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Witness The Ultimate Cherry Blossoms Covered E-Sesh

New York in the spring is just magic. Take this stunning engagement session from Rebecca Yale Photography as prime example. From the petal covered park to the sweet kisses Lindsay and Steven share, we think it’s safe to say that they basically had the best engagement session ever. See it all in The Vault!

From Rebecca Yale PhotographyLindsay and Steven got engaged in a perfect New York moment when Steven surprised Lindsay at Bowtie Cinemas in Chelsea with a movie that ended in his proposal and their friends surprising them in the theater. The New York based couple decided to take photographs in Central Park catching the perfect magical moment when the city is coated in pink petals and is at its most photogenic! The bride kept the styling classic in a white dress and the groom in a blue blazer to compliment the beautiful blossoms and then changing into a more casual outfit for a stroll by Bethesda Fountain.

From the Bride-to-be…. About four years ago, my roommate Jessie and I were riding up in our elevator when a few guys happened to exit on our floor. We turned to enter our apartment and they continued to the one right next door. We later heard music blaring from their apartment, and naturally intrigued, I said to Jessie, “We should crash their party”… and so we did!

We knocked on our neighbor’s door and I said, “If you guys are going to blast loud music, you should really invite your neighbors.” We were immediately greeted with smiles and I quickly made eye contact with Steven from across the room. After about ten minutes of being there, he came up to me and said “do you crash parties often?” I have been smitten ever since.

Steven and I had plans to see the Hunger Games movie opening weekend with two of our friends (I am a fanatic). When we arrived at the movie theater, the usher encouraged us to wait after the movie was over because they were showing special deleted scenes – we were pumped!

After the movie was over and the credits started to roll, people started the exiting the theater but there was no way I was going to miss the deleted scenes! The lights dimmed, and all of a sudden, Steven was on the screen. For the next three minutes, I watched as Steven, our friends, and families lip synced to our favorite song- “Say Hey (I Love You)” by Michael Franti & Spearhead. I watched as he danced and played air guitar in front of our most memorable New York spots – from the building where we first met to our first date spot at Alta.

After the video was over, the lights turned back on and everyone in the theater stood up. To my surprise, it was all of our friends and family, who had been there the whole time! I was in a state of shock. Steven got down on one knee and proposed. The best part is, we have the whole proposal on video to share with our loved ones for years to come.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Shoes: Valentino | Hair + Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge | Bride's Dress: ALC

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Tips to Look Your Best at Your Engagement Session

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The Grooms’ Adorable Sons Help Make This Rustic Wedding So Sweet

You know how they say life is full of simple pleasures? Well, so is Justin and Darren’s Hudson Valley wedding. With understated design elements from Green Apple Weddings, like the natural ceremony decor and rustic tablescape, the two grooms and their adorable sons are what shine in this pretty day. See it all from Karen Wise Photography in The Vault!

From Green Apple WeddingsJustin and Darren chose to exchange their vows surrounded by verdant weeping willows at the incomparable Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa in Hudson Valley. The lush, rustic yet elegant location on the Hudson River inspired the design, which was based on the welcoming woods, orchard and gardens enveloping the Inn, as well as the modern barn which influenced their wooden invitations and where their welcome dinner was held.

Their ceremony was held at a duck pond with weeping willows as their backdrop. The couple was flanked by tall arrangements of flowering white branches while their guests witnessed the ceremony from Fruitwood chairs tied loosely with greens along the aisle.

After the ceremony guests walked under towering, yet inviting trees to cocktail hour where oak barrels served as tables. Seating assignments were hung from natural twine by clothespins.

Just before sunset the guests were led into a sailcloth tent draped with cafe lights open to views of the Hudson River. They were seated in natural wood crossback chairs at farm tables laid with burlap runners. Sprigs of rosemary laid atop white linen napkins which held menus and were loosely tied with brown suede. Multiple small centerpieces with greens and flowers in shades of sunset lined the tables along with mercury glass votives whose candlelight reflected off the soft amber glassware.

From Karen Wise PhotographyI am thrilled to share this romantic and stylish Buttermilk Falls Inn wedding. Justin and Darren were dream clients – they were laid back, stylish and so fun-loving!

It was so sweet to witness how they considered the participation of their two young sons, Luke and Jake, in all their wedding festivities. Jake and Luke were included in Justin and Darren’s getting ready session, in their ceremony, and even in cocktail hour when they got to chase ducks and pick apples in Buttermilk Farm’s orchard. They even enjoyed holding a custom made Thank you sign for pictures which the couple would later print for their thank you cards.

They trusted me and gave me a lot of creative freedom within their itinerary. The palette of vibrant orange and peach dahlias and ranunculus, alongside the verdant green of the lush summer grasses, and the grooms’ handsome blue attire inspired unlimited picture-taking.

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Photography: Karen Wise Photography | Cinematography: Saiga Pictures | Event Planning: Green Apple Weddings | Floral Design: Flora Voca | Cake: The Pastry Garden | Invitations: Paper Presentation | Rings:Ratanee Jewelry | Catering: Henry’s on the Farm | DJ: Jeremy Blacklow | Groom’s Attire: Doyle Mueser, NYC | Venue: Buttermilk Falls Inn | Groom’s Shoes: Hugo Boss Red Label | Groomsmen Attire + Shoes:J.Crew | Invitations + Stationery: Dense Ink | Ring Bearer Attire: J.Crew | Ring Bearer Shoes: Paul Green

 

The Only Thing Supersized About These Oscar Nominees’ Wedding is Their Love

This Bride and Groom have very impressive resumés. She is SVP of Programming for HBO Documentaries and he is the brains (and body) behind the 2004 documentary “Super Size Me.” And their family-oriented wedding, photographed by Craig Paulson Photography, is impressively sweet. See all the heartwarming moments in The Vault!

From Craig Paulson PhotographyOn April 30, Morgan Spurlock married his girlfriend Sara Bernstein in a very private, family and close friends wedding at his own spread in upstate NY.

Sara was 8 months pregnant.

The Super Size Me director (the film that gave us a craving for McDonalds) has been with Sara for the last 8 years, so we’re sure her dad didn’t actually have a gun to his head.

Sara is the SVP of programming for HBO Documentaries and has been nominated for an Oscar. Morgan has also been nominated for an Oscar for Super Size Me.

As a close friend I was honored to be there and shoot for him.

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Photography: Craig Paulson Photography | Venue: At Home

Say “I do” in Style Aboard The Duchess + A Giveaway!

There’s saying “I do” in style, and then there is saying “I do” aboard The Duchess, an insanely gorgeous yacht that is equal parts fun AND sophisticated.  Think fabulous contemporary decor, a floating rooftop (!) and panoramic views of NYC that will wow every.single.one of your guests.  I mean, celebrating your newlywed status floating past the city you love? Sooo glamorous.

Whether it’s enjoying the newly built Duchess Lounge on the yacht’s second deck, sipping cocktails from their full-service bars or partying the night away on their oversized, hardwood dance floor, The Duchess has everything (and I mean everything) you’ve ever wanted when it comes to hosting your dream wedding. I’m talking climate controlled interiors, a state-of-the-art sound system (hello, live music or DJ) and outdoor furniture perfect for lounging.  Not to mention The Duchess’ sister property, Fish Bar, is THE place to host your rehearsal dinner, a fab cocktail party or even your reception.  We love them.

Whether you plan on an intimate “I do” with eight of your nearest and dearest or want to host a sit-down dinner for 400, contact The Duchess TODAY to begin your journey to that dream day. Star gazing is totally included, my friends.

