New York Weddings

This adorable couple met in an elementary social studies class, and even though it wasn’t love at first site, they gave into the inevitable chemistry a few years later on a Staten Island ferry ride home. And we are so glad they did! They are cute as can be – and with the help of Exquisite Affairs Productions, they created a wedding so perfectly personal, I feel like I’ve known them forever. Joseph Lin Wedding Photography packed an entire gallery full with fantastic images – and Michael Justin Films sent over a highlight film from the day. How lucky are we?

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After dating for eight years, a proposal was expected in the near future, especially when we decided to take a trip out of town on the Fourth of July holiday.  However, Gordon always has awful luck in planning any event (a “Charlie Brown” factor), and he was true to form for the proposal.  We had taken a trip to Hershey Park, where we would be making customized chocolates.  It could have been very romantic, except for the fact that we were sandwiched in between screaming kids and large tourist groups.  I learned later on that Gordon thankfully passed on this window to propose.  We then set out for the park at night to catch the fireworks…only our timing was off, and the fireworks show was more like a dud.  We skulked back to the hotel, where Gordon ordered room service.  I thought this must be it!  I lifted up the metal tray eagerly, only to find chicken fingers.  I could feel myself getting woozy.  We settled in for bed, and I shut my eyes tight, ready to call it a day.  At the last possible moment, when I thought it was never going to happen, Gordon woke me up with an open ring box in my face.  He had pulled through after all!

We wanted to eschew the traditional wedding trappings: no draped chairs, hotel banquet halls, or over-styled floral arrangements.  When we saw the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, it just felt right – a modern setting situated on the New York City coastline.  This was something that spoke to all of the Staten Island ferry rides we had taken as a couple.

We wanted the wedding to look really clean and simple, hence gray and yellow seemed like a natural choice.  In terms of style, we wanted a touch of kitsch to personalize the event.  Vintage robots played off our color schemes and our personalities as a couple.  At the end of the day, we find ways to make each other laugh, remind ourselves to seek the playful side of life and have fun together, simply put.

We both come from different cultural backgrounds, and we wanted to incorporate those elements into our wedding.  As part of our ceremony, we included the Filipino tradition of a cord and veil, as a symbol of the union of marriage and sign of mutual support of each other, binding us in a lifelong commitment to be one in mind and heart.  To bring in Gordon’s Chinese background, we held a small tea ceremony during the reception, as a way to show respect and appreciation to our family.

Our most vivid memories from the wedding day were seeing all the people we love in one room, enjoying themselves and letting loose, getting really creative with props at the photobooth or wilding out to music on the dance floor.  We also enjoyed a quiet moment together while heading to the reception in a vintage cab, which took our breath away.

Our photographer, Joe Lin, videographer, Michael Porco, and our wonderful planner, Christine Viola and Exquisite Affairs Production, made every minute memorable, truly amazing, and unforgettable.  We were never a couple that visualized our exact wedding from detail to detail but all of our vendors painted our story exactly as we would never imagine it could have been portrayed.

Photographer: Joseph Lin Wedding Photography / Event Design & Planning: Exquisite Affairs Productions / Ceremony: Our Lady of the Rosary / Reception Venue: Abigail Kirsch, The Lighthouse / Makeup: Sally Duvall / Hair: Styles on B, Stacy Pitt / Cinematography: Michael Justin Films / DJ: High Voltage Sounds DJ / Floral Design: Flowers by Emil / Stationery: Exquisite Affairs Productions / Vintage Checkered Cab: Film Cars

Rise and shine LBBers! This Manhattan couple is so chic, they seriously could have just walked out of a glossy magazine. In fact, these gorgeous images from Captured Photography by Jenny exude such a glamour that we all feel like we should be putting on our fancy pants just to spend a little time with this gorgeous couple in the city that never sleeps. So when you’ve put on your sparkly stilettos, you can meet me and my fancy pants in the full image gallery for even more of this stunning engagement sesh!

Click here for more in the full image gallery!

Jonathan and I chose to have some of our engagement photographs done in Central Park, as it is a tranquil spot but you still see the sweeping skylines of New York City in the background. It is romantic and features some of the most amazing scenery in New York City with its natural woods, lakes and walking tracks. It is one of our favorite spots to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Times Square is a quintessential New York City location. We also chose this site as Times Square represents the energetic lifestyle we live on a day to day basis. Bright lights, tall buildings and tons of people encompass the world we live in.

My first look was a white silk Diane von Furstenberg dress. I wore a black Balenciaga dress in her second look with Christian Louboutin shoes. Jonathan wore a Charles Tyrwhitt button down with a charcoal Theory blazer and jeans.

The session was extremely fun! We really connected with Jenny, our photographer.  As the shoot progressed, we just became more and more comfortable with her. It was great to be able to relax and just have fun.

Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Bride’s Dresses: Diane von Furstenberg (white) & Balenciaga (black) / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin

It really doesn’t get any more timeless and elegant than this gorgeous black and white New York City soirée. This wedding is the perfect study in NYC, from the letterpress invites featuring the couple’s favorite skyline to the antique checker cab that whisked them away, to the votive candles that hung overhead as guests danced the night away. CLY Creation was on hand to capture all the classic elements that made this day the undeniable perfection that it is and lucky for us, there’s so much more in the gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Matthew and I are both somewhat old souls, so we wanted a wedding that would be timeless, classic, and elegant. We had met and played out our love story in New York, and thus it was the natural place to be married.  In planning our wedding, we wanted to bring a New York City feel without going overboard with it. We were thinking a sophisticated black and white color scheme, black tie, lots of Sinatra. Our letterpressed invitations featured an illustration of the New York City skyline that had been drawn for us by Matthew’s sister. We wanted to keep the main invitation simple so we chose black script on white paper and incorporated the skyline drawing by printing it faintly on a vellum overlay.  We used the same skyline illustration on our out-of-town bags, which were filled with some of our favorite NYC things (like black and white cookies), as well as some classics (I “heart” NY T-shirts).

