Wedding Invitations: Maki Ushiba / Ceremony Music: Students from The Juilliard School / DJ: Ray Jarrell of Jarrell Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza via Bridal Reflections / Bride’s Shoes: My Glass Slipper / Hair + Makeup: Krystal of Baby Breath Bridal Services / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Kimera Design / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Kids’ Suits + Dresses: Janie and Jack / Girls’ Sashes: Kimera Design

When you are lucky enough to hold your rehearsal dinner at a location as breathtaking as the Grasmere Farm, you can pretty much guarantee a fabulous soiree.  This historic stone barn in Rhinebeck is about as gorgeous as it gets… and when you fill it to the brim with beautiful florals by The Greenhouse at Rhinebeck and some amazing lighting by Salvin Design, well… you have yourself one seriously stunning fête.  Plus, with Lydia FitzGerald of Charmed Places planning the entire affair to absolute perfection and Photo Pink on hand to capture it all, the gallery is literally overflowing with the pretty we need to jump start the work week.  Join me there for more!

Click here for the FULL rehearsal dinner!

From Lydia FitzGerald of Charmed Places… This event is near and dear to my heart. It was a labor of love to plan and execute and both my clients, their guests and I were extremely happy with the outcome. The dinner took place at Grasmere Farm in Rhinebeck, New York, which is not yet known as an event venue. The last private event to be held at Grasmere prior to this rehearsal dinner was the rehearsal dinner for Chelsea Clinton the summer before. With that level of event preceding ours, I knew I had to work with my clients and vendors to create an event that honored this occurrence, as well as the space itself and of course, my client’s wishes — one of which was not to upstage the wedding the following day. Yikes! Hard to do when working with such a naturally beautiful and grand location. The barn at Grasmere is a raw space with no power or running water. Among other things, I had the space power washed and a load of gravel delivered and raked to ensure that the beautiful lounge setting on the massive gravel courtyard in front of the stone barn would make a statement to guests as they arrived.

On the day of the event, guests were directed to an unmarked entrance to the property. A long and winding drive lined with lanterns that we installed that took them past massive fields, a large pond and up to entrance to the courtyard and barns. After several consecutive days of rain we were fortunate to have a beautiful and sunny day. Guests spent cocktail hour in the courtyard sipping on champagne and a specialty cocktail of marinated blackberries, fresh mint, vodka and seltzer, listening to spanish guitar melodies provided by a live musician. With one entire side of the 7,000 sq ft barn exposed, we made sure that guests were moved inside the barn for dinner before sunset so they could take in the view of rolling lawns, haystacks and blue sky before night came. Dinner was festive but intimate, with the lighting design of the barn’s interior becoming more apparent as day became night. With September being the start of harvest season in the Hudson Valley, guests sampled local produce in an heirloom tomato salad with champagne vinaigrette and grass-fed Hudson Valley beef with local chanterelle mushrooms. Many toasts were given, and a lovely and sweet video montage of the couple was played for guests. When it was time to leave, no one wanted to go! At the end of the evening the bride ran up to me, grabbed me and exclaimed, “Thank you for making this evening so special!” Mission accomplished!

Event Planning: Lydia FitzGerald of Charmed Places / Venue: Grasmere Farm in Rhinebeck, New York / Photography: Randy Ahart of Photo Pink / Event Design + Florals: Lisa Riso of The Greenhouse at Rhinebeck / Lighting Design: Salvin Design / Catering: Main Course Catering

Is there a detail from this Hudson Valley wedding that I don’t absolutely love and adore?  That would be a big, fat negative!  Each and every one fills my heart with delight.  Yellow, green and white is a color palette that will always be fresh, cheerful and charming especially when paired together with so many cute, personalized details from the drink straw pennants to the sweet thank yous tucked inside each napkin.  Weddings by Two always brings a magical quality to the celebrations that they shoot and this one is no different!  See all their images in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… When my husband and I were searching for a wedding location in the Hudson Valley, Shadow Lawn quickly stood out to us. We were able to rent the property for the entire weekend, so we could host our rehearsal dinner, wedding, and Sunday brunch there. The owners of the property went an extra mile to make everything perfect for us after Hurricane Irene, and I think that the beauty of the property was partly what made all of the pictures so gorgeous!  The Sheeley House Bed & Breakfast next door was the perfect location for our wedding party to stay, and my husband and I had a great time being so close to everyone all weekend long.  

We worked closely with our officiant, Barbara Ann Michaels, to create a ceremony that was both deeply personal and non-traditional. Two couples from each side of our family spoke and provided us with marriage wisdom. Instead of a traditional favor, we rented a photobooth from Weddings by Two/We Love Photobooths—it was packed all night long! Everyone from the grandparents to our youngest cousins loved snapping their pictures. Another highlight was my last-minute decision to purchase the cakes from our favorite bakery in New York City—Momofuku Milk Bar.  Ryan and I had to drive to Brooklyn the Friday before to pick up the cakes and bring them to the wedding ourselves. They were the hit of the night. Everyone raved about them!

It was daunting to choose a location that was not all-inclusive, and my husband and I both did a lot of work the entire year leading up to the wedding (much more than we had expected)! In the end, all of our vendors came together to make it an unforgettable day!