THE GIVEAWAY

What: The Duchess is giving away a romantic dinner for two at their sister property, Fish Bar! (Value $200, Gratuity Not Included)

How: Simply leave a comment below telling us why you love yacht weddings! (Ex: They are sooo unique!)

Who: One lucky winner, chosen completely at random, will be announced right here on SMP on Friday, June 17, 2016.  For terms and conditions, click here.  Good luck, loves! xo

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Photography: Allan Zepeda (Image 2,4) + I Do Weddings (Image 1,3)

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This Springtime Engagement Session is Why We Love New York

Something magical happens every April in New York when dirty gray snow melts away to reveal blossoming trees and budding flowers. It’s absolutely enchanting, and lucky for you, Still55 Photography was able to capture that magic in Samantha and Taylor’s NYC engagement session. In white separates and a well-fitted suit, the Bride and Groom-to-be look hopelessly chic in some of Manhattan’s most picturesque spots. See all the pretty moments in The Vault!


From Still55 PhotographySamantha and Taylor knew they wanted their engagement photos to capture everything they love about home. Their neighborhood in Greenwich, the quite side streets in the Village, the lively sights and sounds of Washington Square and the Spring beauty of Central Park. We knew right away that capturing these images would include everything we love about portrait work. Authentic images captured in a refined way. The day itself set the tone for what was ahead. Perfect temps and not a cloud in the sky. After Samantha and Taylor showed us around the Village we headed to 72nd West to take in the beauty of Sheep’s Meadow, The Mall, and the full bloom of Cherry Blossoms in the warm light of Spring. This Spring Romance in the City captured exactly what they wanted in their images. Authentic love and joy coupled with the City that will always hold a special place in their hearts.

Photography: Joseph Rogero | Her Shoes: Schutz | His Shoes: Cole Haan | Location: Grand Ferry Park | Location: Greenwich Village | Location: Central Park | Skirt: Alice & Olivia | Suit & Shirt: J. Cew Ludlow Shop Suit | Sunglasses: Ray Ban Wayfarer | Top: Alice & Olivia

An Engagement Straight Out Of “Sleepless in Seattle”

Remember that final scene in Sleepless in Seattle when Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan meet at the top of the Empire State Building? They share an epic moment that can only be described as one of the dreamiest meetings ever, and this Rock Center engagement session? Well, it’s managed to capture that movie-worthy romance to a T. Oliver Fly Photography, job well done!

From the Bride-to-be…We first met at Dream Downtown. A French group was hosting pool parties every Tuesday during the summer. Despite working late most nights, I committed to going to every-single-one that summer. Benoît came the second to last week, I was out with friends, Benoît saw me, but was to shy to say hello. We were introduced the week after, the very last pool party of the summer. Ben asked for a date the following week and we have been together ever since. 

About the proposal – we planned a long trip back to Paris to visit with Benoît’s family. He had spent the prior months secretly researching rings, had found the perfect one, and was ready to propose. After a week of wine tasting and château hoping in the Loire Valley, Benoît popped the question on a rowboat at the romantic Château Chenonceau!

We are getting married this summer in France in the Loire Valley at Le Chateau St Julien in the village of St Julien de l’Ars, near from the ancient city of Poitiers. This venue is the ideal setting for a destination wedding. The most important part of our wedding was to have both of our French and American families together. Having the wedding in France meant that Benoît’s grandfather would be with us.

We fell in love with the Loire Valley the year before during our engagement trip and decided that would be a lovely location for our wedding. With exactly room for 50, Chateau St Julien is perfect to host all of our combined family for four days of wedding festivities!

We found Oliver while we were researching our chateau, his work is soft and absolutely romantic. After reserving the Chateau St Julien, we immediately contacted him to photograph our wedding day. A few months later, Oliver was with us in New York City and we got the opportunity to know each other and to have a fantastic time during our engagement session. Oliver put us completely at ease.

It is impossible to tell by how flawless his photos are – but it was about 40 degrees and raining the whole day – he was absolutely committed to getting every shot on film, such an incredible challenge. He even made time for a few iPhone shots that we could share with our families. Spending time with Oliver before our wedding was absolutely priceless, we can’t wait to have him there to document our day in exactly 2 months!

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Photography: Oliver Fly |Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Tie: Calvin Klein | Suit: Indochino Custom Apparel | Shoes: Sam Edleman | Location: Top Of The Rock | Location: Bethesda Terrace

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Modern Elopement Inspiration, Bridal Jumpsuit Included.

If you’ve ever thought planning an elopement has to equal sacrificing on style, you better think again. Bespoke OnlyStacie Ford, and Sally Pinera are out to prove otherwise, and this inspiration shoot is the proof. Modern, chic, and stylish to the nines – all the heart eyes for that jumpsuit! – we’re pretty convinced a wedding for two is the way to go.

From Sally PineraFor this modern and chic elopement we wanted to create a solidified intimate moment between the two lovers. There are so many components to a wedding, so many designs, florals, formalities and to do lists that we wanted to remind not only ourselves, but all brides that this is about the love between themselves. With tender touches, quiet moments, and authentic emotions, we were able to create a beautiful stop on time. There is an elegant touch to simplicity, and we encourage brides to take on the styles and designs that speak true to who they are.

Photography: Sally Pinera | Stationery: Script Merchant Calligraphy | Bride’s Shoes: Nicholas Kirkwood| Makeup: Stacie Ford Weddings | Hair: Styles On B | Venue: At Home | Floral Design, Event Design + Styling: Bespoke Only | Jumpsuit: 3.1 Phillip Lim

P.S. How to Elope Without Offending

Best Ever Elopement Tips
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Best Ever Elopement Tips
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From Miami Nightclub to Montauk Summer Wedding Magic

With her simple, little request to rest her tired legs at a Miami club one night, this beautiful Bride found her forever love and the rest is history. And lucky us, we get to see it all come to fruition with this romantic Hamptons celebration captured by Heather Waraksa. Facetime Beauty helped our lady shine and Nine Cakes created a confection with pretty little petals almosttt too cute to eat. More in our Vault!

