New York Weddings

This wedding captured by Jennifer Rau Photography has a long list of reasons to shine. At first glance, it’s a perfect backyard affair nestled in-between the sea and a gorgeous Hamptons cottage. But if you dig a bit deeper, you’ll start to see that it is a day packed with sentiment and a whole lot of soul. Held at the Bride’s childhood summer home, it’s full of details paired down to only the most meaningful; details that pay homage to the Bride’s late father, an amazing writer, and moments that brought this day back to the tree where the Bride played as a little girl. This is one of those warm and fuzzy one’s that has reminded me EXACTLY why I love weddings so. See even more right here.

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From the Bride…  I first came up with the idea for my wedding because I wanted to have a rustic Hamptons wedding. Our backyard is where my dearest memories in the summer. My dad was the biggest influence in my life and after he passed away I wanted to honor his life. I decided to buy an old vintage typewriter and type all the menus by hand onto library cards, and used my father’s book titles as the table numbers. I went around Santa Monica and to all the flea markets in LA trying to find first editions of all his books to place on the tables. It was then that my wedding was to have a book theme, with Happily Ever After as the inspiration.  I wanted to get married under the tree that I had swung on a tree swing as a little girl. I had no wedding planner, it was my idea from start to finish including designing the menu completely. The color palette was vivid poppy with touches of orange.

Wedding Photography: Jennifer Rau Photography / Wedding Venue: Bride’s Family’s Hamptons Home in Sagaponack, New York / Floral Design: Thorn Bird Floral Boutique / Wedding Catering: Art of Eating / Wedding Cake: A Simple Cake / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo

This lovely bride literally fell head over heels for her sweet, sweet groom and the love story that followed was one that could produce a wedding so chic and beautiful it will never be forgotten. The two teamed up with Jubilee Events to create the romantic soiree and made the second most important decision of their wedding (first being the “She said yes!” moment) when they hired the talent that is Robert & Kathleen Photographers to capture their big day. Who just so happened to fill a gallery with hundreds of pretty moments – so enjoy!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

If you’re dying for a little more of this sweet, sweet soiree, grab the tissues and take a peek at Vintage Cinema’s view.

Our story began in Civil Procedure class during our first semester of law school when I literally fell head over heels for my future husband.  But, instead of sitting behind me laughing at the colossal klutz I had just proved myself to be, Ben quickly jumped out of his chair and picked me up.  And, well, he’s been picking me up and carrying me ever since. 

We always joke that we did things just a little backwards.  We started dating in 2008, moved in together in 2009, and by 2010 we were geographically separated and engaged.  Now, we are married and currently living across the world from one another due to my commitment with the Air Force.  So, in those moments when I turn over in my bed and wish he was here, I can relive this incredible wedding day where I made a promise for a lifetime thanks to these genius photos from Robert & Kathleen and video from Jim Altieri.  

Being a geographically separated couple, it was virtually impossible for us to plan a wedding without help.  Enter the amazing talents of Diana from Jubilee Events.  She quickly signed up for the difficult job of being our eyes and ears and developed a plan to reflect us—a New York couple who met by way of Arizona via Colorado and Virginia now living on two separate continents.  She introduced us to some seriously incredible vendors, including the gorgeously skilled Nichole of Coral Pheasant, who created our wedding paper.  We had the idea of naming our tables after places in the world that meant something to both of us and telling our story on each table card, so our friends and family could get to know us better.  Nichole did an incredible job of bringing these stories to life.

One vendor we knew we had to incorporate was the chocolatiers of Lilly’s Homemade Chocolate in Tremont, OH, who we met while we lived in Cleveland.  Ben and I spent many weekends in this underrated city sipping our favorite drinks, mine a French 77 and Ben’s an Old Fashioned, while devouring Lilly’s mouthwatering chocolate confections.   So, we elicited the help of Lilly’s to create epically delicious treats inspired by both signature drinks for all of our guests to enjoy. 

Probably one of the most important touches of our wedding involved the handiwork of Ben’s step-father, who handcrafted the base for our cake and our escort card holder out of reclaimed wood from a 200 year old barn on his parents’ property.  It was a gorgeous, rustic touch all the way from upstate New York, where Ben was born and raised.  Also, Ben’s mom provided my something old and borrowed—an incredible vintage necklace from the 1800s given as a wedding gift to Ben’s great-grandmother, and she handmade all of the fascinators my bridesmaids and I wore.

Additionally, some of our photos were taken in places I fondly remember from my childhood.  My family is an avid supporter of the local fire department.  My father, uncle, and brother are all members, totaling over 75 years of service, so my family knew it would be the best place to welcome Ben to our family, and he spent his morning before the wedding with his groomsmen and parents at the local department, while my bridesmaids and I spent our time just down the road in my childhood home.     