Photography and Photobooth: Weddings by Two + We Love Photobooths / DJ: Lutz Entertainment / Day-of Coordinator: Hudson Valley Events / Officiant: Barbara Ann Michaels / Floral Design: Steven Bruce Design / Caterer: Main Course / Wine: Stone Ridge Wine & Spirits / Venue: Shadow Lawn / Cakes: Momofuku Milk Bar / Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher / Dress: Elizabeth Dye via Lovely Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Makeup: Face Stockholm

Remember this darling Hudson Valley soiree captured by Micah & Megan Photographers?  Yep, we do, too.  In fact, we fell SO in love with this charming barn affair when we featured it back in October, we’ve barely been able to contain our excitement for today.  You guessed it… we have the ah.ma.zing video by McKenzie Miller Films to share with you this morning (YAY!) and that means one more day spent with the sweet rustic details, breathtaking setting and uber-adorable bride and groom!  So, sit back, relax and take that much needed coffee break… you’ll need some time to hit “replay.”  Enjoy!

From McKenzie of McKenzie Miller Films… Becky and Brian’s wedding was filled to the brim with the most precious details. They left no creative aspect undone. From the custom soda bottles to the adorable silhouette, their wedding was perfect! Becky and Brian were married near Hudson, New York at the Apple Barn Farm. It was so beautiful! It’s always nice to escape the city every once in a while and this was no exception. Becky and Brian wrote the ceremony themselves and it was so sweet and heartfelt. I especially loved their vows. After their ceremony underneath a canopy of trees, everyone moved inside the barn for an evening of dancing, toasting and celebrating the love of Becky and Brian. The two are absolutely perfect for one another and it was evident through every piece of their wedding day.

Film: McKenzie Miller Films / Song: “Always” by Holley Maher via The Music Bed

It always knocks my wedding-loving socks off when I hear of couples planning completely flawless fêtes from thousands of miles away. Well that was just the case with this rustic barn beauty in Hudson Valley planned all the way from Germany! The end result was beyond beautiful and beIMAGED Photography captured memory after memory for this amazing pair. So grab another cop of coffee, cozy up, and spend a little time in the full gallery of images – I couldn’t think of a better way to spend this chilly January morning!

Click here for the full gallery of images!

From beIMAGED Photography…Meredith and Bill did the unthinkable: they planned their Hudson Valley wedding all the way from Germany! Yes, from Germany. And it was absolutely amazing with a rustic yet elegant and classic feel to it with DIY elements infused throughout along with the natural wonder of the Hudson Valley.

The day started with Meredith getting ready at the historic Hudson House in Cold Spring, NY which is surrounded by rolling hills and is right near the Hudson River. The ceremony was then held at the St. John The Evangelist church in Beacon, NY with the mass including Filipino wedding traditions which was incredibly beautiful and emotional.

Then the party took off at the breathtaking and amazing Mount Gulian Historic Site. To first walk through a historic building filled with antiques and old wooden floors, then out to an absolutely spell-bounding Hudson Valley view and then down wooden steps to the Dutch barn — this venue was an absolute jaw-dropper. All of the hard work that Meredith and Bill, along with their friends and family, had put into planning their big day shined through every location, every detail, and every single moment.

Photography: beIMAGED Photography / Decor: DIY friends + family / Caterer: Parties by Tomas / Venue: Mount Gulian Historical Society / Wedding Cake: Dulce & Petit / Stationery: Paper City Design

I am a lover of all things rustic chic, so when this charming Hudson Valley affair popped up on my computer screen, I could barely contain my glee.  Because not only is this lovely fête boasting some serious rustic goodness (along with darling DIY details and a cute as can be yellow and blue color scheme), but the oh-so-fabulous reception was all held in one uber-gorgeous barn.  Awesome.  And with Erik Maziarz of Carla Ten Eyck on hand to capture all of the lovely, it means and entire day of pretty for you and me.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Erik Maziarz for Carla Ten Eyck… Grace and Ben’s New York wedding took place in the historic Hudson Valley hamlet of High Falls. Country charm was the predominant theme with a historic bed and breakfast, a quaint reformed church, a rustic barn, and even an old airfield all serving as backdrops for this gorgeous country wedding. A fun-loving couple, blue skies and tons of DIY details were the icing on the cake!

Wedding Photography: Erik Maziarz for Carla Ten Eyck / Floral Design: Dennis of The Green Cottage / Wedding Ceremony Location: Clove Chapel / Wedding Reception Location: Shadow Lawn / Catering: Main Course Catering / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Officiant: Rev. Letitia Smith / DJ: Bud Maltin Metropolitan Music

This is so the type of wedding that makes you feel super pretty and so grateful to be on the invite list when you arrive. And it just so happens that looking at these gorgeous images by Amy Newman Photography totally has the same effect on all of us here at SMP. The beyond beautiful blooms by Denise Fasanello Floral Design set the stage for this romantic, lavender filled fete. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Denise Fasanello Floral Design…A picture perfect setting in New York’s Hudson Valley combined with sublime golden light made for a dream come true day. The objective was to create a relaxed yet elegant outdoor tent wedding for Alix and Ashley. They requested no real color scheme except to include lavender which is a nod to Alix’s French roots.  I grabbed my collection of vintage transferware, glass bottles and weathered wooden boxes and went to town. I remember this day so fondly – fussing over the still life on the escort table, Alix’s ethereal white dress, Ashley’s ease and charming manner throughout the set up and talking at length with the father of the bride about my beloved Brooklyn. I am a lucky lady to be able to contribute to such happy moments in people’s lives.