Our wedding day transportation was an antique Checker Cab, which was fitting since a taxi had played an important part in the story of how we first met. We were introduced by a mutual friend at a New Year’s Eve party in 2006 and hit it off instantly. Our goodbyes were cut short though when I spied a taxi across the street, which I ran to catch since finding an empty taxi in New York City on New Year’s Eve is a bit like winning the lottery.  Luckily, our friend gave Matthew my phone number and he called the next day. The rest was history.

We feel very fortunate to have been married at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Chelsea, which holds a special place in our hearts since it is where we attended mass together weekly.  It is a wonderfully welcoming church with an impressive community service portfolio.  It also happens to be gorgeous, which was a big bonus!

Both Matthew and I love eating, so food played a big part in our wedding day. We took pictures at the Shake Shack, which is a NYC institution in Madison Square Park famous for its fantastic hamburgers and notorious for its long lines. Showing up in a wedding dress was a blast –everyone let us cut the line, and the employees gave us free food and a small bottle of Prosecco!  At the reception we went more upscale, with a sit down multi-course dinner and intermezzos butlered to guests on the dance floor. We lightened things up a bit at the end of the night with a gourmet chocolate bar with goodies for our guests to take home (the chocolate covered bacon was the biggest crowd pleaser!)

There were so many little details that went into the wedding – my grandmother’s rosary that I carried with my bouquet, the handkerchief wrapped around my bouquet that had been Matthew’s Christening bonnet as an infant, the DIY signs for our card table, the votive candles hung over the dance floor that twinkled over our heads all night.  We had a lot of fun with all of the planning and could not have asked for a more perfect day.

Wedding Photography: CLY Creation / Floral Design: Kiriba of Atlas Floral Decorators / Ceremony Location: The Church of St. Francis Xavier / Reception Location: The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers / Invitations: William Arthur + Lion in the Sun / Vintage Taxi: FilmCars / Bride’s Shoes: Calvin Klein / Wedding Dress: Amsale / Jewelry: Firenze Jewels / Hair: Daleesa Weary / Make-up: Ellen B. of Ellen B. Beauty / Bridesmaid Dresses: White House Black Market

Ever wonder how some people are able to cram all the important wedding planning into a short amount of time, limiting any stress involved with the process and walking down the isle to their love in record time? All whilst getting everything done? Without going crazy? Yeah. Me too. Some of us were those little boys and girls who started ripping out photos from magazines back in the day before blogging was even a word (guilty). But even for those prepared brides and grooms to be, wedding planning can easily span months, even years, when all you want to do is pledge your love – in the prettiest way possible. Which is why, when Lynda from I DO Wedding Consulting told us her daughter was getting married, in London, and she had a week to plan, we didn’t just let her stop there. I begged her to give us all a little advice on how the heck she got the planning done so quickly. And here is what she had to say.

I was visiting my younger daughter in England when her boyfriend proposed. What a joy to share this time with them! They told me that they wanted a small, elegant wedding… in London, where they live… in seven weeks. So, here was the planner’s challenge! And yes, it can be done.

These are my favorite dozen tips for planning a quick destination wedding with a week to do the planning.

1. As always, start with your guest list. Make “rules” (no kids, only first cousins) and agree to stick to them. You won’t have time to visit more venues if your guest list suddenly mushrooms.

2. Know that you aren’t going to investigate every venue, band and florist in the universe. Ask for recommendations from locals and go from there. We kept with the “Rule of Three” and interviewed no more than three wedding professionals in any category.

3. Know your vision. And stick with it. Go online to help your search, and call your first three venue choices to see if your date is available. Then visit only three – and make your choice.

4. Have a computer with you as often as possible, and stay in touch with the venue and all of your wedding professionals. Ask all of your questions now.

5. Decide what you want. Abundant flowers? Simple centerpieces? Bring photographs to the florist, who is probably very visual and will understand what you want from the pictures.

6. After you have the venue, secure an officiant. Make sure you ask what the local laws are as well as any religious requirements.

7. The minute you have the place and the officiant, start with wedding invitations. And ask about local customs. In London, we discovered that the name of the groom’s parents shouldn’t be listed on the invitation unless they are helping to give the wedding, the letters RSVP appear on the bottom corner of even the most formal invitations even if there is a separate RSVP card, the RSVP card should have some sort of check-off spot rather than just a blank card, AND the first names of the guests should be hand-calligraphied at the top of the invitation. In addition, no return address is used on the envelopes! Remember not to put stamps on an RSVP envelope if the invitation is going to another country.

8. The “Rule of Three” works with music too. Meet with no more than three bands/DJs/entertainment companies. The goal is to find a sound you like… And quickly.Venues and other wedding professionals will have recommended lists of vendors. Ask if these groups pay to be on the list. And if you start seeing the same name on several lists, you can figure that they are well-known and reliable. Even if a vendor is paying to be on a list, a venue can’t afford to have someone who doesn’t perform well.

9. Call a bakery or two and make an appointment to have a cake tasting, not just a chat. Either bring in photos of cake designs you like or be prepared to choose one that the bakery shows you.

10. Block rooms for guests. The “Rule of Three” applies again here. Remember to find hotels in different price ranges. Guests will already be spending a lot of money to get to the wedding. And if you are a member of a club in your home city that has reciprocal privileges in the city of the wedding, you may find some treasures. We found a terrific hotel in London, right around the corner from the wedding venue, this way.