In the end, Ben and I wanted to make sure we never lost sight of the purpose of this day.  So five months before our wedding, on Christmas Day, instead of exchanging presents, we exchanged our wedding vows.  We were preparing a traditional Catholic ceremony, including traditional vows, but we wanted to make sure to also personalize our messages to each other.  Also being a traditional couple, we decided not to see each other before the ceremony.  So we wanted to make our personal promises to each other in private, and before we embarked on this incredible journey together.  We decided on Christmas, and in the quiet of our little home, we read our vows out loud to each other.  We displayed them at our reception, as a reminder of the promises we made to each other months before.  And, I’ve carried those same vows across the world, even if I couldn’t carry him with me.

Photographer: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Videography: Vintage Cinema / Wedding Gown: Kenneth Pool / Bridal Salon: Kleinfeld Bridal /Bridesmaid’s Dresses: JLM Occasions / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair: Diane Cuomo / Hair Pieces: Handmade by the Groom’s mother / Make-up: Andrea Gamble from Lola Loves Makeup / Event Planning & Design: Diana Chouinard from Jubilee Events / Flowers: Rountree Flowers / Paper: Coral Pheasant / Ceremony Location: St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Syosset, New York / Reception Location: Fox Hollow / Linens: La Tavola / Band: The Elements

Bachelorette parties are the best, don’t you think?  I mean, really, who doesn’t love spending an entire day/weekend bonding with the besties?  Hands down, one of the most amazing memories you’ll ever make.  And this darling bride-to-be?  Well, she most certainly knows how to throw a party.  With the help of Picture This Plan That, her dream of an intimate seaside fête in The Hamptons became an absolute (and totally adorable) reality.  It’s a cozy celebration chock-full of sweetness, all captured in pretty, pretty images by Amy Rizzuto Photography.  See them all here.

From the Bride… Mason jars filled with soft wheat grass, pretty porcelain plates decorated with blue trim, cream cloth napkins clasped together with tiny white seashells, overly-loved book pages and a lace tablecloth laid delicately on the sand — these are just a few of the details that made up my bachelorette party in the Hamptons!

As a bride, I knew I wanted every detail of my wedding process to be unique! Through spending the last few summers in the Hamptons, I completely fell in love with the relaxed and laid-back feeling I have when I am there. I can’t imagine anything more perfect than soaking up the sun on the beach, reading a great book and hanging out with my favorite girlfriends. This is the experience I wanted to give my bridesmaids! I invited them up to stay with me at Gurney’s Inn in Montauk, New York, for the weekend. As the sun set over the horizon, we shared cocktails, a “cake pop” cake, and plenty of laughs, all to set to the gentle sound of the crashing waves behind us. I used our favorite old love stories to decorate the delicate lace tablecloth, along with a garland of worn sea wood and mason jars filled with simple, cream-colored flowers. Tiny scrolls with each girl’s name in loopy script acted as adorable DIY place cards that perfectly fit the theme!  I can’t imagine a more perfect way to celebrate my bachelorette party, and I know I will treasure these memories with my girlfriends forever!

Photography: Amy Rizzuto Photography / Party Venue: Gurney’s Inn in Montauk, New York / Event Design + Planning: Picture This Plan That / Floral Design: Wittendale’s Florist / Cake: Nadine Holewski Designs / Invitations: DIY by the Bride / Bride’s Dress: Urban Outfitters

East Hampton Point is one of the most classic venues, and when we see the way Samuel Lippke Studios captures its beauty with the timeless elegance and charm of these nuptials, we just melt. Complete with the Hamptons’ signature shingles and the couple’s picture perfect nautical theme, this wedding simply lights up our world.  The bride and groom’s witty way of easily blending boat shoes and sunglasses with  Jimmy Choos and white roses is just one part of this wedding that makes it downright lovable. Don’t fret, there are plenty more pictures in the gallery for you right here.

From Samuel Lippke Studios… We loved the nautical Hamptons theme that the couple embraced so naturally. This was really a one of a kind wedding. You will love everything, from the bride’s stunning Reem Acra gown to the groom and his groomsmen’s stylish sailor garb!

From the Bride… We were married in the Hamptons — it was an easy decision as we’re both from NYC and have been spending our summers there forever. We also love boating, so the Hamptons and boating set the theme: Hamptons chic with a nautical twist.

Wedding Photography: Samuel Lippke Studios / Wedding Venue: East Hampton Point in East Hampton, New York / Wedding Planning + Coordination: Francesca Events / Entertainment: Vali Reggae Band / DJ: DJ Kieren Taylor / Transportation: Colonial Transportation / Wedding Dress: Reem Acra / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Facetime Beauty Concierge

If I had one word to describe this wedding, it would be H-A-P-P-Y! A neutral black and white palette splashed with pops of green created the perfect modern affair for this California couple who wanted to bring a touch of the west coast back east. It’s hard not to smile while gazing at these perfect photos by Levi Stolove Photography, especially when the bride and groom are so absolutely in-love. Keep your spirits high and peek at the rest of the gallery right over here!

