New York Weddings

To me, there is nothing more magical than an engagement session in Central Park. And a session that features some gorgeous foliage, a ridiculously good looking couple and is all captured by Vanessa Joy Photography? That’s when we know we’ve hit the engagement session jackpot. See it all here.

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Photography: Vanessa Joy Photography | Park: Central Park

Here’s what happens when preppy meets traditional with just a dash of vintage glamour: it’s fabulous. Think stunning navy and pink hues, gorgeous baby’s breath-filled centerpieces from Colony Florist and awesome Victorian candlesticks.  Throw in a breathtaking setting like Shelter Island and it’s more lovely than you can handle from Samantha Lauren Photographie.  Dive right in.

From the Bride… We wanted to catch the last days of summer sunshine for our wedding on Shelter Island in the dog days of September. I felt the romance and love throughout the whole day and there were so many personal touches close to our hearts merging 50’s vintage love and modern class and elegance. I wore a classically cut Amsale gown, with my bridesmaids beside me in Alfred Sung. We wanted to incorporate the preppy, laid back feel of the island in our attire so the groomsmen wore navy suits and J.McLaughlin ties. Sam had a custom-made suit also adorned with J.McLaughlin. The little members of our bridal party were definitely the icing on the cake. The two flower girls adorned with their baby’s breath crowns, alongside our adorable ring bearer wearing a classic navy blazer, khaki shorts, knee high socks and bucks! I wanted all of our florals to match the aesthetic so I carried a classic hand tied bunch of Vendella roses and white morjorlica spray roses. My bridesmaids all had antique green hydrangeas, white ranunculus, white lisianthus, white marlise roses, and apricot spray roses. All of the styling was incredible and came together in the best way!

I got ready literally down the street from the church so when the time came for the ceremony I walked hand in hand with my mom and dad right down the street and into the service. After our traditional ceremony, we jumped into a picturesque “getaway car” complete with a “Just Married” sign, and cans! It was so much fun and really added the bit of vintage flair I was hoping for! The rest of the wedding party boarded a trolley and we all met at the Shelter Island Yacht Club for wedding party photos. The island winds were picking up but I really felt our photographer was able to capture the true essence of the day in our photos!

Next we rode over to The Pridwin Hotel and I truly felt like we were jumping out of a bridal magazine! Before we went inside to the reception, the whole bridal party made its way to the end of the private narrow dock, the girls stepping lightly in their high heels on the wood for some more amazing photos. I wanted our reception to have a very clean feeling to it which is why we used a lot of neutral colors and spheres of Baby’s Breath with cascading variegated ivy in Victorian silver candlesticks for our flower centerpieces. Ours was one of the largest weddings that The Pridwin has seen to date and we danced late into the night to the sounds of Bob Marley, Bruce Springstein and lots of 80’s jams! The whole day was perfect and I really think it reflected the amazing love Sam and I have for each other!

Photography: Samantha Lauren Photographie | Wedding Coordination: Tony Delisi Memorable Events | Floral Design: Ken Norman- Colony Florist | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Invitations: Crane & Co. | Church: Our Lady Of The Isle | Reception Venue: The Pridwin Hotel | Bridesmaid Dresses: Here Comes The Bridesmaid | Band: Craig Scott Entertainment | Groom's Attire: My Suit | Groomsmen's Attire: J. McLaughlin | Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair And Make-Up: Nickie - Hello Gorgeous | Photo Location: Shelter Island Yacht Club | Veil: Vera Wang

At the heart of every DIY wedding is a bride who’s not afraid to get her hands a little dirty. The type who can craft like nobody’s business and involves her family every step of the way. It’s exactly what you’ll find in this farm affair from Fabrice Tranzer, and the full gallery is something truly special.

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From the Bride.. From the start it was very important to Christopher and I that our wedding be a reflection of the commitment to be made, a day of celebrating with family and friends rather than an over-the-top production. The charming old chapel where we took our vows was an ideal setting steeped in tradition for our ceremony and my family’s farm-Jones Farm of Cornwall, NY provided the perfect backdrop for our reception. Our inspiration for the day was the rustic elegance of the farm and with each detail we sought to compliment our beautiful surroundings.

The farm has been in my family since 1914 and their was something incredibly sacred in sharing such a special day on the same land that generations before me have tended and loved so dearly. We didn’t have an unlimited budget, but were blessed with creative family and friends who were eager to help. I work everyday alongside my parents, grandparents and a team of wonderful people at our family farm and gift shop. Growing up in this environment creates a unique sense of unity that stems from hard work and commitment, and the entire farm family worked together to plan the wedding.