From Heather Waraksa… Danielle and Kyle met on April 24th, 2012. The Magic City brought these two together while Danielle was residing in Miami and Kyle was on his company’s annual retreat. On a Tuesday night, while waiting for her girlfriends at the club Wall at the W Hotel in South Beach, Danielle approached Kyle’s table, needing a place to sit because “her legs were tired”. What started as wanting a free drink, turned into something much more. That week, while Kyle skipped nearly all of his meetings, he and Danielle spent many special moments together at the Fontainebleau, Mansion Nightclub, and Monty’s Sunset. Although Danielle left Kyle early on his last night, their connection lasted as Kyle went back home to Manhattan. From their first days together in South Beach, to their summers in Montauk and essentially every other trip they have taken together, the beach has always been the choice getaway for Kyle and Danielle (especially Danielle!). The two also always agreed they should take a tropical trip together to celebrate their birthdays, which are only four days apart. When spring of 2014 proved to be an extremely busy time of year, they decided to push this birthday trip until Memorial Day and that Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Mexico was their destination. Given the choice in such a romantic resort and the fact this was the first Memorial Day since 2003 that Kyle had not spent in the Hamptons or Montauk, Danielle should have known this was going to be more than just a birthday celebration, but she didn’t…. Upon finally picking up the ring (that Kyle and his brother Tory had been designing for months) the day before they left for their trip, Kyle was a bundle of nerves. As they finished packing that morning, he continued to second guess where he was packing the ring as he obviously did not want Danielle to find it, but equally as important, the Mexican Customs Agents. After the longest four hour flight of Kyle’s life, they were now in the Customs line where their system involved an extremely complex process (note the sarcasm) where each person is to press a large button with an agent watching, and if the light turned red they would search your bags or green and you were good to go. Kyle still is not sure how Danielle did not see his shaking hand hitting that button, but she didn’t and thankfully the light turned green. Had it not, Kyle would likely have had to get down on one knee right there. After finally getting to the resort and checking in, the next obstacle was killing two hours until the beach proposal setup was ready, as an anxious, nervous Kyle tried not to show his cards while still keeping Danielle in the pretty dress she had on as she continually tried to change into more comfortable clothing. In order to get Danielle to go to the beach at an explicit time, Kyle had told her there was a bottle of champagne waiting there for them as the resort does this to welcome all their guests. This was a full proof plan if anyone knows how much Danielle likes her champagne. When finally arriving to this secluded, private section of the beach with a sheet awning, champagne and fruit, Danielle looked at Kyle as they walked down and said “Wow, I can’t believe they do this for everyone, this place is great!” Still completely clueless as they entered the awning, Danielle turned around from looking at the water and Kyle was down on one knee. After the initial shell shock and tears, she was finally able to pronounce the word, YES…. From the Bride… We wanted our wedding to be a big weekend event; from our Friday night party at Navy Beach, the ceremony, reception and after party at Solé East, to the Sunday mimosa-filled brunch, everyone was invited to everything. We wanted our guests to feel the love we not only have for each other, but for the beautiful town we spend a lot of our time in. Since it was an outdoor wedding, we wanted to encompass the natural beauty of our venue and warmth of early fall. We had the tent filled with lots of candles to play off of the natural tones of cream, light pink, and pops of champagne. Our good friend Matt, was one of the first people to know us as a couple. We knew from the minute we got engaged he was the perfect person to officiate the ceremony. And we were right. His words were personal, heartfelt, and absolutely beautiful. Our friends and family couldn’t stop raving what a gorgeous ceremony it was. My favorite moment is our first dance. We did a mashup of Zedd’s “Find You” with it’s acoustic version featuring Matthew Koma and Miriam Bryant. We took some lessons and rehearsed a beautiful, sexy slow dance, with dips, twirls and lifts. Then, around then 1:30 mark, the song transitioned to its dance version and everyone went nuts. It was so us. My gown and veil, by designer Hayley Paige, made me feel like a true princess. It was the first dress I tried on. Our favors were custom canvas tote bags packed with not only food and drinks, but some of our favorite things from Montauk including Sea and Sand glass candles and Whalebone magazines. My advice to brides-to-be: hire a videographer. We were unsure if we wanted one, and made the best decision to use one three weeks before the wedding. We could not be happier that we did, as watching our trailer brings us to tears with every viewing.

More Hamptons celebrations this way!

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Photography: Heather Waraksa | Cinematography: Orange Films | Event Planning: Lauren Daversa Events | Floral Design: Flower By Beth | Cake: Nine Cakes | Hair + Makeup: Face Time Beauty Concierge| Lighting: Matt Murphy Event Lighting | DJ: DJ Gizzmo | Band: Lost In Paris | Groom’s Attire:Rothman’s | Wedding Venue: Sole East Resort | Bride’s Shoes + Purse: Jimmy Choo | Cocktail Hour Band:David Higgins Band | Custom Stationery Design + Branding: Sean Dimmer | Desserts: Sweet D’Cor | Groom’s Shoes: Left Shoes Company | Maid of Honor Dress: Reformation | Photo Booth: Sweet Booths | Rehearsal Dinner: Navy Beach Restaurant | Rentals: Party Rentals Ltd | Wedding Dress + Veil: JLM Couture, Inc | Welcome Totes: Sean Dimmer

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The Lela Rose Trunk Show at Gabriella New York

Lela Rose is the type of designer that you set aside an entire weekend for. Which is why we’re marking our calendars NOW for the Lela Rose Trunk Show happening on June 23 – 26 at Gabriella New York. Think gorgeous gowns, complementary accessories and a special 10% discount, all wrapped up in the top-notch customer service that Gabriella New York is so well-known for. We’ll see you there, SMPers.

Based in the always-fabulous NYC, Lela Rose never fails to make brides swoon with her sophisticated, yet totally modern take on all things bridal.  From her unique + seriously elegant designs crafted with the most intricate of details to her use of beyond luxurious fabrics that are known for being a bit unconventional to her flattering silhouettes that will make your hearts sing.  Not to mention that you’ll be one of the first to view her entire Spring 2017 Collection in its entirety.  We.can’t.wait.

Contact Gabriella New York TODAY to book your appointment for the Lela Rose Trunk Show happening on June 23 – 26, 2016.  You’ll be able to peruse every.last.gown in her Spring 2017 Collection, plus take advantage of an amazing 10% Trunk Show discount.  Awesome.

Wedding Dress: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Wedding Dress: Lela Rose

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Wifey for Lifey: This Castle Wedding Defines Happily Ever After

This celebration is easily a new favorite. For starters? Look at those shoes! Oh, but the beauty doesn’t end there. From the outdoor sunlit ceremony to the Bride’s insanely gorgeous locks a la Once Upon A BrideHeather Waraksa and Kiss The Bride Films captured it all to share. See every second of beauty in The Vault!

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From The Bride…From the beginning, I envisioned throwing an enchanted garden party at a spectacular venue with thoughtful details strewn throughout the day. Andy and I wanted our wedding to be an intimate weekend affair for our closest friends and family; A little getaway at a venue that offered it all. The Castle Hotel in charming Tarrytown, NY had a spacious, vintage-inspired bridal suite, accommodations for guests, a poolside lounge area for our rehearsal dinner, and various outdoor and indoor spaces for the ceremony, reception and cocktail hour. We got married in a beautifully manicured flower garden overlooking the Hudson River.

I imagined lots of dark greenery with little pops of light pink, cream and gold. Our florist, Juli Vaughn, really helped this vision come to life. I told her I wanted the arrangements to look freeform and organic with a waterfall of greens down the sides. She brought long strands of ivy and draped them over chairs, balconies and tables. Our sweetheart table was magical with rose gold candelabras and hand-painted floral details.

Andy and I bought a bag of Palo Santo chips and tied together little bundles with twine to give as favors. Palo Santo is a natural, aromatic wood incense said to have special healing properties. It offered our guests a little peek inside our world, and they came with a little description of how to use.

My favorite moment was walking up the aisle with Andy, our first moments officially married as a couple while the band played Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Friends and family were cheering and there was champagne waiting for us at the end.

Choosing what jewelry to wear was the hardest decision for me. I went with my favorite Jacquie Aiche Diamond Shaker Necklace, Moonstone Double Pyramid Ring and Moonstone Hoops as well as an Ariel Gordon Diamond Tennis Bracelet, Diamond Droplet Bracelet and Signet Bangle with my initials. My Sophia Webster Jojo Heels said “Wifey for Lifey” on the soles. I’m a sucker for those sorts of whimsical details.

My advice is to very thoroughly research your vendors. Take time to meet with many of them and narrow it down based on the right teams that suit your needs. Make a list of what day-of details are the most important and allow for a bigger budget. Our must-have vendor was photographer Heather Waraksa who captured every moment of our day in such ethereal, dreamy detail. The photos we have from our wedding are priceless; We get to relive our momentous day any time we pull them out.

Photography: Heather Waraksa | Cinematography: Kiss The Bride Films | Event Planning: New York Wedding Consultant | Floral Design: Juli Vaughn Designs | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Jewelry: Ariel Gordon | Jewelry: Jacquie Aiche | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jarlo | Hair + Makeup: Once Upon A Bride | Band: 45 Riots | Groom's Attire: Guabello | Venue: Castle Hotel Spa | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Amazing Photography from OLLI STUDIO + A Wedding Package Giveaway!