From the Bride… Our biggest challenge was bringing our lives in California to the east coast, all while keeping within a traditional, Saturday night, formal affair. We used little details like fonts and a minimalist color palette to keep it fresh and highlight our personalities. One thing we were really excited about was making table cards named after special moments in our relationship. We had a J date table because that is where we met! We enjoyed sharing our story with all of our guests and inviting people into our life together. We also crafted many of our details together — making things together is something we both enjoy. 

Wedding Photography: Levi Stolove Photography / Wedding Venue: A Private Venue Owned by Seasons of Southampton in Southampton, New York / Event Planning: Seasons of Southampton / Floral Design: Robin Preiato of Thorn Bird Floral Boutique / Event Design: The Bride & Groom / Wedding Invitations: Paper Source / Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo / Shoes: Vans

This East Hamptons wedding is all about when chic meets the beach and I’m loving each and every inch of this traditional fete captured by Jennifer Davis Photography and designed by Jill Gordon Celebrate. The sweet seaside church, the pretty pink peonies, and the gorgeous couple all add up to make one stunning affair. Trust me, you’ve got to head over to the gallery to see this beauty unfold.

   Click here to see the FULL wedding!

From the bride…Ramin and I met on Easter Sunday 2002 on a Metro North commuter train from New York City to New Haven, Connecticut. I was returning from Easter brunch with my family and Ramin was returning from the wedding of a close friend in Baltimore, Maryland.  Over the next 7 years, we remained friends and dated on and off until reuniting in May 2009. In January 2010, Ramin and I planned a trip to visit his mother who lived in San Francisco. Unbeknownst to me, Ramin also planned a surprise weekend in Napa Valley, California where he proposed.  We had spent several weekends on the Eastern end of Long Island, specifically Montauk and East Hampton the summer before our engagement. We loved the relaxed and down–to-earth feeling of the seaside towns.  We knew it was the perfect location for our big day.

I have a serious soft spot in my heart for some pretty, pretty beach nuptials – and this gorgeous East Hampton affair just climbed to the top of my favorites list.  The combination of those breathtaking ocean views with the sophisticated, laid back vibe and two seriously adorable college sweethearts is all kinds of beachy wonderful… and that glorious Amsale gown?  Yep, I am in love.  Lauren Gabrielle Photography captured every last ounce of pretty and trust me when I tell you it doesn’t get any more fabulous.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Lauren of Lauren Gabrielle Photography… He first set eyes on her at a college sorority blind date party. The funny thing is, Mike didn’t attend the party intending to meet a girl — he decided to go with some friends just to have fun. Little did he know he would meet his future wife, Mika. At first they were just friends, but over time they knew something special was happening to their relationship. Mike proposed to Mika near his childhood home on Rockaway Beach … it was the perfect setting for such a romantic occasion with the smooth sand, crashing waves, soft breeze, and the sentiment that Mike for this beach. Mika and Mike decided they also wanted to have a beach wedding and figured that the Hamptons was the easiest “destination wedding” that they could have within driving distance from Manhattan. Their original plan of renting a house and setting up a tent for the reception didn’t pan out, but luckily they somehow stumbled upon Race Lane. As soon as they walked into the space, they knew it was just what they were looking for! It had a great indoor/outdoor space, lovely decor, delicious food and great owners. The owner’s wife even created all of the table arrangements herself! As for the music, Mika’s childhood friend plays in a band so it worked out great that they were able to have him as part of a trio to play music at the ceremony and reception. Overall, all the elements of the day came together perfectly, and it was such a pleasure to witness and photograph the love between this beautiful couple!

Wedding Photography: Lauren Gabrielle Photography / Ceremony: The Beach at The Hermitage at Napeague in Amagansett, New York / Reception Venue + Table Floral Arrangements: Race Lane in East Hampton, New York / Saxophonist: Tacuma Bradley, A Friend of the Bride / Wedding Dress: Amsale / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Rehearsal Dinner: Main Beach in East Hampton, New York / Rehearsal Dinner Catering: Food for Forks

Seaside soirees always go beeline for my heart strings. They strum away and don’t let go. With their dreamy light, gorgeous ocean views and the feel of being beachside all makes my wedding-obsessed heart sing a little louder. So this Montauk beauty captured by The Popes is obviously strumming my seaside-loving heart strings this morning, and it’s sure to do the same for you! See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… On the evening of November 15, 2007, we had both decided last minute to take a break from our busy careers and attend a charity event in lower Manhattan with our friends. It was a stormy evening, but my father nudged me to go by saying, “You should go because you never know who you are going to meet!” Upon arriving at the event, I bumped into a friend who attended Miami University with me for two years. Later that night, he introduced me to Stephen because for two years prior to transferring to Miami University, he had attended SMU with Stephen. We talked and danced the night away! Every day, month and year since that moment we met has helped to mold us into the best versions of ourselves, which makes us a strong duo. 