11. Wedding dress shopping… The “Rule of Three” applies here too! But as with other dresses, you sometimes can’t tell how a dress looks on a hangar. Go to no more than three shops, but try on lots of dresses at each.

12. If you will be providing welcome bags for your guests, go to the tourist area in the city. I went to the souvenir shops in Piccadilly Circus and got everything… the bags themselves, London umbrellas, Kate and William pens, and the like.

What is most important at this wedding, and at every other, is the people. The room will be filled with guests who truly love the bride and groom and who mean so much to the couple. All of the other details will fall into place.

Oh my. Prepare to pick your jaw up off your desk. This New York City wedding, captured by the brilliant Meredith Davenport of Christian Oth Studio, is the epitome of Manhattan romance. It’s gorgeous, it’s soft, and it’s what can happen when the best of the best in the Big Apple get together to work on one very special affair. I’m talking Sylvia Weinstock, Monique Lhuillier, Ceci New York, Karen Bussen Simple Stunning, the aforementioned Christian Oth, and so many more phenomenally talented wedding pros. No wonder I’ve been swooning for months (literally) over this killer wedding. Click here for more from Christian Oth Studio!

Click here to see the full image gallery.

Growing up in New York, I always knew I wanted to be married in New York City – plus Jared and I met in NYC so it seemed perfect!  It was really important to us to create a fun and memorable evening for our guests that included various special touches representing our relationship and sense of humor.   We really wanted our ceremony to be simple but meaningful and for the reception to be elegant but an all out party!

Our wedding design inspiration was the history, grandeur and romanticism of New York City –  and we were drawn to The Roosevelt Hotel because of the Grand Ballroom’s gold-gilded 27-foot-tall ceilings, amazing Tiffany chandeliers, huge arched windows and overall classic New York experience.

Design elements included: the glow of candlelight, lush florals in large urns, heirloom-inspired flatware, gold-rimmed water goblets, “feast-like” tables, bleached peacock feathers, heirloom-style compotes and mint julep cups packed with lush roses, large candelabra flowing with lush white florals, candlelight hanging from floral designs and crystal strewn throughout.  Each reception table was designed to be bespoke, special and romantic.

Welcome bags featured “I Love NY” t-shirts, cocktail napkins included funny quotes about marriage (“Marriage lets you annoy one special person for the rest of your life”, “The woman cries before the wedding, the man afterward”), the string quartet played hip-hop songs, baskets of silver & gold flip-flops were placed on the dance floor with signs that said “Kick off Your Heels”, a hot dog and pretzel cart sat next to the valet stand so that people could snack on authentic NYC snacks while they waited for their cars.

In the end, our wedding night was everything we had dreamed of and we will remember every moment for the rest of our lives.

Photography: Meredith Davenport, Christian Oth Studio / Invitation & Printed Materials: Ceci New York / Cake: Sylvia Weinstock / Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Wedding Planning & Design: Karen Bussen Simple Stunning / Band: The Soul All-Stars featuring Roy Bennett / DJ: Jason Fioto / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Lighting: Circa Pro / Videographer: Milk & Honey / Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel/ Hair: Courtney Benedetti of Brides By Benedetti /  Makeup by: Jacqueline Phillips of Jacqueline Pasquale Spa

We’ve got a whole bunch of glamour coming your way from this wedding, ladies and gents. I hope you’re ready for all the fabulousness. A winter wedding, in Manhattan, captured by 4Eyes Photography. That has got to be the best sentence ever. 4Eyes always, always has amazing work to share with us, but when they team up with a bride and groom so FAB, the result is catch-your-breath phenomenal. All the snow, the city sights, the cool colors, and the warm ambiance make for such a special night. I’ve spent days pouring over these photos, and now it’s your turn. Visit 4Eyes’ blog for more.

Click here fore the gallery!

We met on a rooftop bar in New York City.  I, frustrated by Manhattan dating and looking for something different, decided to expand my social circle by participating in a Hampton’s summer share house.  After much researching and numerous emails on Facebook and Craigslist, I was out and about attending share house meet and greets.  Eric, while not interested in participating in a share house, was meeting a few friends who were attending the same meet and greet.  Exactly one year later, at that same rooftop bar, Eric asked me to marry him.

We knew we wanted a Manhattan winter wedding but finding a space big enough to accommodate both a ceremony and reception was a challenge. Plus, we had a limited budget, especially for New York standards.  We were hoping for something large, modern, airy and clean-feeling.  When we saw the space, the view of the harbor and the potential for amazing sunsets at Battery Garden Restaurants, we were hooked.  Plus, the fireplace and the simple, modern décor helped sealed the deal.

I wanted to embrace the winter season and create an elegant, glistening modern winter wonderland of white and silver.  I love a mix of modern and organic and knew that branches would be key to the décor and used throughout the affair. Specifically, I requested white seasonal flowers such as ranunculus (my favorite) and anemones and loved the idea of using sparkling branches and birch to represent winter.  Jes Gordon, our amazing friend and event designer, used a mix of mirrors on the tables and lanterns around the space to help the evening glisten and exceeded all of our expectations.

Eric and I are both very close to our families and we are lucky that our parents have become best of friends.  So, to help represent the importance of family at our ceremony, I collected handkerchiefs from our late grandparents and great-grandparents.  My mother ordered lace online and hand-sewed the handkerchiefs together to create an incredibly special and beautiful one-of-a-kind Chuppah.  Paired with the sparkling branches and bunches of white flowers on the posts, the Chuppah glowed during the sunset ceremony. As we were being married, we could look-up and see light coming through handkerchiefs that once belonged to our loved ones.  We hope that future generations will also be married under this Chuppah and, come October, we are considering framing pieces of it and hanging it in our baby’s nursery.