Let’s talk photography for a moment, shall we? Or more specifically, let’s talk about the seriously stunning, drop-dead gorgeous images of OLLI STUDIO, a team of modern photogs and cinematographers that never fail to amaze us with their timeless + contemporary take on your Big Day. From that first kiss of the day to that last smile of the evening, OLLI STUDIO has you totally covered. Take a look.

Whether you’re saying “I do” with just a few of your nearest and dearest in attendance or in front of 400 of your closest friends and family, OLLI STUDIO will be there to capture every moment in the most amazing and unobtrusive way possible.  Think an awesome photojournalistic approach to your Big Day using the latest and greatest in the photography world and you are sooo on the right track.  From images that will capture your pure joy to those moments that are true to your and yours, OLLI STUDIO will create memories you will cherish forever… and all with their distinct style and grace. We absolutely love them.

Ready to team up with a photography studio that knows everything about capturing your Big Day perfectly? Contact OLLI STUDIO today to start your journey… and say hello to a unique and fabulous experience you’ll be so happy to take.

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What: OLLI STUDIO is giving away a wedding photography and film collection! (Value $6,000)

How: Simply head to OLLI STUDIO HERE to enter. Good luck, loves! xo

Photography: Into The Story | Dress: Carol Hannah | Cake: Cake Alchemy | Stationery: Bella Figura | Engagement Ring: Cosh NYC | Hair & Makeup: Beautini | Calligraphy: Designsgirl | Transportation : Film Cars | Wedding Venue: Punto Space | Bouquet: Julia Testa | Bridal Accessories: Untamed | Bridemaids Dress: twobirds Bridesmaid | Edible Donuts: Keyhole Donuts | Floral Design & Bouquet: DESIGNS BY AHN | Hair Pieces: Carol Hannah | Menswear: Indochino | Women's Footwear: Alterre

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How the Editor-in-Chief of InStyle Says “I Do”

There’s no denying Ariel Foxman, Editor-in-Chief of InStyle and his love Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, New York City public school principal know how to throw a good party. But when we’re talking about their wedding designed in the hands of Fête, it’s a party taken to a whole new level. The grooms opted for a dark, moody palette with unexpected details, including a wall of peel-off escort cards and a bagel and schmear send-off for guests. Brian Dorsey captured all the images and we’re only just getting started.

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From The Grooms… The inspiration was a winter wedding that would feel lush and “undone” and have deep botanicals. Also, the we used ideas from the Dries Van Noten show, which referenced Dutch masters with gold, black, red and purples.

Jung Lee’s design is stand out because she and her team at FETE manage to epitomize your personal taste—the idiosyncratic things you’ve always imagined for your big day, the little flourishes that only you and your partner find amusing and delightful—while at the same time incorporating and elevating it to a standard of elegance and luxury like no other. And even as the final product is the height of sophistication, the appeal is contemporary, approachable and fun!

Our favorite part of the day—besides exchanging our vows to one another—was seeing how each and every detail came to life. Whether it was the peel-off escort card wall or the personalized chargers at everyone’s seat or the bagel and schmear send off with our charitable donation sticker affixed to each bag. Seeing the attention to every element and knowing that our guests experienced our day in exact balance that we had imagined, was simply amazing.

From the designers, Fête

Seating Concept 

As guests entered cocktails, they saw a wall application stating “Find Your Name” – it was scored into small rectangular pieces that served as guests’ escort card. Fete team helped guests peel their rectangular “escort card” off the wall. As guests peeled the card off, it became apparent that there was some image or painting underneath the application. By the end of cocktails, guests could finally make out the painting, which was an enlarged print of a watercolor painting an artist friend made for Ariel and Brandon.

During the planning process, Jung came up with the idea when the couple shared the painting with Jung – she knew it needed to be featured at the wedding, especially given the venue.

Curved Carpeted Aisle

The curved shape of the ceremony space inspired the idea for a curved, carpeted aisle. It increased the drama and beauty of the ceremony as a friend and recording artist sang her love ballad “With You”. Listen to it and it will become one of your favorite processional songs ever.

Photography: Brian Dorsey Studios | Cinematography: Craig William Films | Floral Design: Fete | Cake: Sylvia Weinstock | Catering: Restaurant Associates | Venue: Brooklyn Museum

This Classic Manhattan Wedding is Everything

This is the sort of day that reminds me just why I love a classic wedding.  From the beautiful details crafted by Polka Dot Events to the bride’s stunning Monique Lhuillier gown to the fabulous Hudson Mercantile setting, every last moment is woven with gorgeous traditional touches with just a hint of contemporary style.  Judy Pak was on hand to capture every moment perfectly and you can see them all right here in THE VAULT.

From Polka Dot Events… Melissa and Reed wanted a New York wedding that incorporated traditional and modern elements yet still flowed elegantly from ceremony to cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. They more than succeeded, with every piece of the day more impressive than the last. They started out getting ready at the Ace Hotel, then took a classic trolley car to the ceremony at the majestic St. Francis Xavier. Despite a cloudy day they still got gorgeous pictures on the Highline, and then went over to Hudson Mercantile for a night of drinks and dancing.

Everything about the reception was distinctly “them”. The cocktail hour on the roof of Hudson Mercantile featured a Cigar Roller, jazz band, and an Escort Card Mirror that Melissa made herself! The reception was perfected with lush florals by Creative Edge, chic lighting by Bentley Meeker, and four long tables that set the room perfectly for dancing, which was obvious since there was hardly anyone sitting all night! The guests left happily with Limoncello favors, picked out because of Melissa and Reed’s honeymoon in Italy.

Photography: Judy Pak Studio | Cinematography: Kiss The Bride Films | Coordination: Benor & Beik | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Empire Cake | Bride's Shoes: Louboutin | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Creative Edge Parties | Hair + Makeup: Michiko Boorberg | Venue: Hudson Mercantile | DJ + Band: Aria Melody DJ | Getting Ready Venue: Ace Hotel

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
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This Brooklyn Wedding Proves the Ceremony Can Be Just as Great as the Reception

Yes, the reception is the celebration, but the ceremony is what unites you as husband and wife. So, reading this Bride’s note that “the ceremony was the most memorable part of the wedding.” With a dear friend officiating, the ceremony brought every guest in Brooklyn Winery to tears, laughter and cheers. From there, the night only got better with Designs by Ahn florals, a Sweet Booths photo booth and a sparkler exit. See it all from Meg Miller Photography and Rob Adams Films in The Vault!

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From The Bride….After finally settling back to reality from the absolutely unexpected proposal from James, the vision of our wedding was clear from the start – an unconventional and personal event that mimics a fun night out in the city where we fell in love and grew together as a couple. Brooklyn Winery suited this purpose – the space was the perfect combination of vintage and modern, casual but elegant filled with reclaimed wood creating a romantic, chic, and sophisticated interior unfolding within the industrial exterior. As a fully functional winery, the venue set the stage for the perfect night that intimately engaged our loving friends and family.

As we planned the rest of our wedding, we focused on creating a personal and inclusive experience, a conversational celebration for all so the guests were part of our story from the start. The wedding logo was one of the small but key elements that runs the theme throughout – a claddagh ring encircling a Chinese character “double happiness” to represent the joining of our families from different cultural backgrounds. To echo the rustic style of the venue, we wrapped each invitation in burlap with a twine tie; and to personalize, we tied a small wooden tag with a personally written message to each of our guests. The wedding logo was also featured on our table cards, photo-booth prints, and place cards. Each place card was placed in frames that we displayed on two 7-foot tall, custom made wooden standing shelves that was personally made by James’ father! The design was the perfect paring to Brooklyn Winery.