Venue: Private Residence / Caterer: Fresh Company / Floral Design: Denise Fasanello Floral Design / Wedding Photography: Amy Newman Photography

Not only is this wedding by Robin Roemer Photography picture perfect, it also has so much heart. Full of thoughtful details and elegant DIY touches, it makes for a wedding we are all completely smitten over. And I must say, those cupcake-in-a-jar favors look absolutely divine! But that is just the start of the lovely, don’t forget there is more to devour in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I fell in love with my now-husband at the tender age of 14, but it was not until after college that we reconnected and started dating. Five years later, he proposed on the water, under the stars while vacationing in Mexico. From the moment the ring was slipped on my finger I began to plot a location and theme. Since my ring was an estate piece I wanted to carry the vintage romantic theme throughout our wedding, but I also wanted to incorporate the stars and water from our engagement. Luckily, we live in the Hudson Valley, a magical location. I settled on the outdoor ballroom at the Grandview on the Hudson River for its spectacular scenery. After collecting ideas on Style Me pretty for two years (having over 1400 visits to your site), and finding, and falling in love with Etsy it all came together. We wanted our wedding to be elegant, but for our guests to feel warm and comfortable. So we incorporated lots of cream, peaches, greens and pops of navy colors for a romantic mid-summer theme. From the 250 mercury candle holders, to the khaki suits and peach roses, and my grandmother’s 60 year old garter everything flowed with a simple romantic grace.

I also received so much gratification from doing many of my own DIY projects. All of my paper-goods; table numbers, programs, invitations, and seating chart,  I created with some collaboration from Etsy. But the most tedious task was the home-made candy bar and cupcake jars favors. Little did I know the full extent of labor it would involve, it took months to collect all of the jars and several days for my mother, mother-in-law, and myself to bake and assemble over 200 “cup cakes in a jar.” But I never felt so much pride as I did the day they unveiled it to our guests and everyone asked where we bought them.

A special thank you to our photographer, Robin Roemer, who captured the day in all its vividness. The love and encouragement from our family and friends was overwhelming, and we could not have asked for a better day with better people.

Wedding Photography: Robin Roemer Photography / Flowers: The Green House at Rhinebeck / Ceremony Location: St. Martins De Porres Church / Reception Location: The Grandview / Programs + Seating Chart: EM & N Designs + The Bride / Table Numbers: The Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Sash: Kirsten Kuehn Designs / Hand Bag: Judith Leiber / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jim Hjelm / Candy Bar + Labels: The Bride / Cupcake Jars Favors: The Bride, Mother + Mother In-Law

I’m a total sucker for a casual, barn wedding. Maybe it’s because I had one of my own last year, but there’s just something so sweet and simple about the rustic backdrop and gorgeous fields that gets me every time. I’m loving the tablescapes filled with wildflowers, wine bottles for vases, votive candles and burlap runners. Oh, and those dishcloth looking napkins folded with menus inside fit the whole rustic decor perfectly. Micah & Megan Photographers were on hand for the day to capture all the pretty details and wow, did they do a fabulous job! The proof is in these gorgeous images. I had such a hard time choosing which ones to include because the gallery is literally filled with them. Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Micah & Megan Photographers…Becky and Brian wanted something very unique and special for their destination wedding in Hudson Valley, New York. Both Becky and Brian are in the advertising world of New York City so they had a keen eye for the style and design of the day. The thought that they put into each and every detail was unbelievable. They got ready for the wedding in an old rustic farmhouse. The wedding took place at the Apple Barn Farm, in Germantown, New York. Gingham and Lace surrounded the yellow and white flowers. The guests arrived to the farm in a school bus.  There was a campfire and farm animals surrounded the property. There was a specialty drink created by Becky and Brian called B+Bee’s Knees, served in antique jars with red and white striped straws.

On top of putting so much thought into the details of the wedding, these two have the most amazing hearts. The way these two love each other is indescribable. Sometimes it is explosive. Sometimes it is sweet, and intimate. It is always completely, unconditionally, love. During Brian’s best man’s speech, he told a story of how he asked Brian why and how his relationship with Becky was so amazing. It was their communication. They sit down together every night at the dinner table, no television, no distractions, and talk. Just talk, about everything and anything. That is the secret to their amazing relationship. This says so much about the commitment between these two and the ways that they put everything else aside for their love. Photographing this wedding was amazing. We feel so grateful to have been able to capture the emotion story of Becky and Brian’s day through our cameras.