Stephen moved to New York City in July of 2000, and I moved to the Big Apple in January of 2004. While we both love our frenetic city lives, we share the same passion for escaping to the East End of Long Island. We had both had summer share houses in the Hamptons with our separate group of friends up until the year we met, when we started to rent house a house together with our friends. During the summer of 2010, we stumbled across a home in Amagansett that we both just knew would be a perfect home for us to start the next journey of our lives together as a married couple. It is tucked in the woods, and some of our favorite times as a couple include sitting on our deck sharing a bottle of wine as we gaze at the stars or listen to the trees rustle. It is so peaceful and it gives us a chance to relax. We love taking walks all year round on Atlantic Avenue Beach, which is the beach where The Popes photographed us on our wedding day following the ceremony. We both travel for work, so our weekend escapes outside the city give us the chance to catch up with one another, which made it the natural choice for our wedding location. We also really wanted to share our experience in the Hamptons with our families and dearest friends. We realized it was quite a trek for a lot of our guests but were confident that it would be a great escapade for those that were able to attend.

As we were choosing our color palette, we really wanted to embrace the natural light and colors of the East End. We envisioned the reflection of the sun and moon on the water, the sandy beaches and the color variations in the sky at sunset.  The core colors of our palette were dark navy blue, light blue and ivory. Guests commented on how beautiful and unique our flower arrangements were because we added dark berries and light/blue lavender thistle, which really popped and helped to make these colors feel more appropriate for autumn rather than nautical/summer colors. We both love cheesecake, so we ordered a fun variety from Eileen’s Cheesecake in New York — flavors included were chocolate, pumpkin, strawberry, snickers, caramel pecan, blueberry, pina colada, Maker’s Mark chocolate bourbon and grasshopper, to name a few. All of our guests loved our band choice. Super T and the Tyrone Smith Review had everyone shaking their groove thing all night long. They played a special rendition of “Just like Heaven” by The Cure as our first dance, which was incredible. We did not have a traditional sit-down dinner, and so most of the celebrating was done on the dance floor, up onstage with Super T or in a conga line.

Wedding Photography: The Popes / Reception Venue: Montauk Yacht Club in Montauk, New York / Floral Design: Amagansett Flowers by Beth / Wedding Coordination: Jill Gordon Celebrate / Wedding Officiant: Reverend Steven Howarth / Catering: Montauk Yacht Club / Wedding Cheesecakes: Eileen’s Special Cheesecake / Bar Service: Montauk Yacht Club / Lighting + Linens: Jill Gordon Celebrate / Event Rentals: Party Rentals Ltd. / Wedding Invitations: Village Invites / Save-the-Dates: Alice B. King Fine Stationery & Gifts / Entertainment: Super T and the Tyrone Smith Revue / Transportation: Sunny Limos / Wedding Dress + Veil: Melissa Sweet for Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Earrings: London Jewelers / Hair + Makeup: Hiroko Takada / Groom’s Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna / Accommodations: Montauk Yacht Club + Montauk Manor / Rehearsal Dinner: East Hampton Point / Wedding Registry: Sur la Table, Michael C. Fina + Bloomingdale’s

Though this East Hampton wedding was warm enough for the stunning bride to don a strapless gown on the beach, the colors and feel of the day evoke the perfect ambiance for today’s wintery air. The always fabulous Karen Hill Photography was the lady behind the lens, and boy are we glad she was. She captured the elegant beauty of this wedding phenomenally. Make sure to save time for the rest right here in the full image gallery!

The first time Matt and I went to East Hampton, NY for a mini-vacation, I fell in love with a church at the town entrance. One year later, we were saying our vows in front of close friends and family in that exact church. Our story, however, began eight years earlier at Williams College where we were in the same circle of friends but only started really spending time together our Junior year. The summer before our Senior year on campus we started dating. From there we went to New York City and have never left each other’s sides.

When Matt proposed on our first trip together to California, I immediately started thinking about the church that I had fallen in love with. For our wedding day, we both knew that family and friends would be the most integral piece. I’m the oldest of six and Matt is one of three so our families are a major constant in our relationship. I grew up going to the Hamptons every summer and knew that I wanted to incorporate our summer home in Quogue into the weekend celebration. With Quogue as our weekend start point, we finalized plans for the ceremony at St. Luke’s Episcopal and the reception at The Maidstone Club, both in East Hampton, NY.

The inspiration for our wedding was found in the setting itself. Getting ready in my home incorporated family in every way. The warm colors and environment of the church combined with the scale of The Maidstone was a reminder of the intimacy we wanted our guests to feel while in an elegant setting. We incorporated a lot of white combined with silver and greys to capture the muted tones of the beach in Fall. Then of course, we had some splashes of purple as a nod to our college colors.