The ceremony was the most memorable part of the wedding. We asked our dear friend Laura Ahern to officiate our ceremony. As someone who introduced us and witnessed our relationship from the start, there was no one more appropriate and perfect than Laura to help tell our story. Laura gave us more than we could ever have hoped for. She delivered with a combination of quick wit and a big heart that kept the mood light and entertaining, bringing our story to life, filling the room with energy and laughter. Our own vows, which made for some very emotional moments, brought the crowd to tears, laughter, and cheers. It was perfect; and it made us so happy having been told by many that it was the best ceremony ever experienced and shared!

The rest of the night was truly blissful…a candlelit family style dinner with Matt La Von’s Jazz Quintet providing the perfect background music for a meal that any NYC foodie can appreciate. Later, everyone danced to the amazing music by DJ Chavez with the floor packed to the brim all night.

From the first look, the ceremony, the speeches, to the first dances and the epic dance party, the talented teams from Meg Miller Photography and Rob Adams Films beautifully captured every moment. They blended in seamlessly into the background while managing to be close enough to capture some of our most intimate moments. Meg and Rob’s teams were an absolute joy to work with and we can’t imagine anyone else we’d want in charge of capturing our memories.

From the beginning, it was very important to us to have a modern, unique, and intimate experience on our wedding day. As each chapter unfolds, it was the most joyful, beautiful day we could have ever hoped for and more.

Photography: Meg Miller Photography | Cinematography: Rob Adams Films | Floral Design: DESIGNS BY AHN | Invitations: Park Slope Press | Bride's Shoes: Mui Mui | Jewelry: Swarovski | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Makeup: Sabrina Gilbert | Hair: Kristina Maccaro | DJ: The Knot | Groom's Attire: Charles Tyrwhitt | Hotel: The Ritz-Carlton Washington DC | Venue: Brooklyn Winery | Chalkboard Wedding Program: Andrea Casey | Photo Booth: Sweet Booths | Quintet: Scratch Weddings

Sweet Smiles + DIY Details For This Rustic Barn Wedding

Having attended college in the Finger Lakes I’m one of the lucky ones who knows the secret of their beauty. But that cat is about to be let out of the bag with these pics by Alexandra Meseke; she captured this beautiful Bride looking her finest (thanks to Gabriella New York) and the super sweet nuptials of her and her new hubby. See it all in our Vault and join me in the Finger Lakes Fan Club right this way.

From the Bride… When Andy and I began planning our wedding, we imagined a day filled with love, laughter, music and dancing. From the moment we saw Suzanne Fine Regional Cuisine, we knew we had found the place for our celebration; Bob and the entire Suzanne staff were warm and inviting, the farmhouse and barns were beautiful, their flower and herb gardens were vibrant, and the pond out back with a view of Seneca Lake was simply stunning. The fact that their food is absolutely incredible truly set the venue over the top.

I worked on a number of DIY projects for the wedding, and also have a few people to thank for their help. My dad cut, sanded, and stained wood for me to paint with table numbers. My sister helped me prepare watercolor escort cards and also perfectly sewed the banner I made for Andy’s nephews to carry (as a surprise, she also sewed a beautiful handkerchief for my “something blue”!). I made a number of other signs as well and loved being hands on with creating each piece. We eventually brought in the Events Company to help tie the overall feel together. They provided rentals, such as linens, vintage chargers, chandeliers and lanterns, and coordinated our sparkler send off. They also created a fantastic lounge space in the barn with tufted ottomans and chairs, which was very important because we had dinner in a tent just outside the barn and used the barn as a giant dance floor. This lounge area was key in making sure all of our guests felt included in a long night of dancing. Alyssa of the Events Company was also our day-of coordinator, and she kept everything moving smoothly!

We were incredibly lucky with the weather on our wedding day – it was 80 degrees in late September in Upstate New York! The leaves had started changing and everything felt magical. I knew that I wanted to focus on the natural beauty of the property, so we decided to keep the ceremony site simple with a circle of white rose petals. One of my favorite moments was stepping into that circle of petals with Andy to exchange vows and be married by our dear friend Lucas, who blew us away with his heartfelt and personal speech. We are also both very connected to family, so it was important to us to involve family members in the ceremony. My parents walked me down the aisle, which began on a beautiful tree lined path. Our siblings stood on our respective sides. Andy’s nephews carried a banner reading “Uncle Drew Drew, here comes your bride” and were so adorable in their tuxes and Converse sneakers. My aunt Brenda and our close friend Brian did readings. We also incorporated small elements of our heritage. During the ceremony and cocktail hour, Tim Ball and Sophie Orzechowski played Irish music, including a beautiful rendition of “She Moved Through the Fair” for the processional. The flower crown, ringing of bells as we were pronounced husband and wife, reading of an Eavan Boland poem, thistle boutonnieres and tartan pocket squares were all small nods to our family history.

I also really cherished the moments walking alone with Andy to join the cocktail hour. Immediately following the ceremony, we took couples shots with Alexandra as our guests began enjoying cocktail hour. When we finished up with the photos, Andy and I walked through Suzanne’s gardens to join the celebration. As we approached hand in hand, ready to join all of the people we loved, I was overwhelmed with an indescribable feeling of excitement and calm. It was incredible to see all of our loved ones gathered in one place, laughing and celebrating, and to observe everything briefly from afar. This was a fleeting, but wonderful moment before joining everyone for a long night of incredible toasts, great food, and dancing.

Through it all, we were so grateful to have Alexandra and Michael of Alexandra Meseke Photography with us every step of the way. Alexandra offered fantastic advice throughout the planning process, from sketching the path of the sunset at our ceremony site to reviewing timelines and recommending that we plan for golden hour photos in the wildflower fields across from the lake. Together, Alexandra and Michael are such a comforting force that it almost seems like you’ve got close friends by your side. And their talent and intuition is amazing, they captured the feeling of our wedding day perfectly.


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Peruse more rustic weddings here!

Photography: Alexandra Meseke Photography | Floral Design: Whistlestop Florist | Cake: Connie Decker Cakes | Bride's Shoes: Loeffler Randall | Rings: Bario Neal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Makeup: Erica Abdo | Hair: Adagio Salon | DJ: Select Receptions | Venue: Suzanne's Fine Dining | Bridal Boutique: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Decor Rental: The Events Co. | Live Music: Timothy Ball And Sophie Orzechowski

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Say “I do” in Style Aboard The Duchess + A Giveaway!

There’s saying “I do” in style, and then there is saying “I do” aboard The Duchess, an insanely gorgeous yacht that is equal parts fun AND sophisticated.  Think fabulous contemporary decor, a floating rooftop (!) and panoramic views of NYC that will wow every.single.one of your guests.  I mean, celebrating your newlywed status floating past the city you love? Sooo glamorous.

Whether it’s enjoying the newly built Duchess Lounge on the yacht’s second deck, sipping cocktails from their full-service bars or partying the night away on their oversized, hardwood dance floor, The Duchess has everything (and I mean everything) you’ve ever wanted when it comes to hosting your dream wedding. I’m talking climate controlled interiors, a state-of-the-art sound system (hello, live music or DJ) and outdoor furniture perfect for lounging.  Not to mention The Duchess’ sister property, Fish Bar, is THE place to host your rehearsal dinner, a fab cocktail party or even your reception.  We love them.