My 86 year old Grandmother contributed our favors-120 jars of homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, made from our own homegrown Rhubarb plants. I created the labels and packaged each jar with simple muslin and string.

I designed and printed our invitations and menus from a pastoral scene that my Mother drew of the family farm. Christopher used his artistic talents in hand stamping the wax seals for our invitations and decorating our bar menu chalkboard.

We so enjoyed adding personal touches to the tent, from making the place cards and table numbers to decorating the arbor entrance and cake table. For our seating chart we carbon copied names onto black mat board and inserted the board into a decorative screen door. The “Mr. & Mr’s.” chair signs were hand lettered from recycled apple crates laying around the farm. I hot glued faux flowers to the boards to tie in the colors from my bouquet. Our biggest challenge was decorating the inner poles of our tent. To add height and interest, we tied white branches to the poles, from which we hung jars with tea lights and faux milk glass pots with ferns to carry over the theme from our Tablescape. The faux milk glass was actually a plastic cup wrapped in bubble wrap and painted white -(an up-cycled, budget friendly, fun craft!)

My Grandfather loaned us his restored 1953 Ford F350 purchased new back in 1953 by the farm from a dealer right here in Cornwall, NY. It was the perfect getaway car, and Christopher and I loved driving with the windows rolled down from the ceremony to our reception.

My Father planted the succulents in our milk glass centerpieces, which we have since transplanted to the garden in our new home. The milk glass pieces were antique and thrift store finds that accented our eclectic Tablescapes- inspired by a milk glass chicken that I found in our collection of family treasures. Our friends were all happy to drink for a cause and helped empty dozens of wine bottles to use as vases. I loved the strength of the lanterns against the softness of the moss table runners and Queen Anne’s lace, which to me mimicked the beautiful contrast of the tractors and industrial equipment against the rolling fields of the farm.

Everything from the flowers to the music was local and personal. Our dear friend Della made our floral arrangements and bouquets using wildflowers from our fields, eucalyptus and cabbage roses. Our talented head baker Sandy made our delicious Carrot Cake and Key Lime Pie desserts-both favorite recipes from our farm kitchen. Family Friends provided the ceremony music and a high school classmate Milich Productions was our DJ. Our caterer, Pamela’s Traveling Feast is a wonderful local company who provided a fabulous spread incorporating many of our favorite foods.

I found my Ivy and Aster Dress at the aptly named Lovely Bride in Tribeca. It was a delightful shopping experience and I was enamored by the ethereal drapery of the gown. My jewelry was all purchased from my family’s gift shop at the farm, Clearwaters Gifts, and is made by designer We Dream In Colour. The vintage inspired jewelry perfectly complimented my 1920’s engagement ring.

Having our reception at home created such a relaxing environment for our guests. It was a family affair- While most people danced, the little ones ran around in the fields, and our grandparents enjoyed the quietness of a bench gazing out over Schunemunk Mountain. We chose to have my brother and a close friend as our two witnesses rather than a full bridal party. This decision lent itself to the intimate feel that we strived to create for our wedding and made for a much simpler planning process.

A DIY wedding is a tremendous amount of work, and not all of our projects turned out perfectly – our table numbers flopped (literally) from the evening dew, but the imperfections were beautifully real, and we wouldn’t have done it any other way. We felt enveloped in such love the entire day-(a love which our photographer Fabrice Tranzer captured so beautifully in his images!)

Photography: FABRICE TRANZER | Wedding Dress: Ivy And Aster | Wedding Cake: Jones Farm | Catering: Pamela's Traveling Feast | DJ: Milich Productions | Bridal Jewelry: We Dream In Colour | Hair Artist: Tara Dederick | Location: Jones Farm

I knew I loved this couple the moment I read their description of their romance: “straight from the rom-com genre.”  (They are awesome.)  And then I laid my eyes on the gorgeous images captured by Sara Wight Photography and it was hook, line, sinker, obsessed.  Because any time a stylish couple like this frolics around the city streets of NYC, it’s pure, unadulterated magic.  See so much more right here.

From Sara Wight Photography… Nikki and Matt are as sweet as sugar and couldn’t be more in love. Their story is straight from the rom-com genre, as they like to say. They met in the fall of 2009 at their little corner of heaven, LBI. Long phone conversations lasted into the wee hours of the night and quickly transformed into something magical that neither were expecting. They fell in love on the streets of Philadelphia and started their life in a little 600 sq foot apartment in South Jersey and have been inseparable ever since! NYC has always been a special place for them and so we walked the High Line and the trendy streets of the Meatpacking District to capture their ever-playful and sweet love story.