Small details like our guestbook of Hamptons scenery and the comfort food at the after-party we hoped would impart the love and care that we had put into planning this weekend. Jill Gordon Celebrate was with us every step of the way. With Jill’s guidance and advice, and of course coordination considering we were coming from all over the island, we were able to have the wedding of our dreams.

Photographer: Karen Hill Photography / Ceremony: St. Luke’s Episcopal / Reception: The Maidstone Club / Stationary: Elum, from Village Invites in NYC / Dress: Marchesa / Tuxedo: Joseph Abboud / Florist: Stone Kelly, NYC / Lighting: Matt Murphy Event Lighting / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. / Linen: Wildflower Linens / Band: Groove Society from Marianne Bennet Productions |Element Music / Caterer: The Maidstone Club / Cake: Sacred Sweets / Wedding Planning & Design: Jill Gordon Celebrate

This gorgeous wedding by Todd France Photography embodies that modern elegance you can’t really put to words. Understated and classic yet incredibly stylish – it’s a wedding that will never go out of style, but is unique and oh so fabulous. It’s an affair that will make your Friday feel so much more glamourous, and really – how can you go wrong with that? See even more of this elegant beauty here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Todd France Photography…Sean is the hotelier and restaurateur behind such massive successes as The Jane, The Maritime, and The Bowery Hotels, and Rachelle is the founder of guestofaguest.com. The couple embodies modern elegance and style both in their work and in their personal lives, so it was no doubt that their wedding was a tasteful affair to be remembered. Rachelle’s dress was designed by Cynthia Rowley, who was on hand to make sure everything was as beautiful as can be.  The couple celebrated on the gorgeous Montauk property of photographer Peter Beard. Guests were treated to a lush, intimate setting complete with a flower-petal lined pathway which led to the tent where the reception was held.  Inside, the celebration continued into the evening amongst family, friends, music, and delicious food.

Wedding Photography: Todd France Photography / Event Production: Jenny Landey Productions Inc. / Ceremony + Reception Location: Private Montauk Oceanfront Property / Tent: Sperry Tents / Lighting: Luminous Designs / Wedding Gown + Veil: Cynthia Rowley / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo + Stuart Weitzman / Hair + Make-up: Ric Pipino / Floral Design: Flower Girl NYC / Catering: Debbie Geppert Caterers / Wedding Cake: Sacred Sweets

Every day I wake up and pinch myself because I love my job so much. Day after day of pretty wedding after oh-so-pretty wedding makes for a seriously amazing gig. But there are some days I have to pinch myself twice because the pretty just doesn’t seem possible – and today is one of those days. I should have seen it coming, because anything Beth Helmstetter touches I die over, and Corbin Gurkin can do no wrong in my book.  So when you put those two lovelies together and THEN add my calligraphy crush – Laura Hooper – well, you know the pretty is going to be unmeasurable. And this gorg-fest in the Hamptons has a level of pretty that just can’t be explained. So I’ll let the images do the talking, and with a gallery full of this much pretty I don’t think I’ll stop pinching myself all day…

Do you see what I mean? Have you stopped pinching yourself yet?  Have you scrolled up an down over and over just to try to process the pretty? Well take a deep breath, because the lovely Corbin Gurkin and Beth Helmstetter have even more gorgeous to share with us in the form of this adorable couple’s seaside chic rehearsal dinner. This, my friends, is a good day.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Austin and I met thirteen years ago — when he mistook me for someone else and kissed me!  I was sitting at our college hangout, when he came up from behind, planted his greeting on my cheek, and then realized that I wasn’t who he thought I was.  From that day forward, each time he saw me on campus, he came over to apologize for the confusion.  Eventually, one of those apologies became an invitation to dinner, and the rest is history. We attended Rollins College in Florida, but we’re both native New Yorkers and returned to Greenwich Village together after graduation. Several years ago, we moved west to California, where Austin proposed during one of our daily sunset walks on the beach of Santa Monica.  We later decided to make a big leap to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.  In the U.S., I worked as freelancer producer for magazines, music videos and commercials, and Austin was an actor, but when we moved to Nicaragua, we turned our focus to sustainable development, and are building environmentally conscious homes and schools.

When it came time to decide where to wed, we considered both California and Nicaragua, but because we live so far away, returning home to New York seemed like the natural choice. We retreat to the Hamptons each summer for vacation, and it holds so many happy memories, so we decided to marry in East Hampton. It was important to us to have the ceremony and reception outdoors, and fortunately we stumbled upon The LongHouse Reserve.  The moment we walked upon the Reserve’s grounds, we were moved by its extraordinary beauty.  The circular amphitheater seemed a sacred place for a ceremony, and we knew that the art sculptures, the lawns, the pond and its lily pads would be an enchanting backdrop for a celebration.