Wedding Photography: Micah & Megan Photographers / Wedding Cinematography: McKenzie Miller Films / Flowers: The Rosery / Event Design: The Bride / Event Planning: Keri + Marybeth Baruta of The Apple Barn Farm / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Apple Barn Farm / Bride’s Shoes: Me Too / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / DJ: Digital Diva / Catering: Barbara Goldstein / Wedding Cake: Sweetcakes / Groom’s Attire: Ted Baker

Ready for some serious sweetness? How about a sweet as can be tea party bridal shower from The Hudson Cakery? I have the sweetest of sweet tooths, so just the sight of all this deliciousness has me drooling. To top it all off, it’s perfectly pretty too. You can devour the entire party completely calorie-free in the full gallery of images!

Click here for the FULL bridal shower!

From The Hudson Cakery…Here’s an afternoon tea party shoot styled with mini cupcakes, tarts, a trio of cakes and more. The custom menu sits on stacked blue and white hat boxes. The cupcakes are topped with fondant damask and pink tea pots. Blackberry scones and baked mini donuts round out the table.

Cakes and Desserts: The Hudson Cakery / Photography: Eloquently So

This charming Garrison soiree is about to brighten your Monday morning with a whole bundle of lovely details, including a vibrant yellow and blue color palette, beautiful blooms by Bridal Flowers Exclusive and some beyond breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley.  (Seriously… Check out that ceremony set-up!)  And with an entire gallery overflowing with brilliant images by Ulysses Photography, I just can’t stop swooning over all of this pretty.  So, start your week off right (very right) and join me in the gallery for every amazing moment!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… I was never one of those girls who’d been dreaming about my wedding day since age 10, so I had nothing in mind for the big day when I got engaged. While my fiancé and I love a good party and host plenty of them at our apartment, we realized our wedding would be a celebration for our family and friends. We tried to focus on the necessities that would make the day urbane to us as a couple: a beautiful view, good food, good music and bright colors. Most of all, when I looked at my wedding album, I wanted to make sure the images were timeless. I’d been perusing wedding blogs as soon as I got engaged and found that many of the images appeared trendy. I saw a lot of photographs that produced images with a smoky, vintage look or a fishbowl roundness to them.  I wanted to make sure the one thing I took back from the day—the pictures—would be clean and focused on the moments of the day.

I’d picked The Garrison for our venue easily after looking at a handful of places in the area. I liked the clean, open feeling of their space. I wanted to be away from New York City where we live to allow for a slower-paced day. My mother, soon-to-be mother-in-law, and I looked around the room at the Garrison and instantly knew all of our friends and family would feel comfortable spending the day there. The view really made it stand apart from the rest.

From the jump, Jenni and Ulysses at Ulysses Photography were incredibly responsive. Jenni answered all our questions easily and promptly, and their experience spoke for itself. At the end of big day, I was most pleased with Jenni and Ulysses. They are so wonderful as a team and really got to know us beforehand through email and our engagement photo session.  On my wedding day, I was overwhelmed with all sorts of emotion: nervousness, excitement. When it came time for our private photo shoot, I couldn’t believe the day was actually happening and needed a moment once I saw my groom. Jenni and Ulysses were so patient. Jenni even gave me a pep talk about all the little things that were floating around in my head and distracting me. Above and beyond the call of duty!

The general décor was to be simple as we are as a couple. The details seemed to fall together. I wanted pears to be on display, as my new last name, Hruska, meant pear in Czech.  I picked three wicker baskets that matched the wooden tables at the Garrison to hold a few pears. We also included two images of pears on either side of the guest names on our escort cards. In memory of my cousin Samantha who had passed away in the time I got engaged and married, I had two sunflower arrangements, as they were her favorite flower. She was so excited when we got engaged and I needed to have a visual reminder of her. To spruce up the table settings, our dear friend and artist, Emily Nagle, created custom images of places Mike and I had been to in our relationship and planned to go to on our honeymoon. She designed our save-the-date, so we wanted to tie the feel of her artwork into the day itself. For music, we picked DJ PQ, who was recommended by the DJ at a friend’s wedding where I had danced all night. We wanted to make sure the dance floor was packed because we both love to dance. His mix cd was right up our alley. It contained a majority of the songs I’d been compiling to play at the wedding anyway!

Thankfully, everything went off without a hitch. All of our gut reactions proved solid. Our vendors helped make the day just as special as everyone who attended. I can’t describe the feeling of looking out into the crowd as you prepare to say your vows and knowing that all the hard work (prepping for the wedding and nurturing your relationship) is fully supported by those staring back at you.  Utterly priceless. Make the day what you want by surrounding yourself with good people. That’s my wedding motto!