It was bitter cold, but crisp and bright, on our January wedding day.  Since the ceremony was planned for sunset, we knew we had some daylight to play with before things got underway.  It was freezing but we braved the elements, wearing a fur stole I borrowed from my Great Aunt.  Kellie and Rupert of 4Eyes Photography had us walk by the water, the piers and in the many inches of snow.  We love the light and crispness of those pictures.   The elegance of the season and the raw beauty of winter are so apparent. The pictures are so amazing, they don’t even look real.

Eric and I love candy.  Having been inspired by weddings on Style Me Pretty, I decided to create my own candy bar and customized stamped candy bags.  I bought our favorite candies and a variety of glass-like jars from places like Ikea, Homegoods and various thrift stores.  A good friend (who also created our invitations) typeset “Life is Sweet B&E” for us and I had that made into a custom stamp.  Having ordered brown paper coffee bags online, I personally stamped each bag for the guests to bring home their candy treats.

Photographer: 4Eyes Photography / Floral Designer: jesGORDON / Event Designer & Planner: jesGORDON / Invitation Designer: Jennifer Oprysko / Cupcakes: Sugar Sweet Sunshine / Wedding Gown: La Sposa / Antique Hairpin: Etsy / Venue: Battery Garden Restaurant

Be still my nautical-lovin’ heart. Not only does this engagement session by Lauren Gabrielle Photography zone in on my love (borderline obsession) for all things ship and sea, but they also went all adorable vintage on me, and that my friends is what really did me in. Can we also talk about the sweet little sail boat cake toppers?! I mean really, those are seriously adorbs. There isn’t one thing I don’t love about this engagement shoot, and thankfully there is even more in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Lauren Gabrielle Photography… New York has endless amazing and unique locations for photos, and we took advantage of this in both parts of our adventurous photo shoot. The first part was taken at South Street Seaport in Manhattan, where the cobblestone streets, vintage buildings, and large old fashioned ships provided the perfect backdrop for our vintage nautical theme. The second part of the shoot took place on Sunken Meadow beach in Long Island, where we had the perfect sunset and incorporated lots of fun vintage props. Paula and Emanuel were amazing to work with and were very open to just about anything. Definitely my kind of couple!

Photography: Lauren Gabrielle Photography / Hair: Stacy Pitt of Styles on B / Dresses: Anthropologie / Love Banner, Newspaper Ships, Silverware, Vintage Letter & Belt Buckle: Etsy / Cake: Crumbs Bake Shop / Additional Decor: Home Goods / Locations: Sunken Meadow Beach + South Street Seaport

There is more to this seriously stylish couple than just two pretty faces. Yes, the sophisticated, city-chic feel at the Gramercy Park Hotel is out of this world fabulous (hello amazing light display!), and yes the images from Robert & Kathleen Photographers are seriously breathtaking. But it’s this couple’s commitment to helping others (the groom happens to be the founder) that has me seriously swooning. Not only did they provide us with gorgeous wedding eye candy, they also made me aware of a great cause – you have to love that! See even more here!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Robert & Kathleen Photographers… New Yorkers Renee & Matt selected the classic Gramercy Park Hotel for their wedding after being drawn to it’s unique decor and vast collection of art.  The ceremony & reception were held in the roof terrace – an area of the hotel filled with particularly interesting touches since it was originally the home of the hotel’s architect.  The cocktail hour was held in the Rose Bar – a popular weekend spot that was reserved solely for Renee & Matt’s guests that evening.

Matt lived in Africa as a boy, attended high school in London and somehow ended up selecting St. Louis, Missouri when it came time to pick a college. From all his travels around the world, it would be in Missouri that Matt would find a girl from Connecticut. Renee caught his eye during the three years they shared the campus at Washington University, yet they never really got to know one another. Even though Renee does say that she definitely noticed Matt back then as well, they wouldn’t connect until years later.

Both committed to helping others, it was their shared interest in helping the people of Rwanda that finally brought them together. After law school, Matt started a nonprofit called Indego Africa, an organization that partners women artisans in Rwanda with high-end retailers and returning all of the profits back to Rwanda in order to help bring an end to poverty in the region. (It’s an incredibly worthwhile cause and the products are amazing, you can check out the online store here). Renee, pursuing a career in clinical psychology, had a research trip planned to Rwanda when a mutual friend suggested she get in touch with Matt since he knew quite a bit about the region. She was more than happy to go along with the suggestion. They chatted on the phone for a bit and eventually an official date was made. It was at a bar in D.C., they not only noticed one another once again but finally got to talk in person. The spark between them was clear right away.

For a couple always seeking to make the world a better place, they did that night. Just by finding one another.

Wedding Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Gramercy Park Hotel / Bridal Gown: Christos / Favors: Indego Africa (Handmade Gifts from Women in Rwanda)

Oscar de la Renta gown, red Valentino shoes. I don’t even think I need to say more. Those words alone set the scene for this elegant and classic Manhattan affair by Susan Baker Photography perfectly. I dream of Oscar and Valentino (who doesn’t) and seeing them in all of their glory in one pretty post makes for a very lovely Tuesday. And of course that is just the beginning, all of the details are as elegant as they are timeless, and you can see it all for yourself in the full gallery of images.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Susan Baker Photography… This was a lovely NYC wedding that began with Chrissy getting dressed into her Oscar de la Renta gown and Valentino red shoes in her family’s apartment overlooking Central Park West, while the groom prepared over at the Surrey Hotel. The majestic St. Ignatius Loyola church served as the backdrop for a heartfelt ceremony presided over by 200 guests. After “the kiss” the Bride & Groom whisked away in a vintage yellow cab and while dusk turned into night, headed off for some fun NYC shots. (They did not want to see each other before the ceremony.) Meanwhile, guests proceeded to the University Club for a relaxed cocktail hour.