Our most profound moment came during the ceremony, when we were standing beside each other exchanging vows in the center of the amphitheater, standing on rose petals and air, encircled by the love of our family and friends.  We felt blessed in that sacred moment. Of course (of course!), walking down the aisle towards Austin felt fantastical, and he says that seeing me walk towards him was incredible.  Another delightful moment came minutes before the ceremony began, as I walked through the set-up for the cocktail hour and reception, and saw the marquee tent with its lovely chandeliers, the tables with their romantic settings, and the long bar waiting for its guests, and I knew that this completely magnificent setting was for our wedding!  Every detail we had desired (and had spent months thinking about!) came together on this one gorgeous day.  I was breathless, and so grateful to Beth Helmstetter, our wedding planner, for capturing every idea we had and realizing it.  Though some couples are anxious to greet their guests immediately after the ceremony, Austin and I really enjoyed setting off with our photographer, Corbin Gurkin, for our bride & groom shots. We got to relive the ceremony and revel in the knowledge that we had just tied the knot.  It provided us with a moment of peace in that big, beautiful, busy day.

An indelible moment was when we walked towards our reception tent as the band began to play a Jack Johnson song, and we took to the dance floor for the first time as husband and wife.  We were euphoric to begin the celebration and our lives together in such a happy way.  The cake cutter and server that we used to slice our delectable cake had been given to me as a shower gift, and my sister had them engraved with our new monogram and wedding date.  Each and every time we use that pretty silverware, we will be reminded of our wedding day  Because we are now living in Nicaragua, we wanted to infuse a bit of Latin culture into our wedding, and decided upon the band Jose Conde Y Ola Fresca, who were simply amazing.  Our family and friends spent the entire evening on the dance floor!  We both wanted to keep our wedding as green as possible, so employed local vendors who utilized regional, in-season goods.  Our caterer, Brent Newsom, served local sea bass along with the Hamptons’ famous sweet summer corn and tomatoes.  Our florist, Claire Bean, arranged seasonal flowers into our sumptuous centerpieces and bouquets.

There is a Great Gatsby feel to this New York wedding, sent to us by Timothy K. Lee Photographers. I’m not sure if its the Sperry Tent, or the grandiose florals, or the fact that the whole lavish love fest took place at the couples private home, but whatever it is, I’m eating it up with a spoon. The fashion, the decor, the whole ambiance is the definition of pure glamour. I spent hours taking in every, little detail of this affair, and now it’s your turn. Click here for the full image gallery.

Romy is a makeup artist and Justin is a real estate developer. We met through our mutual best friends Ebon and Yelena at Ebon’s birthday. The first time we met we didn’t exactly ‘remember’ each other but our friends persisted – eventually ended up in the right place at the right time again and, well, let’s just day the rest was history.

We decided to have the reception at Romy’s parent’s house and were lucky enough to have the beautiful Wolffer Vineyard right across the street.  We loved having the ceremony in the field, the cocktails at the vineyard and then the excitement and drama of walking to Romy’s parents home to a fabulous tent across the street. We were really lucky the way everything worked out.

The inspiration was a bit Belgian, a bit Edward Gorey lots of greys and natural flax linens, hits of black, pale lilacs. Lewis Miller of LMD brought in incredible pottery, objets, seashells, sea horses, lanterns – he has an incredible sensibility and a dream to work with.

My most vivid and favorite memory is going into the wine cellar right after the ceremony with Justin to catch our breath and have a moment alone together before the madness…we were both up in the clouds.

Venue: Couples Private House in Sagaponack, NY / Photographer: Timothy Lee Photographers / Event Planner: David Reinhard Events / Tent: Sperry Tents /  Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Videographer:  Hart Pictures / Floral Designer: Lewis Miller Design / Lighting: Matt Murphy Event Lighting / Invitation Designer: Bride, Romy Soleimani / Cake & Desserts: Have Your Cake, Ltd. / Wedding Gown Designer: Mayle, designed by Maid of Honor, Jane Mayle / Caterer: Olivier Cheng Catering