Wedding Photography: Ulysses Photography / Flowers: Bridal Flowers Exclusive / Location: The Garrison / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Make-up: Jill Imbrogno / Hair: Diane, The Garrison Salon / Wedding Cake: The Pastry Garden / Artwork: Emily Nagle

This beautiful bride didn’t let a little rain dampen her big day. The rain that originally made her cringe now makes her smile because she’s got some seriously super cool images from Ulysses Photography complete with pretty, pink umbrellas. How’s that for looking on the bright side? This wedding is packed to the brim with the prettiest of details and if you’re looking for even more, click here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…The perfect wedding cocktail combines one part disciplined organization, one part creative intuition, and one part planning prowess. My family and friends would hardly select disciplined and organized while describing me. Fortunately, my mother (and wedding planning counterpart) seamlessly managed this ingredient.  As for creative intuition, I scoured countless magazines, books, websites, and blogs (Style Me Pretty included!) to help conceptualize our day.  The planning portion is a slow, continuous pour I savored. My husband, Jared, may characterize my planning as obsessive, as it began for him when the Ring Fairy delivered photographs of potential bling upon his pillow. I saw in the planning process an opportunity to fashion a day that would represent the fabric of who we were, are, and may become.

We chose to conduct our ceremony at St. Martin de Porres Church. Beautiful natural light shines in through the windows, and Jared made all of his sacraments there as a child. Sheer occupancy proved to be the most important factor in our search for a venue. We needed a space that could house my immense Irish Catholic family and Jared’s close-knit Italian side without sacrificing class and elegance. Our venue search included over 15 sites, culminating with the Tarrytown House Estate.  We were ecstatic to discover the TTH offered precisely what we were looking for, and incidentally, advantages we had not yet considered. The sprawling, manicured grounds provided a lovely backdrop for photographs and strolls. The professionalism and helpfulness of our event coordinator, Gail, and all the staff members made both planning and celebrating our wedding day an enjoyable experience. Having on-site luxury lodging accommodations allowed our guests much-appreciated comfort and convenience. The TTH exceeded our high expectations and gave our wedding a home.

The creme de la creme were our photographers Ulysses and Jenni of Ulysses Photography. Just as I knew Jared was “the one,” and I knew my (second) dress was “the one,” I knew Ulysses and Jenni were, too. We began our work (and play!) together before the wedding day, at our engagement shoot. Through Facebook and e-mail, we stayed in touch with the couple and built excitement for our day. Ulysses and Jenni brought professionalism and dedication to an uncommon level. Their approach is unobtrusive, leading to a natural capture of the day as the story unfolds. Back from our honeymoon, we now face the daunting and exhilarating task of canvassing through hundreds of choice photographs. Upon reading a great book, a natural inclination is to rave about it to friends and thrust a copy in their hands. I feel this way about all our vendors and offer my fervent recommendation.

After months of incessant planning, a bride and groom must ultimately let go on the wedding day and trust that the day will unravel as planned. It invariably does and it invariably does not. Oddly enough, it is often the unplanned happenings that give the day its signature. I will admit that the rain briefly dampened my spirits. It certainly had not been included in my wedding recipe! I was saddened to see cocktail hour moved indoors from the terrace. However, our guests loved the unique character and adornment of the rooms in the Biddle Mansion. I winced as droplets of rain landed on my dress as I demanded (a minor Bridezilla moment) an umbrella. Those umbrellas became iconic props in our photographs, and we adore them. Perhaps the most delectable wedding calls for a splash of the unknown.

Wedding Photography: Ulysses Photography / Flowers: Forever in Bloom / Ceremony Location: St. Martin de Porres Church / Reception Location: Tarrytown House Estate / Invitations: Graphic Nature / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Make-up: Bella Luci Salon / Wedding Cake: Artuso + Sons / Music: Jimmy Dee Productions

I have a colossal crush on these Catskills nuptials by the fabulous Ulysses Photography, so prepare yourselves for some serious gushing.  For starters, I seriously adore a rainy day wedding.  There’s nothing quite like a little drizzle and some overcast skies to kick up the romance quotient by a thousand.  Add to that the charming sunflower centerpieces and beautiful bouquets by Flowers On The Porch, the rustic table numbers and a campfire with s’mores and you’ve got yourself one smitten blogger.  All designed by the amazing AME Event Planning, this is one wedding you don’t want to miss.  See every last detail here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Alen and I were set on getting married in the Catskills, where we both spend our summers with our families. The Eagle’s Nest was the perfect venue … it reminded me of summer camp! Amanda Espie, our event planner, designed all of the details to complete the camp feel. Our guests stayed in rustic cabins right on the property and the owner, Michael, happily helped us set up a campfire complete with s’mores for the after party. It poured on our wedding day, so my dream of an outdoor wedding did not exactly happen as planned. That said, Ulysses and Jenni, our photographers, captured some priceless pictures of us outside during our special day. I could not have been happier!

Wedding Photography: Ulysses Photography / Event Design: AME Event Planning / Floral Design: Flowers On The Porch / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: The Eagle’s Nest / Bride’s Dress: Enzoani / Bride’s Shoes: Orchabelle / Bridesmaid Dresses: Donna Morgan / Make-up: Sue at Villa Roma / Hair: Jenn at Hair Expression / Wedding Invitations: Checkerboards

I am a certified sap, so when my peepers saw that this cute as can be couple hosted their gorgeous reception at the same venue the bride’s parents did years ago, I must admit a big goofy grin somehow landed on my face. I mean, think about how special that would be! Before I go into full sap mode, we must talk about the gorgeousness captured by Sarah Postma Photography – it’s just traditional elegance done so right. From the invites to the flowers, it all makes for a very pretty full gallery of images, mostly for saps like me.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…The decision to have our wedding ceremony in the church I went to growing up came easily.  However, finding the perfect reception venue proved to be a bit more challenging.  We knew immediately that we wanted some place that had a lot character and felt warm and intimate.  After looking at several places and not feeling like anything was really a perfect fit, my mom suggested that we visit The Tuxedo Club.   It was the place they had had their wedding reception over 20 years ago and although I had grown up only 20 minutes away, I had never been there.  Chris and I both knew within seconds of walking in that it was the perfect place!  Having been built in the 1920s, it was full of vintage charm and it had the intimate feeling of someone’s home, not to mention a beautiful lake as the backdrop.