Dinner and dancing were held in the main ballroom where floral designer’s Dejuan Stroud’s warm palette of red, yellow and burgundy was bathed in yellow patterned gobo lighting accented on the dance floor. Wedding coordinator and friend of the family, Judith Ness, created the invitations and place cards. All came together in an elegant and last, but not least, fun, energetic, loved filled evening!

Wedding Photography: Susan Baker & Francesco Mastalia of Susan Baker Photography / Cinematography: Valerie Barnes Videography / Floral & Event Design: Dejuan Stroud / Event Planning: Judith Ness Studio / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Ignatius Loyola / Wedding Reception Location: The University Club / Wedding Invitations: Judith Ness Studio / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino / Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta

Happy Memorial Day! I’m popping in quickly to make sure everyone gets their daily dose of pretty and this Manhattan wedding by Erica Berger is just what the doctor ordered. It’s a little bit vintage, a little bit quirky and a whole lot of darling topped off with an invitation suite from Tie That Binds that ties and binds the whole party together. How can you not love that?  Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Jason and I had a specific vision for our wedding from the start. We knew right away that Public, a Manhattan restaurant with both a chic and vintage setting, would be the perfect place for our quirky style. After a few persuasive conversations and begging, we even convinced them to lets us bring Foxy, our beloved dog, to the ceremony!

We then approached Mekala of Tie That Binds with the task of creating the invitation I was imagining. Together we shaped the paper materials to fit exactly what I dreamed of. The custom matchboxes were a charming detail at the dinner reception, along with the city-chic place cards and table numbers. She also produced a custom New York skyline stamp and we used it throughout the wedding, and stamped every menu at each place setting.

When it came to coordinating the rest, I was surprised to find that I could do it myself! We didn’t have a huge budget, but I knew it would be important to find someone to run the show… wrangle parents, deal with flowers, and all of the complications that come with the wedding day. Keri Clavin from Clavin|Kelly Events is truly a gem, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. As our day-of coordinator, she really got her hands dirty and made sure everything was in place that day. Not only was she highly organized, but she took the bumps of the wedding day in stride and her wedding and event expertise put our entirely family at ease.

Of course our photographer, Erica Berger, was one of the best choices we made. Her photography style was exactly what we needed for our venue and personality. She did a fantastic job capturing the moments that ended up being the most memorable. I really wanted a photo booth at the wedding, we created a space that turned out to be a HUGE guest hit! My mom and I simply hit the party stores, and found the bells and props used to add flair to the booth. It resulted in TONS of images chuck FULL of personality. We still laugh out loud when we look through them!

In the end, Jason and I got what we wanted- to be happily married to each other. But the journey of creating our wedding was wonderful, and we couldn’t be more thankful for the family and friends that came to support us. You really can keep costs down by doing things yourself, and I hope brides out there believe they can do it, too!

Wedding Invitations & Paper Products: Tie That Binds / Wedding Photography: Erica Berger & David Dooley for Erica Berger / Wedding Venue & Catering: Public / Wedding Cake: Public / Day of Coordination: Keri Clavin of Clavin Kelly Events / DJ: DJ Duane Harriot with 74 Events / Floral Design: Color of Magic / Hair & Makeup: The Bride + Simone St. Laurent of Laicale Salon / Wedding Dress: Palazzo via Veka Bridal Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair Pin: Jennifer Behr / Groom’s Suit: Paul Stuart / Groom’s & Best Man’s Shirt & Tie: Custom by Lord Willy’s / Ring Bearer’s Suit: Little Marc Jacobs / Ring Bearer’s Shirt: Ralph Lauren Kids / Ring Bearer’s Sneakers: Converse / Ring Bearer Bowl: Paloma’s Nest

Oh. My. Goodness. Three little words, but it’s all I’ve got. Seriously, this Manhattan Same Day Edit from red Bicycle Media has me speechless. Speechless and a little teary. It’s romance, it’s luxury, it’s ab-so-lute beauty. Gorgeous. I could ramble on and on with more adjectives akin to stunning, but instead, I’ll simply introduce this New York City wedding. Before we get to the film (which is worth the wait, believe me) we have world renowned photographer Jerry Ghionis‘ take on the day. And there is even more in the gallery, lucky you!

From James with red Bicycle Media … Natalia and Wayne are a very warm, passionate, and loving couple who made us feel very much at home. Their vision was a winter themed wedding inspired by one of their trips to their weekend getaway in upstate New York. The film intertwines and contrasts their city life and the beautiful sereneness of the mountains. It culminates at Cipriani on 42nd Street where real snow, cold and wet came down at their first dance.

Natalia and Wayne are the exactly the type of couple we love to work with. They appreciated and loved the art of our storytelling and were “all in” as far as the process.

Natalia has said the Same Day Edit makes not just her cry, but has made her husband, their loved ones, and even relative strangers tear up. I have no problem admitting that I can attest to that fact. So grab you’re tissues and enjoy this stunning Same Day Edit from red Bicycle Media.

natalia + wayne // SDE from red Bicycle Media on Vimeo

From the bride … My husband and I both grew up in New York City.  When we decided we wanted to marry in the City, we envisioned something very formal and very romantic.  We selected a venue, Cipriani 42, which we felt captured all of the romance of old New york.  Converted from an old bank, the space still has the tellar walls and giant marble columns.

We thought the most romantic time of year to be married in New York is in the winter.  We pictured a white wedding; all of our flowers were white and we brought in trees dusted with silver to ceate the feel of a snow covered forest.  We chose to call for black tie, to further the formality and romance of a winter wedding in New York.  People couldn’t understand why we wanted a winter wedding, and, at first, kept asking “What if there is a storm?”  We really wanted the city to be covered in a layer of white snow.