Whether you plan on an intimate “I do” with eight of your nearest and dearest or want to host a sit-down dinner for 400, contact The Duchess TODAY to begin your journey to that dream day. Star gazing is totally included, my friends.

THE GIVEAWAY

What: The Duchess is giving away a romantic dinner for two at their sister property, Fish Bar! (Value $200, Gratuity Not Included)

How: Simply leave a comment below telling us why you love yacht weddings! (Ex: They are sooo unique!)

Who: One lucky winner, chosen completely at random, will be announced right here on SMP on Friday, June 17, 2016.  For terms and conditions, click here.  Good luck, loves! xo

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Photography: Allan Zepeda (Image 2,4) + I Do Weddings (Image 1,3)

 

Designer Dress. A-List Florist. Celebrity Photographer. This Manhattan Wedding is a Must-See.

No one does a wedding like New York City — just look at this Manhattan affair. With a gorgeous Lihi Hod dress from Gabriella New York, a navy velvet Chanel clutch, lush florals from the talents at Putnam And Putnam, and a Momofuku Milk Bar, this day was as chic and iconic as the city itself. And it was captured to perfection thanks to Trent Bailey Studio. Head to The Vault to fall in love with it all!

From The Bride…Shay proposed during a ski trip to Utah. We were with a group of friends – all of whom were experienced skiers or snowboarders. For me – it was my first time skiing ever. On the first day we went out, I spent most of the time on the bunny hill and really enjoyed it, and bragged to Shay that I wasn’t falling at all and was ready for the real mountain. Shay obliged, but said “if you’re not falling, you’re not trying!”. I was sure that I was just a freakishly good at skiing, and went confidently down the mountain and of course found myself falling non-stop, until the last fall when I felt something happen to my knee. I was sick from it, and all our friends and Shay convinced me that my knee was probably just “bruised” and that we should slowly go down and then we could go home. After finally making it down and some hot chocolate, we drove back through the valley and stopped at a pretty snow covered campsite. I was certainly not in the mood to get out of the car, but didn’t want to be the party pooper and joined the group. Shay and I went off to a beautiful tree and snow canopied clearing, and it was there that he got down on one knee and proposed. Needless to say, it was the last thing I expected after falling down the mountain, but immediately cried tears of joy and said yes! I forgot about the knee until the next day when it ballooned to the size of a cantaloupe. That week I found out that I completely tore my ACL, and needed surgery. Long story short – I tore my ACL and then Shay proposed an hour later. It was definitely one of the best days of my life.

We wanted our wedding to feel unique, personal, and we wanted everyone to have a good time. We started looking the NY area and the Bowery Hotel was the third and final place we looked. It was a no brainer – the space felt really special, beautiful, and timeless. And it was six blocks from our apartment, and there was something really awesome about the fact that our wedding was in our neighborhood. That made it feel distinctly personal.

The design at the Bowery is already amazing, and so we did not need to do much more to dress it up beyond flowers. Putnam & Putnam was our first choice among the florists we looked at, and their prior work was inspiration in itself. Their aesthetic and vision is exactly in line with our taste, and so it was easy to really let them take have at it. Everything was stunning, particularly the candlelit backdrop where we said our vows.

A lot of the inspiration for other details were driven by our shared history. Our wedding DJ was DJ Baby Blu – he DJs at Brooklyneer on Friday and Saturday nights and we always have a blast dancing there. Long before we were engaged we both said to each other that he should play at our wedding. Our wedding cake was Momofuku Birthday Cake – the same cake that I got for Shay for his 30th birthday and we both said then that it would be the cake at our wedding (and it provided inspiration for our friends’ wedding too!). The recessional that the musicians played was from Hans’ Zimmer’s “You’re So Cool (part of the soundtrack of one of our favorite movies – True Romance). Our photographer worked at a friend’s wedding and produced amazing, dreamlike photos for them. My hair and make-up was done by Mala – the same woman who has done my hair (and my sister’s) for the last ten years. Our favors were photos from the photobooth Mashbooth – this was such an easy decision since we can never resist a photobooth.

What also made the wedding really special was our ceremony. Our friend Laura Goode officiated. She is a writer, poet, and filmmaker, and she worked with us and our parents for months to put together a really thoughtful and personal ceremony. She translated our relationship beautifully, and our guests couldn’t stop talking about it. We are so lucky she agreed to help us out.

We are not the most DIY of people – although we did a lot of planning ourselves and Amanda at the Bowery did the rest of the heavy lifting (and she did an amazing job, as did the rest of the staff there!). The most tangible DIY element was the wedding programs – our friend Lucy sent us a template and I played around with it to make it our own, and printed them at Paper Presentation on 17th street. The morning of the wedding I was still threading the programs with the ribbon and had to enlist my mom, sister, and friends to help finish them!

For me, walking through the doors and down the aisle with my father was so surreal. It was absolutely stunning to see our closest family and friends in one room, and to have Shay at the end the aisle. Holding hands and saying our vows was the best part of all. And funnily enough, another favorite moment was when we accidentally forgot to exchange rings so we did so right after the ceremony with our parents and siblings circled around us.

The party was a blast and to this day we keep hearing stories from our friends about their versions of the night. And to top it off, we had our friends drinking a special cocktail named “if you’re not falling, you’re not trying”. Many of them were trying very hard that night.

Advice:
– Try to keep it personal! And it doesn’t need to involve a lot of DIY to be personal if that’s not your jam.
– There’s inspiration beyond pinterest! I actually found Putnam & Putnam and my dress designer (Lihi Hod) on instagram.
– Something will go wrong but you probably won’t know, so don’t worry. It’s beyond your control.
– Have fun with it! It’s only one day and the most important thing is the marriage. Planning is a good chance to figure out how you navigate through some difficult situations together.

Photography: Trent Bailey Studio | Floral Design: Putnam And Putnam | Wedding Dress: Lihi Hod | Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Packham | DJ: DJ Blu | Groom's Attire: Sebastian Grey | Venue: The Bowery Hotel | Bridal Boutique: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon

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A NFL Player + Cheerleader Say “I Do” With A Touchdown-Worthy Wedding

This couple’s matchmaker? Just a little organization called the NFL. He, a Buffalo Bills football player and she, a cheerleader for the team met, began dating, and the rest is history. Their rustic, outdoor wedding day (with a color palette inspired by the bride’s engagement ring!) is one for the books featuring blooms by Bows and Arrows and photography by Apryl Ann. Lots more right this way!

From The Bride…The two of us met for the first time our first year in the NFL. Andy was beginning his professional career with the Buffalo Bills & Katie was cheerleading for the team. We crossed paths at a Christmas charity event and remained friendly for the next 2 years. In summer of 2011, Andy walked into the bar Katie was working at during college and it was something like love at second sight. We dated for a little less than two years before we were engaged. Andy asked Katie to marry him in his hometown & our off-season home of Santa Cruz, California. We decided to marry on the 4th of July, 2015 because it was a perfect time in the NFL off-season to have a wedding and still fit in a two-week honeymoon in Bora Bora. We took a big risk by having the wedding completely outdoors outside of Buffalo, New York. The weather is always unpredictable in western New York, but we were blessed with 70 degrees and sun!