Love – what a trip. Such a simple little phrase with so much meaning for this lovely couple and their Southampton soirée by The Melideos. The couple used that sweet little line of text to drive the inspiration for their seaside chic celebration and to help tell their love story. And what story it is! This, my friends, is a wedding I could literally live in, and today I am going to do just that in the full gallery of images.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…The inspiration for my wedding came from a phrase that I jotted down on paper during a brainstorming session and it stuck — “Love.  What a Trip.”  It summed up the adventurous travels that led us to each other, and the crazy circumstances under which we met.  And so our European Seaside/Travel-Themed Wedding took shape.  With the theme set, it was 100x easier to let the creativity flow and then the D.I.Y. list started to grow … and grow.  I began with the wedding trailer — one of my favorite D.I.Y. experiences.  I really wanted to tell the story of our fateful meeting, so I collected all the Flip videos I had shot of the two of us over the past year and edited it together in iMovie.  Then came invitations — I used the air mail postcard theme from Minted.com and customized the colors and copy to make it unique.  Next the decor — we hand-painted all of the signage for the event on driftwood and old boards that the winter storms had blown onto our family beach.  Painting a menu board rather then printing menus saved a ton of money and gave guests that “Mom & Pop Restaurant” feel.  We also rummaged through my family homes to find heirlooms including the lace tablecloths, vintage wood table, baskets, vases, candelabras and one spectacular cameo that was pinned onto my bouquet.  And for the music there was only one choice for us — the music of the Gypsy Kings!  For cocktails and after dinner I D.I.Y’d an IPOD playlist of our favorite house and lounge tracks.  For our wedding favors I convinced my family to spend countless winter months combing the beach for heart-shaped rocks, 100 of which we turned into precious little magnets for each guess (a $40 project including magnets and glue).

Bringing in my husband’s Serbian culture and my love for the European lifestyle was also a big priority.  I was adamant about having long Tuscan-style seating instead of classic round tables.  Instead of using table numbers we used the Cyrillic lettering in the Serbian Alphabet to call out each table, decorated the gift table with Serbian books from my husband’s collection and made sure the playlist for cocktail hour included some of our favorite Serbian and Balkan music (especially Zvonko Bogdan).  We also infused Serbian dishes into our Mediterranean menu which included Paella, Porchetta, Serbian Cevapi, Gibanica and Rakija for an after dinner drink.  Driving off in a Vespa or vintage Fiat 500 was also big on my list.  While renting a Fiat 500 was completely out of my budget, borrowing my friend’s Vespa was just right — and it even matched our colors palate!  We closed out the night with a bonfire dance party, sparklers and some serious bongo playing!

And in the end it all paid off.  We were both overcome — by emotion, beauty, love, friendship, and nature.  We were completely overcome that the D.I.Y. vision that had kept us up at night was playing out right before our eyes.  Many times throughout the evening, as the sun was setting, sparklers were twinkling, the swan was swimming by, my new European family was finally on U.S. soil, the breeze was blowing across our alfresco tables, gypsies were strumming, I cried tears of absolute joy and accomplishment.  For anyone who thinks weddings aren’t for them — I was the same.  But when you put all of your creativity into a day and truly make it your own there’s no feeling like it.  I can’t wait to do it all over again in Serbia!

Wedding Photography: The Melideos / Wedding Cinematography: Vintage Cinema / Florals: Flowers by Rori / Ceremony + Reception Location: Grandparent’s Home & Beach / Ceremony & Reception Music: Los Hermanos Cintron / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Bride’s Shoes: Luiza Barcelos / Wedding Dress: San Patrick / Veil: Sara Gabriel via Gabriella / Alterations: Sew Elegant /  Bride’s Hair:  Rebekah Corley of The Bridal Team / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss / Bride’s Make-up: LJ Makeup Artistry /  Catering: Fresh Flavors Catering

Anytime Christian Oth stops by for an afternoon of gorgeousness is a really good day in my book. In the wedding industry, Christian is a total celebrity. His photographs are shockingly gorgeous and have been featured in some of the most beautiful publications you could ever imagine. And yet while he’s still kind of like the cat’s meow…he also happens to be really thoughtful, really kind, really authentic. A perfect combination in my book. Well, lucky for us, Christian is spending the day with us and he’s brought along three insanely beautiful weddings and some GREAT tips for you brides out there coming up later today. First up, I couldn’t resist this picture perfect Hamptons affair. It’s proof that a stunning venue only requires simple, refined details to take it to a new level of pretty. Click here to see even more.

From Shawn, the groom, on his proposal…

I had her best friend Melissa fake an emergency to get her out of the office on Friday around 11am (I had also let her boss know so she would be able to leave).  The plan was for them to get an early lunch at a nearby restaurant, but Melissa called at the last minute and said she was so upset she couldn’t handle being in a public restaurant and that Kristen needed to meet her upstairs at the outdoor rooftop lounge.  I had the whole rooftop blocked off and was waiting for her to arrive.  She arrived on the roof at around 11:20am where she found me waiting for her. I walked her over to the corner of the rooftop with a view North (Empire State Building etc) where I had a table set up with champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and the ring there for the proposal.  She said yes and then I surprised her with a trip to Turks and Caicos for the weekend.

From the bride, Kristen…

We selected Wolffer Estate because we love the Hamptons especially in the summer, we wanted to get married outdoors and it’s so beautiful there with all the lush greenery and gorgeous white hydrangeas. I’m from New Orleans and Shawn is from Boulder so we thought it was a good compromise location that would embrace both of our personalities and tastes.

We loved our ukulele player Josh Cho who played and sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World while I walked down the aisle. He also played Jack Johnson’s Better Together for the bridesmaids to walk to.