Of course, it hardly ever snows in New York in the middle of December, so our event designer David Beahm brought in a snow machine and timed it with our first dance. None of the guests could believe it was snowing on the dance floor!  New York City is a magical place to get married and we are so happy we chose to celebrate the beginning of our new lives together in our city!

Photography: Jerry Ghionis / Cinematography: red Bicycle Media / Floral & Event Design: David Beahm Design / Ceremony and Reception Location: Cipriani 42nd Street / Invitation Designer: Bernard Maisner / Catering: Cipriani 42nd Street / Cake: Sylvia Weinstock / Band: Starlight Orchestra / Wedding gown designer: Oscar de la Renta / Bridesmaid dress designer: Vera Wang / Bride’s Jewelry: Maurice / Bridesmaid Jewelry: Amanda Rudey Jewelry

Can you believe it’s already Friday? The week simply soars by when when you have five whole days of pretty, lovely, and gorgeous to get you to the weekend. But we say, what’s five days, when it could be six? So for those of us who need just one more day, just one more wedding, just one more batch of inspiration, we’ve got a treat for you. Tune in tomorrow to see more of this absolutely stunning New York Wedding. red Bicycle Media was generous enough to send over the Same Day Edit they put together for this sweet couple. And it’s a treat, so you won’t want to miss it. And until then, LBBers, click here for the recently launched Style Me Pretty Wedding Cinematography page. Have you checked that out yet? Have a wonderful weekend lovelies, and we’ll be back Monday, full force pretty patrol! xoxo

Photography by world renowned Jerry Ghionis.

This week’s wonderful weddings, all lined up pretty in a row:

a dash of Bohemian Chic inspiration from Nashville
a classic Manhattan affair
a lovely vineyard wedding in Georgia
an Oregon Scottish/American fête
a contemporary Philadelphia wedding
a great bit of vintage inspiration from Minnesota
a charming Tennessee soiree
an adorable wedding in the Massachusetts Mountains
a traditional New York City wedding
a sweet as pie celebration in Pennsylvania

There is just something oh-so-romantic about a wedding in THE city. Manhattan. Classic and chic. Just like this wedding. The bride decided on navy blue to compliment the traditional New York City ambiance, and the result was totally magical.You almost expect to see Frank Sinatra crooning in the corner. Melani Lust Photography is the genius behind the gorgeous images, and we can’t get enough of the excitement, the romance, the love that seems to pour out of them. And when you just can’t get enough, there’s always more in the gallery!

Steve proposed on our way to dinner at my favorite NYC steakhouse, The Old Homestead.  When my sister told me I should bring my camera in case we go out afterward, I had a funny feeling it was engagement night!

We both work in finance and a few years ago we had our Christmas party at Bridgewaters.  I loved it!  When we got engaged, I knew I wanted to have it there; we didn’t even look at any other venues. I always knew I wanted a simple and classic wedding, and thought nothing worked for the feeling I wanted better than navy blue!

We loved having Melani Lust there for our big day. She takes the most wonderful photographs. I have two absolute favorite pictures – one of Steve and I walking on Front Street, him holding my flowers and he and I kissing in front of Grand Central Central, all cars blurred in the background.

Favors weren’t important to us, I wanted to do something meaningful instead.  Steve and I made a donation to The Lustgarten Foundation in memory of my father.

Photography: Melani Lust Photography / Church: St. Vincent Ferrer / Flowers: Ariston Florist / Event Planning & Design: Bride / Shoes: Caparros / Dress & Veil: Priscilla of Boston / Make Up: Estee Lauder at Bloomingdales / Hair: Marie Bove Salon / Invitations: The Green Kangaroo / Reception: Bridgewaters

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Photography

Melani Lust Photography

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Hey LBBer’s, we’re trying something new this week – today is the start of our very own Wrap It Up Pretty Friday feature. If you frequent Style Me Pretty, which I’m sure you do, you’ll know that the Main Page likes to wrap up a week of lovely and tie it with a sweet little bow. It is exciting to see all the gorgeous from the past week in one spot. Plus, it’s a great send you off into your weekend. So in the name of granting you even more access to our uber-fabulous wedding party all week long, we’re jumping on the pretty train! Before we get into it, though, we’ve got a little sneak peak from one of the jaw-dropping weddings we have coming up next week on The Little Black Book Blog from one of our favorite LBB photographers, Melani Lust! Hope you have a fantastic weekend! xo

If you just can’t wait … here’s Erin & Steve’s Style Me Pretty photo gallery from Melani Lust Photography!

Here’s our Pretty Parade of weddings this week:

a warm California vineyard affair
a sweet Canadian winter wedding
a Dallas wedding with a bold color palette
a colorful and fun California fête
a rustic Colorado rehearsal dinner complete with horses
a completely DIY Ohio love fest
a pink California wedding + film
an Indian celebration in Austin
a classic Houston affair

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Photography

Melani Lust Photography

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I actually love a theme wedding but sometimes the problem with a theme wedding is that it can get a little too…well…theme-y.  So here’s an idea, which I’m stealing from this Manhattan wedding by Josh McCullock Fine Art Weddings and Films, skip the theme and just take inspiration from the things you love.  Love to read?  Use a library catalog for your escort cards!  Love to eat?  Use the names of your favorite restaurants as table numbers!  There’s no reason why you can’t have it all and still make it look good!  Oh and why don’t we just throw in some be-still-my-heart flowers from the great Saipua!  If you can’t get enough of this elegant wedding you may want to check out the full gallery and then head over to Josh McColluck’s blog to see the beautiful film!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Josh McCullock… Jesse and Stacy were married on Jan. 8th 2011 on Manhattan’s upper east side. Preparations were done at the Hotel Wales with the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception held at the Harold Pratt House. The bride and groom are both rich with friends and experience. They love food and dining and it came out in the design and execution of their wedding day. Each guest chose their table assignment from an old library card catalog and then found their seat at one of many tables named after one of the couple’s favorite restaurants. They gave favors to all their guests, such as custom jars of buckwheat honey from a farm in their native Ithaca, New York. This wedding was an absolute joy to shoot. Not because of the well planned details and timeless locations, but because the couple has a magnetism and humility about them.