Having found the perfect setting we got to work on all of the details.  Our budget was fairly small, so we wanted to tackle as many projects ourselves as possible!  I had tons of fun designing and making all of the paper goods from save the dates and invitations, to programs and escort cards.  In order to incorporate some of the vintage feel, we made pins out of vintage style buttons and used them to attach the escort cards to a large frame.  We also collected vintage style frames and displayed lots of family photos throughout the venue.  The guests loved looking at them and it definitely contributed to the intimate, homey feel of the day.  Instead of a traditional guestbook, we let our guests have fun taking instant pictures of themselves with a Fuji Instax camera!  We also made our own chocolates to give to our guests as favors!

On the day of the wedding, everything came together beautifully!  We had amazing weather (after a cold and rainy spring) which allowed our guests to enjoy the beauty of the lake while having cocktails on the patio.  Denise Fasanello, who understood our vision perfectly, made the most gorgeous bouquets and centerpieces, full of peonies, ranunculus, and other spring flowers.  Our photographer, Sarah Postma, and videographer, GT Modern Creations, did a fabulous job capturing all the beautiful and fun memories of the day!  It was truly a fairy tale wedding and we will never forget it!

Wedding Photography: Sarah Postma Photography / Wedding Cinematography: GT Modern Creations / Floral Design: Denise Fasanello Floral Design / Ceremony Location: Church of the Presentation / Reception Location: The Tuxedo Club / Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca via Helen Bohn Bridal / Hair: Total Concept Salon / Make-up: Joanne Silvano / Groom’s Attire: Biltmore Tuxedos / Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor / Wedding Cake: Lotito’s Deli / DJ: Dynamic Productions

Okay, it’s official. I need to get my booty to the Hudson River Valley. It’s beyond gorgeous. The perfect locale for a wedding. This adorable couple had the right idea when they fled The City and headed for the hills. And the proof is in the pictures from none other than Robert and Kathleen Photography. These two have done it again and it’s all here in the gallery for us to devour on this lovely Friday morning!

Click here to see entire image gallery!

From Robert and Kathleen Photography: There are some couples that seem to say a thousand words to one another without actually speaking at all. Ashley and Alex are one of those couples and it was never more evident than on their wedding day. It started from the very first moment they laid eyes on each other that day during their first look on the winding dirt road leading out to the golf course of the country club. While Alex stood there waiting to feel Ashley’s hand gently touch him on his shoulder, he held his hands together in an effort to contain his nervous excitement. Although he couldn’t see her, Ashely was doing nearly the same thing as she walked toward him grinning ear to ear, trying to keep in all the emotions she was feeling as she was about to see Alex. When they faced each other, it all came to the surface. The flurry of emotion between the two of them came flooding out through the sweet expressions on their faces, the way they grasped each other’s hands and how they would gently touch each other’s face when the kissed. That connection stayed strong all night long, each of them knowing exactly how the other felt with the simple touch of a hand or glance. As they signed their Ketubah surrounded by their closest family and friends, they held hands tightly and look over at one another as if they were each trying to reassure the other that this all really was happening. As they exchanged vows, they did so not only with their words but also with their unspoken support in the form of a loving glance or squeeze of the hand. When the night came to an end and the last dance was played Ashley and Alex were out in the middle of the dance floor, holding one another tight and staring into each other’s eyes. In that moment that one look said more than any words every could.

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Hair: Brittany DiGiacomo / Make-up: Meredith Hayman / Flowers: Lee Vazquez Floral Design / Bridal Gown: Watters / Bridal Shop: Lovely Bridal Shop / Tablecards: Calligraphy by Bride’s Mother / Ceremony and Reception Location: Highlands Country Club / Reception Entertainment: Fevah Dream

My favorite part about this Hudson Valley wedding is not the lovely, lilac and lavender-hued flowers, not the stunning old New England barn and not even the breathtaking photography by Maggie Harkov.  My favorite part has got to be the light-up-a-room grin of the beautiful bride.  I am crazy about couples who can crack each other up and these two must have some pretty sore cheeks from all the smiling they were doing on their big day.  Click here to see even more!

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From the Bride… The truth is I have been planning my wedding since I was a little girl growing up in Portland, Oregon.  I even have a binder with clippings from bridal magazines dating back to 1995.  To spill my dirty little secret, I was also an avid SMP reader long before getting engaged.  A fact that only a few of my closets friends knew, but once they got engaged, I’d send them over to SMP knowing the site would inspire gorgeous weddings.  I had multiple versions of my dream wedding all planned out. All I needed to find was “the one.”