The inspiration for the wedding actually started with Katie’s love for her yellow diamond engagement ring. Yellow was a perfect color for summer in our minds and we always knew we wanted a mix of outdoor rustic and subtle glamour. We told our guests to envision & dress along with a summer garden party theme. It was refreshing to see guests relaxed with a more casual attitude and dress. The decision to marry at Spring Lake Winery was a no brainer. We love us some wine & the people at the beautiful vineyard allowed us to bring in all of our own vendors and let us run with our vision. We didn’t have a religious ceremony, so we asked our dear friend, a classic rock radio DJ & announcer for the Buffalo Bills, John “JP” Piccillo to become ordained and marry us. We wanted to make the ceremony short but full of meaning. Katie wrote the ceremony script from scratch & included space for us to read a couple of words we wrote to share with one another. Andy has a fear of public speaking, so when he beautifully spoke in his own words about how he felt about Katie, there was hardly a dry eye in the crowd.

Although we don’t consider ourselves traditional by any stretch of the imagination, we included some traditions we found really special. Katie wore a veil over her face so that “Andy was the first one to see her face at the end of the aisle”. Katie’s something old & borrowed was a 200-year-old handkerchief from her mother’s side of the family, her something blue was a ring from her late grandmother & something new was a beautiful tennis bracelet from the groom. Andy walked both his and Katie’s mom down the aisle & our flower girls & ring bearers walked our beloved French Bulldogs Titan & Olive. We kept the traditions of the formal dances, toasts and cake cutting. It was important for us to honor our loved ones who couldn’t be there with us, so we had a table with photos and candles dedicated to those that had passed on. Katie’s best friend Shawn passed away the year before, so instead of wedding favors, we decided to donate to a drug rehabilitation center in his honor.

Our main objective for the reception was having enough things to do so no one had to dance if they didn’t want to. The decision, inspired by Andy’s dislike for the dance floor, shaped our entire night for the better! We filled our reception with great food, Motown music & fun activities. We are big eaters! Andy is a lineman and Katie loves to cook, so together we decided food should be our focus. We thought of our reception as more of a 4th of July BBQ. For the cocktail hour, we served several different types of pizza, Buffalo wings (of course!), French fries, sliders, grilled cheese with tomato soup & milk and cookies. For dinner, we had stations of Italian food, Mexican food, fresh-rolled sushi & Japanese food & Mediterranean food. Some of the highlights were stuffed banana peppers, meatballs, spicy tuna rolls, calamari, fish tacos and falafel. For dessert, we had 5 different flavored cakes: strawberry shortcake, carrot cake, red velvet, chocolate & peanut butter and cassata cake.

We also had our friends at Lake Effect Ice Cream create an ice cream sundae bar with 4 flavors, tons of toppings, ice cream sandwiches & a flavor named “Levitre Land.” We also had a s’mores station with a small fire pit. At night, we had a taco truck show up for some late night burritos, nachos, and tacos. That was definitely a hit with the crew that stuck around until 1am! We had 3 full bars at the wedding & different stations for wine, whiskey, and beer tastings & cigar rolling. The 21 and older crowd enjoyed our beer pong and flip cup tables along with games of corn hole.

Perhaps our favorite moment of the night, besides the “I do’s” was the few minutes we had completely alone watching the firework show over the vineyard’s private lake. We received the great advice to take a moment to be together to really soak in the moment and we’re so happy we did. Another great piece of advice was to prepare ourselves for something to go wrong. Luckily, the big stuff, like the weather and ceremony were perfect…but there was definitely A LOT of hiccups along the road. The funny part about all of the “mistakes,” was that no one noticed them but us. So, with that in mind, we would tell all brides and grooms to always remember that this day is about YOU. Prepare the best you can to have your dream wedding, but if the wedding can’t be perfect, just focus on the beauty of your marriage.

Photography: Apryl Ann Photography | Cinematography: Phenomenon Events | Event Planning: KC You There | Floral Design: Bows and Arrows | Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai | Cake: Panaro's | Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Engagement Ring: Henri Daussi | Catering: Bada Bing | Catering: Amici's | Catering: Mezza | Catering: Encore | Catering: Aguacates | Makeup: Stephanie Signorelli | Hair: Cielo Salon | Band: Nu-Cullers Entertainment | Ceremony Music: Gig Masters - PartyPosh | Venue: Spring Lake Winery | Beer Tasting: Resurgence Brewery | Chalkboard Calligrapher: Daniel Ortiz | Cigar Rolling: Santiago Cigar Factory | Dog Sitters: Outta The Doghouse | Ice Cream Ba: Lake Effect Ice Cream | Luxury restroom trailer: Arwood Waste | Rentals: McCarthy Tents & Events | Rolls Royce: Advantage | Save the dates: Wedding Paper Divas | Transportaton: AYR Coach | Wedding Suite: Invitations By Dawn | Whiskey Tasting: Shane Moore | Wine Tasting: Spring Lake Winery | Wooden directional signs: Sweet Carolina Collective | fireworks: Skylighters Fireworks

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Jane Austen Meets Gatsby Style in This Glamorous Wedding

This beautiful Bride and Groom had a vision for their wedding day that married “a romantic garden wedding with a touch of gilded art deco detail, and a dash of old-school soul.” With a focus on the details — like the Bride’s Pronovias lace dress and classic Chevrolet — they captured their “Jane Austin’s garden meets Jay Gatsby’s mansion” feel. See it all from Alexandra Meseke Photography in The Vault!

From The Bride…Chris and I are unapologetically old-school romantics. He continues to open car doors for me, pull out my chair at dinner, and surprise me with fresh-cut hydrangeas from our yard – one of the only plants we can keep alive in our tiny excuse for a garden! We have always been drawn to the styles, music, and culture of another era – we always say we should have been born 100 years ago.

In a few words, our vision for our wedding day was a romantic garden wedding with a touch of gilded art deco detail, and a dash of old-school soul. We wanted our guests to feel like they were stepping back in time. Yet we didn’t want it to become a costume party. It was important for me to chose colors, themes and details reminiscent of a time long ago, while still remaining fresh, simple, and modern.

We also both love spending time outdoors together in the woods, lakes, and parks in the Rochester and Finger Lakes area, so we knew an outdoor ceremony would be magical. Our hometown of Rochester, NY is overflowing with rich history and was the perfect setting to bring this vision to life while paying tribute to the place we grew up and met. When we were dating and I lived in an old city mansion-turned- apartment in the Park Avenue neighborhood, we loved to take walks and explore the city streets, admiring the beautiful old homes and architecture, and imagining a time when things were so much simpler, yet so much more grand and opulent at the same time. Just blocks away from my old apartment was the George Eastman House, the historic home and gardens of Kodak founder George Eastman and now an international museum of photography. It’s always been a favorite spot for us to visit. Think: Jane Austin’s garden meets Jay Gatsby’s mansion – to me, it really doesn’t get any better than that! Shortly after we were engaged, we knew this was our spot, and we couldn’t imagine saying our vows anywhere else.

We both come from large, tight-knit Italian families, so we knew there was no getting around a big wedding – and we wouldn’t want it any other way! But we also wanted something that felt intimate and special. The seclusion of the garden tucked away in the middle of the city felt like we were letting our closest friends and family in on a special secret as we took our vows. We were so touched to be able to share these few moments with everyone in the world who means the world to us, all in the same place at the same time.

Incorporating small but meaningful mementos to honor important family was something I felt strongly about. To honor my dad who passed away when I was a teenager, I carried an antique locket with his photo and mine on my bouquet, so he was close to my heart as I walked down the aisle. I also borrowed a silver beaded clutch that belongs to my mother, and inside, carried a handkerchief that belonged to Chris’ grandmother.

One of my favorite parts of the day was riding in the rumble seat of a 1931 classic Chevrolet Coupe along historic East Avenue from the ceremony to our reception. Aside from taking in the gorgeous view of the old homes and architecture, it was so special for Chris and I to be able to take this moment alone together (along with our family friend in the driver’s seat!) and bask in the glow of our recent vows and look forward to the party ahead. We couldn’t resist snapping a few selfies!