Wedding Photography: Josh McCullock Fine Art Weddings and Films / Wedding Cinematography: Josh McCullock Fine Art Weddings and Films / Wedding Venue: The Harold Pratt House / Wedding Preparations: Hotel Wales / Florist: Saipua / Wedding Stationary: Stephanie Moss, Friend of the Bride / Wedding Dress: Custom by Lydia Colombo / Ceremony Musician: Cynthia Marcus Smith / Cocktail Musicians: Aaron Ewing Jazz Trio / Dinner Musicians: Juliana Riccardi Music Group (JRMG) / Post-Dinner DJ: Anthony Costello of JRMG / Wedding Cakes: Magnolia Bakery / Pies: Four & Twenty Blackbirds / Cookies: Nicole Masciopinto / Makeup: Ron Titone of Dana Bartone & Company / Hair: Kathy Slowik & Anna Geloso of Hair Creations

I am pretty positive that New York City has a million cool spots to tie the knot with all of its fab nooks and crannies. But, there is one spot that we go a little crazy for, can’t seem to get enough of and aren’t above begging in order to score one of this coveted locale’s soirees. The venue? That would be The Nest Event Loft by Hatch Creative Studio. It practically oozes with sass and chic city details and this wedding photographed by Yasmin Khajavi is the perfect fit for it. A match made in wedding heaven. See the rest of the pretty New York details in the gallery.

see it all here!

Originally from different places in the US – (Dustin from a farm in Wisconsin, myself from a small town in Oregon) – we knew that getting married in the city where we met and currently live we be the most meaningful for us. Also considering the chain of events that occurred to lead us individually to New York City, and then to actually find each other here, was what we would like to call fate. Thus celebrating our “finding each other” in the Big Apple was a no-brainer! We chose to get married in October because the fall is our favorite time of year. Its when we met. When we moved in together. And when we got engaged (all in consecutive years, of course). So nostalgic and crisp! Dustin and I also wanted to have an incredibly intimate affair, with close family and friends – and all in one venue location. A cocktail party with drinks and food flowing all night was our vision of the perfect party. Dustin an architect, and myself an interior designer, we often times set our aesthetic standards high – maybe too high! We wanted to celebrate our love and our sacred union in beautiful and simple place – And not to mention, with a little “nod and wink to our country backgrounds” with a dash of rustic charm. Where would we find such a place in this concrete jungle?

After extensive searches we finally found The Nest Event Loft, home of Hatch Creative Studio located in the lovely Flatiron District: an ever-so-sweet loft space, studded with breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, and perched on the 17th floor of a beautiful and charming old building. Chocolate hardwood floors, white everything, breezy window treatments, and charming vintage nick-nacks scattered about. Perfect! We had a very DIY mentality and truly created so many of the details from scratch – from the save-the-dates and invitations, to the planning itself. We wanted a very clean and sweet palette that agreed well with the transition from summer into fall – whites, charcoal gray, sweet peaches and pinks, all with a splash of buttery, glowing yellow. My gown from La Sposa, Dustin’s charcoal grey suit from Paul Smith, and our bridal party in J Crew, the attire was that of a semi-formal cocktail affair. I love Etsy with all of my heart, so I worked different artists and designers for all of my accessories including my veil by Fascinating Creations, earrings by Jurgita Handmade, and my garter by Pomp and Plumage. Makeup artist Taryn Potenza really finalized my look with a perfectly fresh face that I could have never done myself!

With an intimate 75 guests, we made sure everyone arrived a tad early to soak in the views and enjoy a glass of bubbly. Our sunset vows occurred at the gorgeous perimeter windows of the space as the sky turned orange. As I walked down the aisle to an acoustic guitar version of “In My Life” by the Beatles, the room felt so full of love. We planted a little tree with the soil from where each of us grew up as a symbol of our unity, sealed our vows, and let the party begin! Tinna Brenton Catering executed a fabulous evening of nonstop food and drink. The concept was “appetizer versions” of our favorite foods, with an ever-evolving menu throughout the night. As “all over the map” as it may seem, our favorite foods are American Comfort, Mexican, and French. Thus the evening featured everything from mashed potato martinis and mini burgers, to pulled pork tacos and chips ‘n guac, to stinky brie and rustic baguette. We cut our cake to Edith Piaf’s “La Vie En Rose”, ate ourselves silly, and danced the night away. With the Empire State Building illuminated in the background, it was perfect down to every little detail. Above all, our wedding philosophy was: It takes a village. To help contribute to the DIY effort, we had the honor of having so many amazing friends and family contribute to key elements – the readings during the ceremony, our beautiful flowers, our scrumptious carrot cake and cupcakes, our fabulous DJ, and our amazing photographer who caught every detail with such a wonderful eye. Even our “wedding” sign was made by Dustin’s sister from a piece of old barn wood that she found on the farm in Wisconsin. The day truly couldn’t have been possible without everyone’s love and support. Thank you to everyone for contributing to our wedded bliss!