After years of living only blocks apart in Brooklyn, NY, Greg and I met on match.com. We frequented the same restaurant, bars and gym but it took an online wink to bring the two of us together. After two years of dating, Greg surprised me by proposing on a Monday evening in October.

We spent the first few months of our engagement trying to decide where to get married.  I grew up in Portland, OR and he grew up in Washington DC.  We toyed with idea of getting married in Nantucket where Greg’s family vacations, but ultimately decided to get married in NY.  Despite loving the city, I really didn’t want an urban wedding.  I wanted something rustic and charming.  My dream wedding at the time was actually inspired by a Style Me Pretty post from June 2008.  I fell in love with this wedding and from that moment on knew I wanted to get married in a barn. One day, a friend emailed me a link to a barn a former co-worker was getting married at.  With the barn being 2 ½ hours north of NYC and it now being the dead of winter, we had a little difficulty getting up to see the space.  But after a few snow storms, we were finally able to drive up.  Even covered in blankets of snow, I could tell that the Circa 1799 Barn, and the farm it was situated on, was the perfect place for our wedding.  Rustic and charming was exactly what it was.

With the place and date finalized, we set out on creating the perfect vision for our wedding.  The color palate and table settings were inspired by a Sunday Suppers blog post that featured burlap table runners, rustic dishtowels as napkins, and monochromatic bunches of flowers in various shades of purple.  From the mason jars as water glasses and the 140 dishtowels we personally ironed to the mini clothespins we attached the menus with – I tried to capture the perfect casual and charming style.

We tackled as many DIY projects as we could – printing the programs, table numbers and seating cards at home mimicking our invitation suite, printing our programs and tucking them into individual muslin bags, enlisting the help of friends and family to string lights in the barn, clip the menus to the napkins, etc.  One of our groomsmen even made the chalkboard we used for table assignments.  The little details really made a big impact.  People raved about all our hard work.

The day of the wedding was everything and more that I could have dreamed of.  Putting my dress on was one of the highlights of the day.  It’s when I started to feel like a true bride, getting ready to marry the love of my life.  By the time the ceremony rolled around, I could hardly believe it was finally here. I had lost my dad eight years ago and the thought of walking down the aisle without him was definitely the hardest part of my day.  But my Uncle Jim was there and looking back on the pictures, I was smiling and looking forward at my husband the whole walk down the aisle.  All I could think about was marrying Greg.

The ceremony was so personal.  The celebrant that married us took the time to ask our friends and family to write down advice and messages that our bridal party read out loud during the service. From the ceremony it was cocktail hour, taking place outside the barn on the lovely grass field, under the trees.  The weather cooperated with us better than I thought possible.  From there was dinner and dancing.  It was such a whirlwind of amazing speeches, delicious food, and boogying on the dance floor all night long. After the band shut down, there was a bonfire and smores, which was the most perfect way to end our evening, surrounded by our nearest and dearest making smores in the middle of a field.

We were so lucky to have Maggie Harkov taking our pictures.  We could not be more thrilled with the way everything turned out, and are so happy to have these memories to carry with us throughout our lives.

Wedding Photographer: Maggie Harkov / Floral Design: Gardenia Organic / Wedding Venue: The Circa 1799 Barn / Invitations & Paper Goods: Hello!Lucky / Celebrant: Murphy Birdsall / Day of Coordinator: Mary Shimkin of The Circa 1799 Barn / Catering: The Marketplace Catering / Hair: Shine Hair Spa / Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Teresa Broadwell / DJ: DJ Gaza of 74 Events / Rentals: Mahaiwe Tent & Party Rentals / Wedding Dress: Marisa / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Gap (Khakis & Blazers) + Banana Republic (Ties) / Napkins: Ikea / Ring Bearer Bowl: Paloma’s Nest / Custom Cake Toppers: Goose Grease / Custom Hanger: Lila Frances / Flip Flops: Old Navy

There isn’t a rule in the Wedding Planning Handbook that says high-maintenance = high style, and this is just the wedding to prove that. The delegating duo in this darling affair picked vendors they loved, and then just let it all fall into place. The October occasion ended up being a perfect fall fair, and the proof is in the pudding…or in this case, the proof is in all the lovely images by Uplift Photography in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… I’m a veterinary student, which left very little time to plan and obsess over wedding details. We picked the Garrison because it offered so much at the same location (ceremony and reception space, the food, the cake, all the tables and chairs, etc). We also wanted to have the ceremony outside, and with a mid-October wedding, having the option of a covered space took a lot of the stress out of our day. We also picked vendors who had great style, and just trusted them to do what they do best.

My (now) husband took charge of the music, since that was important to him. We went with some non-traditional choices; I walked down the aisle to Tom Petty’s “Here Comes My Girl,” a family friend become ordained to give a very personal ceremony, and we had a small wedding party.  We also had more traditional parts of the day; the white dress, wedding cake, and a father-daughter dance. Overall it really fit us, and we had a great time!

My advice: pick good people to work with, and delegate!