After the ceremony, we continued the celebration at another historic Rochester venue, Inn on Broadway, for dinner and dancing with our bridal party and guests. We both love to dance, and wanted our guests not only to remember a great wedding, but to remember a great party. Music for me was key to creating the perfect soundtrack to transport our guests back to a time of roaring jazz music, and free-flowing cocktails and champagne. A 5-piece jazz band set the scene at our cocktail hour, along with signature drinks “The Flapper” and “The Philosopher” – a champagne cocktail, and a whiskey-ginger. A cigar bar staged to look like a man’s prohibition-era suitcase and dressing table was filled with vintage photos, postcards, newspapers, and liquor bottles from the time, curated from local antique shops and Etsy stores.

Then our amazing DJ carried us into the wee hours of the night, playing a healthy mix of everything from Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and James Brown (some of our all-time favorites to listen to at home) to Beyonce, Fergie, and Coldplay.

A big part of our life is centered around cooking and eating good food with the ones we love, so it was important to us for the day to reflect that. Tournedo’s Steakhouse at the Inn on Broadway prepared an exquisite, seasonal menu, and Gourmet Goodies created a gorgeous cake and pastry display overflowing with creative mini-desserts and traditional Italian wedding cookies and pastries. At the same time, it was important to us to give back, and sharing food is one of the best ways I know how. For this reason, we skipped wedding favors in lieu of a more meaningful contribution to a local food bank in honor of our guests.

We were so lucky to find Alexandra and Michael as our photographers – the moment we met Alexandra, we knew she would be able to beautifully capture our day aesthetically, as well as emotionally. The two of them together are a breath of fresh air. They put our entire bridal party at ease, and made a long day of wedding photos feel effortless.

It was important to us to choose vendors that were not only able to turn our vision into reality, but who were also just kind, genuine people who we knew would be there for us every step of the way. We also wanted to work with as many local vendors with ties to the Rochester community as we possibly could. We couldn’t have gotten through the day without this amazing group of people that we were so blessed to work with – everyone from our amazing photographers, Alexandra and Michael Meseke, to my lovely hair and makeup stylists who not only made me camera-ready but also calmed my jitters, to the meticulous event coordinators at the George Eastman House and Inn on Broadway, to our hugely talented florist and show-stopping band and DJ. Because of them, each detail came together without a hitch, and Chris and I were overwhelmed with gratitude and joy when we saw our vision brought to life.

Photography: Alexandra Meseke Photography | Floral Design: Kittleberger Florist | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Gourmet Goodies | Ceremony Venue: George Eastman House | Reception Venue: Inn On Broadway | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Watters Wtoo | Makeup: Blush, Brush And Bronze | Hair: Cori Palazzolo with Scott Miller | Band: Showcase Sound | Bridal Boutique: Juliana's Bridal | Flower Girl Dress: Seahorse by Watters

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See Why We Love This Completely Non-Traditional NYC Wedding

When the floral designer behind Maiden Kind became a bride, she and her love knew a city celebration was in order. But rather than elope, they chose the next best thing – a wedding inspired by an intimate dinner party. They scaled down the guest list, reined in the details and focused on the love, plain and simple. D’Arcy Benincosa captured each and every moment you’ll adore, epic first look included.

From The Bride…When Nick and I got engaged, we knew immediately that we wanted our wedding to air on the smaller side. Intimacy felt really important to us and we wanted to be able to really focus on one another. We also knew that a New York City location was a must, since we met in our East Village apartment building and consider NYC our home. We began planning a 75 person wedding which we thought was small wedding. But we found ourselves quickly loosing sight of what was important to us- each other. It became too much about the details and making everything perfect. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a big wedding and all of its details- I’m a wedding florist after all! But when it came down to planning my own wedding, I realized it just wasn’t for me. After considering eloping, we came to the conclusion that it was absolutely essential to be surrounded and witnessed by our immediate families. An intimate dinner party was in order.

The Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn had always been my dream venue. But with our original 75 people, their ballroom would have been too large. But in the end it worked perfectly! We rented one of their suites overlooking the Manhattan skyline for our ceremony and dinner. It was truly the best location and setup. The Wythe was incredible to work with and it really felt like a wedding…Just a tiny one! Plus their wine selection and menus were amazing. 

Since we didn’t have a bridal party, we didn’t really think too much about color palette too much. We drew slightly from the environment, as we knew there would be the Wythe’s signature blue and white toile wallpaper, hopefully a sunset over Manhattan and lots of brick!  We bought Nick’s suit first and wanted it to be something that he’d wear countless times. We chose a blue suit with very subtle pinstripe. I also felt that since our wedding was going to be intimate, I would want to be comfortable and non-fuss. I actually didn’t spend too much time on dress hunting. I went to J.Crew and then spotted my Rosa Clara in a magazine and went on a mission to find it.  It had the sophisticated, urban appeal that I was after and I didn’t have to worry about extra tricep presses since it had long sleeves! For jewelry I wore my mother’s gold locket that she actually wore on her wedding day. It houses a baby picture of me and my sister. So that felt really special. If I have a daughter someday, I hope she’s want to wear something of mine on her wedding day. I also carried my grandmother’s handkerchief with me. It was beautiful and absolutely essential. 

My mom, mother-in-law and sister helped me do the florals and it was truly the most fun!! We didn’t have a palette in mind when we arrived at the flower market. But we ended up choosing colors that mirrored my Mociun engagement ring. Everyone always asks, “did you find it stressful to be the bride and the florist?!” It wasn’t stressful…But that’s probably because I wasn’t flowering for a full-sized wedding! If that were the case, I would have hired out!  

One thing we did splurge on were photos. Photography is really important to both of us and we wanted someone to capture the emotional aspects of our day. D’Arcy Benincosa was a perfect match for us and we were so glad we flew her out from Utah for our day. She also shot our engagement photos, they are fabulous! 

My favorite part of our wedding was the ring warming ceremony during our ceremony. We played a beautiful piece of music by Andrew Bird and our rings were passed amongst our family members. They each held our rings for a moment while they infused them with love and well wishes for our future. It was so moving, I highly recommend it if you’re thinking about a small wedding. 

We didn’t offer traditional favors. But we did bring gifts for our parents. As a way to thank them for getting us to this point in our lives. Nick and I were both born in 1985 and I’ve travelled to The Loire Valley in France with my family, so we gifted them each of bottle of 1985 Chinon. They loved the thoughtful gesture…And the wine too. 

We were on the fence about having a wedding cake,as we hadn’t seen anything that really spoke to us. We would have been satisfied with desserts from the Wythe. But I’m sure glad we opted for cake because it was one of the most fun things we planned! I honestly don’t remember exactly how this came about…but at the time I was “internet pals” with the incredible food blogger Molly Yeh – who is known for her cakes with marzipan cutouts. We got to chatting about her coaching me to bake my own wedding cake and it turned out that she was actually in town a few weeks before our wedding. So I chose her recipe for chocolate tahini cake with tahini buttercream frosting and I baked the layers before she arrived. Then we assembled and decorated it together in my Brooklyn kitchen. Well, she did most of the decorating while I tried to soak up as much cake knowledge as possible. I am obsessed with pigs, and if I was ever going to have a wedding cake it would have to feature two piggies in love (dream cake)! Plus, it added a really playful element to our evening! 

Photography: Darcy Benincosa Photography | Floral Design: Maidenkind | Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara | Cake: Molly Yeh | Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Makeup: Natalie Livingston | Hair: Troy Beard | Groom's Attire: Suitsupply | Venue: Wythe Hotel