Photography: Yasmin Khajavi Photography / Flowers: Becky Espirtiu / Ceremony & Reception Location: Nest Event Loft, home of Hatch Creative Studio / Invitations: DIY / Shoes: J.Crew / Dress: La Sposa / Groom’s suit: Paul Smith / Bridal Party: J.Crew / Veil: Fascinating Creations / Earrings: Jurgita Handmade / Garter: Pomp and Plumage / Make-up: Taryn Potenza / Catering: Tinna Brenton Catering

Emily and Scott lived in the same building in Manhattan for a year before they met. They were finally introduced to each other through their door man. Their wedding was held in Tribeca Rooftop presided by a rabbi who was Emily’s teacher. Both bride and groom are dedicated in their belief of Judaism – the ceremony was held under the incredible chuppah spotted with gorgeous lighting. Theatrical music played during the ceremony was composed by Emily’s grandfather. The vows they wrote to each other were so powerful and emotional that they made all us cry. –Love In Progress

It doesn’t matter whether you are planning your wedding, or your wedding is a thing of the past, hearing the vows spoken in wedding films should serve as a reminder to us all ~ a reminder that the promises we make to each other are just as valid now as they were yesterday, just as valid tomorrow as they will be twenty years from now. Yes, the vows we make to one another, traditional or personal, are the core of this business we call marriage. We must never forget that!

Emily & Scott’ Crazy Love at Tribeca Rooftop from Love in Progress on Vimeo.

Venue: Tribeca Rooftop / Wedding coordinator: Rebekah M. Ferreira / Communications Director: Matthew Robbins Design |Artfool| / Photographer: Fred Marcus / Florist: Matthew Robbins Design Artfool / Hair stylist & Make-up artists: NY Wedding Makeup ~  Claudia and Maureen Pedela / Ceremony Music: Curtis Music & Entertainment / Complete Music & Entertainment Planning Services, For party: NYC Swing and 52nd Street / Limousine & Transportation: EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services / Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier from Mark Ingram / Ballet Flats from French Sole / Fur Wrap from Krizia / Tuxedo: Tom Ford / Catering: Tribeca Rooftop / Cake: Audrey’s Fine Goods

We hope each and every single one of you are enjoying a nice Columbus Day away from the day job but even if you are back to the grind of another Monday, we have a few treats to lift your spirits and get you in a warm and cozy Fall mood. Sent to us by the wildly talented DM Events, this photo shoot is properly titled “Fall into Love.” And that we are.  The autumnal colors are so very gorgeous paired with the intimate dinner party-esque atmosphere and how about the drool inducing dessert bar created by Nine Cakes? That deserves a double YUM. See all of the pretty fall details captured by Allan Zepeda in the gallery and if this shoot puts you in the mood to do some entertaining, we’ve added a few of the recipes from the menu right here.

Fall even more in love with this shoot here!

From DM Events…

We can not imagine a more quintessentially perfect time of year than Autumn in New York City! As designers, we are inspired by the colors, textures, and most of all the feeling of a crisp Autumn day – it is the perfect time of year to Fall In Love. Through the years we have designed many fall-themed events filled with apples, pumpkins, leaves, and all the New England goodness you can imagine. As we planned for this shoot, we wanted to capture the regal side of Fall – a season not just filled with whimsy, but also grace. We stopped into Classic Party Rentals where we discovered an unique silverware set and amazing stemware collection that was reminiscent of a “grown-up” society dinner party (think the Rockefellers circa the early 1900s) – at that moment the fate of the shoot was sealed! The next challenge was to bring in fall colors without deferring to a traditional orange and red palette – we decided to stay true to the organic aesthetic of our venue and use burgundy and a variety of browns. This time of year the flower district is full of Cockscomb flowers – and we used the uniqueness of the shape to balance out the softness of the dahlias. We wanted to incorporate dried flowers into the arrangements and bouquets to reflect the harvest aspect of fall.

Next, we were off to find the décor! Scouring antique stores and boutique shops is honestly one of our favorite tasks! We found tons of copper and oversized wooden pieces that worked together like magic! The copper played up the regal aspect of the shoot, while the wooden pieces were a warm accent, keeping us true to the Fall season. We are always looking for an excuse to use Kraft paper but needed to ensure that we could still maintain the richness of our vision. This type of detail is what Jenna of Love, Jenna is best at! She paired the Kraft paper with fabulous paper patterns and her brilliant calligraphy in metallic inks. If you have any doubts about the pairing, just look at the scroll menu she created – we literally fell in love when we saw it! (And wasn’t that the whole point of the shoot :) )

The dessert bar was divine in every way! Nine Cakes created all the sweet creations with flavors ranging from Apple Cinnamon Caramel to Pumpkin Walnut Maple. We knew the dessert bar was a perfect place to introduce our copper antique finds – we coupled them with mercury candles and the vintage fall look came to life! Gabriella New York provided the beautiful Ulla Maija dress. The question remained… where should we showcase the dress? The most obvious place was the wine rack set against an exposed brick wall of the venue, but we rarely do anything that’s typical! So we brought in a vintage Louis Vinton trunk (every girl’s dream!) and the result was, once again, magical!

Styling, Design, and Florals: DM Events / Photography: Allan Zepeda / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Calligraphy: Love, Jenna / Cake: Nine Cakes / Dress: Bianca by Ulla Maija, provided by Gabriella New York / Location: Private loft, Chelsea, NY

We have a positively stunning wedding sent to us by one of our newest Little Black Book photographers, Erik Ekroth, that we’ll be featuring on Monday morning. The venue, Rochelle’s Vera-gown, the chuppah … nothing short of magnificent! A quick peek …

Until then … here’s a link to a NY runway shoot that Erik shot in April {click} and another Vera Wang runway show that he shot back in the fall {click}! Enjoy!

Thank you so very much to the fabulous Patricia Kantzos for sending us today’s affair! If you aren’t already familiar with Patricia’s work, you really have to check out her blog and website. Filled with tons of good stuff. And, of course, to Aimee and Steven for letting us share their day with us!