Wedding Photography: Jade O’Connell of Uplift Photography / Floral & Event Design: Steven Bruce Design / Ceremony & Reception Location: The Garrison / Bride’s Dress: Melissa Sweet via Priscilla of Boston / Catering & Wedding Cake: The Garrison / DJ: Bri Swatek of Spinning with Style / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Wedding Invitations: Greenwich Letterpress

This beautiful Hudson Valley affair is fabulously classic with loads of sentimental touches topped off with absolutely stunning florals from Geranium Lake Flowers. Could her bouquet be any more cheerful and perfect? The sweet as can be couple filled their day with tradition and nods to their loving families, and the result is a day they will never forget and one we get to enjoy. For even more, check out the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Alex and I met at Homecoming at our alma mater.  I was a senior in college and he was an alumnus (we did not overlap at school). We hit it off over a conversation about his upcoming trip to Argentina and his desire to learn to tango in preparation. I had studied abroad in Buenos Aires but didn’t have the heart to tell him that he did not need to know tango. Our first date was a tango lesson!

Our second date was when everything just clicked. We lived in Philadelphia at the time. We went to Tinto for a phenomenal tapas dinner. It was pouring so we sprinted to a bar down the block.  The bar ended up having a photo booth. We jumped in to take photos and our first kiss was on the third photo! I still have it in my wallet. (Ever since, we have made a point of using the photo booth whenever we come across one in our travels.)

Our wedding look was inspired by Alex’s family plaid.  We have strong connections to our families and it was important to us to weave pieces of both families into this event that joins them together.  From Alex’s family, we chose the plaid color scheme, had our ceremony officiated by a close family friend, and held the wedding in Alex’s home town at the club where he once caddied. From my family, I wore my cousin’s (MOH) veil, wrapped my bouquet in my great-grandmother’s handkerchief that my mom used in her wedding, wore my grandmother’s ring on my left hand and put a silver pence from my father’s family in each of our shoes.  From each other, Alex wore monogrammed cufflinks and I wore blue shoes from Argentina, which were both the first gifts we gave each other. Combining these elements made our wedding a deeply personal event that celebrated the joining of our families and their traditions.

The wedding flowers were really important to me since my grandmother, who passed away when I was young, was an avid gardener and flower arranger. My last memory of my grandmother is her teaching me how to put together an intricate arrangement of flowers from her garden. With that in mind, I worked with Kim Foren of Geranium Lake to create fresh, luscious, playful bouquets and arrangements highlighted by bright blues, greens and yellows. I am a fan of succulents, which Kim incorporated throughout. The bridesmaids’ and my bouquets were primarily yellow with green accents. The yellow calla lily that appeared in my bouquet was also on Alex’s boutonniere. The ceremony took place under a giant oak tree (which we incorporated into the groomsmen’s ties), and the aisle and altar area were accented with bright blue hyacinths and lemons.

We wanted a simple wedding cake that was still fun and tied into the rest of our wedding. Our one-tier yellow cake (Alex is picky – no chocolate cake for him!) with white frosting, yellow polka dots and blue ribbon around the base was balanced on top of a clear vase and topped with flowers and lemons.

Although Hurricane Earl missed us, our outdoor ceremony experienced high winds that swept my cathedral length veil straight up in the air where it hung for a second and then off my head.  It floated towards the Hudson River; the crowd gasped; my cousin/MOH snatched it one handed before it flew over the wall.  She had a strong incentive since, after all, it is her veil.  We have re-watched it on video since and it is quite a sequence.

Our favorite detail of the wedding was the silver pence, because it was a complete surprise to us!  The day before, my mom gave us each a six pence piece that my father’s family had used at all of their weddings.  We were thrilled to incorporate something with such a long family tradition.  Alex was distraught the day after our wedding when he thought he had lost it.  As luck would have it, on the last day of our honeymoon, it fell out of Alex’s sock!

Floral Design: Kim Foren of Geranium Lake Flowers / Wedding Photography: Elena Gorelik Photography / Wedding Venue: Sleepy Hollow Country Club / Catering: Sleepy Hollow Country Club / Engagement Ring: Tiffany & Co. / Wedding Bands: Zell’s / Wedding Dress: Christos (Marisel) via Belle Vie Bridal Couture / Veil: Borrowed from Maid of Honor, Cousin of the Bride / Bride’s Ceremony Shoes: Purchased in Argentina, Gift from The Groom / Bride’s Reception Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Groom’s Attire: Rock’s Custom Tailor / Groom’s Shoes: Johnston & Murphy / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom, Groomsmen, Officiant & Family Ties: Vineyard Vines / Rehearsal Dinner: Vintage Bar & Restaurant / Wedding Cake: Tarrytown Bakery / Accomodations: The Ritz-Carlton / Music: Rhythm Nights of Hank Lane Music / Makeup: The Ritz-Carlton Spa / Officiant: Friend of the Family / Transportation: The Ritz-Carlton / Wedding Invitations: The Bride / Groom’s Cufflinks: Tiffany & Co. / Groom’s Watch: TAG Heuer / Dance Lessons: Arthur Murray Studios / Honeymoon Planning: Sharon Elsen of Cardoza-Bungey Travel