Our gift bags that we worked so hard on were natural cotton totes that were reusable and earth friendly. The totes had a map of the Hamptons on the front and were filled with local snacks like Tate’s cookies, North Fork Potato Chips and Wolffer Estate Wine. We personalized everyone’s dinner menu with their name on it as a nice touch.

My wedding dress and veil: Vera Wang / My Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Shawn’s suit: Valentino / Shawn’s shoes: Prada / Wedding bands: Kwiat / Bridesmaids dresses: Thread / White Roses/White Hydrangeas: Sag Harbor Florist / Food and Wedding cake: Fresh Flavors / Florist: Sag Harbor Florist / Hair/Makeup: Daniel Martin and Seiji Yamader (Wall Group) / DJ: DJ Ray Jarrell and DJ Ani Quinn / Videographer: Open Eye Media / Photographer: Christian Oth

PS…For those of you who are loving the Today Show Wedding happening live, we’ve got the gorgeous images from Denis Reggie right here on SMP. Click here to see the all of the pretty!

Thank you so very much to Brian Marcus of Fred Marcus Photography for sending us today’s featured wedding. Your photographs have inspired us to no end! And of course, to Erik and Melissa for sharing their absolutely gorgeous celebration with us!

We’ve featured two totally different weddings today…the first a crisp, sophisticated beachside affair with AMAZING flowers by Karen Tran. And this one, shot by Brian Marcus…a romantic, rustic/chic style with a sense of warmth and intimacy that I love.

Two completely unique styles, two completely different weddings and yet they both evoke the same sense of romance and unabashed beauty. It just goes to show that if you let your own personality shine through, your day will be perfect…filled with a sense of style and grace that suit you and your love to a T.

We had a few really great touches that made our wedding so special for us…we gifted the women pashminas (the rolled up fabric in basket) just in case they got chilly. We had guests take B&W photos of themselves with a vintage photo booth. Because of Erik’s music connections, our band went out of their way to do special songs just for us…like David Bowie – Modern Love.

More on the way!

For those of you that don’t know about Fred Marcus Photography, it’s one of those studios where the focus is always on the couple, always on the emotion. Capturing the simple but innate beauty of the day.The perfect details and the absolute joy behind each image. And when I saw this wedding that they recently photographed, I think that I fell in love all over again.

All photographs by Brian Marcus

From the absolutely gorgeous (and by gorgeous I mean that I am a little jealous of her) bride…

We held the ceremony right in the middle of the vineyard which was such a breathtaking moment….right in the middle of the grapes! In the hours before the wedding, it poured and poured and poured, then right as I walked down the aisle the sun came out!  Such a magical moment.

My gown was by Monique Lhuillier and had a beautiful ombre (gradation effect)…  went from ivory to latte.  An absolutely gorgeous dress. Erik wore a tux by John Varvatos, a tie by Ralph Lauren and a Vest by Duncan Quinn (who also made his cufflinks). Classic elegance.

I loved this wedding the minute I laid eyes on it. Shot by the amazingly talented team at Fred Marcus Photography, the style is all about rustic, warm elegance. With some chic thrown in for good measure.

This couple is one of those really creative, fun couples that you just know threw a pretty great wedding. Erik is a partner at Hank Lane Music (who of course did the music for the event) and Melissa works in product development for Victoria’s Secret.  The wedding was held at the Wolffer Vineyard in New York.

So much more to come!

Thank you so very much to Kate Webber, the photographer who sent us today’s gorgeous wedding. Kate’s  is one of those photographers that I simply adore…her work is so unbelievably elegant, so rich in emotion, in texture, in color. If you haven’t already, spend some time on her website which is filled with eye candy and inspiration.

And, a HUGE thank you to Erin and Ted for sharing their absolutely lovely celebration with us!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Have a great weekend!

If you thought that today’s featured wedding was gorgeous, feast your eyes on the reception…

From the ridiculously talented Kate Webber…

A palette of dark blue with yellow and white accents was chosen to contrast with the deep green of the lawn and to reflect the blues of the ocean and the crisp September sky in Sagaponack. Local seasonal flowers, such as daisies, sunflowers, Queen Anne’s lace and chamomile, were used throughout the ceremony and cocktail hour to create an elegant country atmosphere.

After cocktails on the front lawn, guests made their way through a path of candlelit lanterns to a wooden fence where escort cards were pinned to the center of hundreds of sunflowers specially grown for the event by a local farmer.

Inside the tent, classic navy table cloths and centerpieces of white Phalaenopsis orchids potted in silver urns provided a more formal setting for dinner and dancing. Silver lanterns suspended from above created a romantic glow. Erin and Ted paid homage to their respective hometowns by naming the tables after favorite beaches, bays and ponds in Alaska and Sagaponack.

We have one last look coming up so don’t sign off just yet!