Photography: Sara Wight Photography

This is the kind of engagement session I absolutely adore.  A laid-back day of fun in the sun, happy faces and a whole lot of love captured by a talented duo like Robert And Kathleen Photographers.  It’s basically a no-fail combination guaranteed to bring the pretty.  And when you add in a duo as cute as these two sweeties, it’s like hitting the e-session jackpot.  See it all here.

From Robert And Kathleen Photographers… They were both students at the same small art school in a big city, but Ana and Chris hadn’t met each other before that one night when they happened to be at the same party. It was that night that their paths first crossed, quite literally. As one of them was walking into the party, the other was walking out. A brief introduction was made, the exchange of a quick hello, a slight smile. But that was it. Then they each walked in opposite directions, neither one knowing that they had just met the person that would change their life.

Not too long after that party, Ana and Chris ended up in the same place at the same time once again. This time they happened to have enrolled in same summer class. That second meeting probably started out very much like the first one – a quick hello, a slight smile. But this time there was something more. This time they were able to strike up a conversation. This time they discovered they had a lot in common. This time they knew they would seeing each other again – every time that class met at the very least. But both of them decided that only seeing each other in class or taking a chance that their paths would cross once again wasn’t enough. So a first date was planned.

Over the course of the months that followed, Ana and Chris feel very much in love. They graduated from school, started their careers and talked about the big dreams they were going to accomplish together. In the pursuit of those dreams, they made a big move – all the way across the country, traveling nearly 3,000 miles from San Francisco to NYC. There, they started a new life, knowing that together they could accomplish anything because they gave each other the kind of love and support that makes every task easier and brings even the loftiest dreams into reach. It was there, in their new city, that Chris decided to go after his biggest dream. One afternoon, Chris took Ana to the prettiest spot he could find in Central Park. With white flowers blooming all around, he held her hand, told her how much she means to him, and asked her to be his wife. Of course she said yes.

Because since that second meeting, since that first date, Ana and Chris both knew that they never wanted to walk in opposite directions away from each other ever again as they had on that very first chance meeting. Now they knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that in one another they had found the one person that completely changed their lives. In the best way possible.

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers | Bride's Shoes: Chloe

To me, there’s nothing – and I repeat, nothing – more timeless than ballroom nuptials in New York City. It’s the epitome of old world elegance and thanks to Roey Yadgar Films, we’re getting an up-close peek. He filmed what might be the most glamorous NY wedding to ever unfold, and all you have to do is sit back and press play.

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From the Bride… Like all our married friends told us, the wedding day passed by as a blur. However, Andy was really incredible at reminding us to take mental pictures, and taking short moments to just be together and enjoy this day. I tried very hard not to stress out and because of the amazing help that Ferinoosh provided the day of (she was basically my day-of coordinator with no fee!) I felt that everything would be taken care of and all I had to do was enjoy the day. It was so amazing to have all of our closest family and friends watch us get married and celebrate with us. Saying our vows to each other was so special and emotional.

Ironically, I kept my cool when reciting my vows, but Andy couldn’t even start to say his without crying. He made the entire room cry as soon as he started speaking! And despite the stress and nerves and fatigue, we had so much fun!! I didn’t want the party to end! And none of the guests wanted to leave either. I was also very happy with the way my hair, makeup, and dress looked, I truly felt like the most beautiful woman in the world that day and the luckiest.

Describe the ambiance of the wedding reception, décor, food, special touches and special moments
The grand ballroom at the Roosevelt Hotel has large chandeliers on the ceiling, Gilded Age architecture with gold, cream, ivory, and beige tones. There are mirrored walls on one side of the ballroom and large French windows on the other side. There is also a balcony that spans 3 of the 4 walls of the ballroom, and a booth at the front of the ballroom on the balcony from where two large staircases come (this is how my husband and I made our first entrance at our reception.)

For the venue décor, my florist, Maria Nino, owner of MC Designs, did a fantastic job bringing style and modernity to the venue. In the hallway leading up to the ballroom, she created three arches of laurel branches with white twinkle lights. Each table at the reception had a large centerpiece of Roses, Casablanca’s, Mums with Dendrobium Orchids and Greens in a stemmed glass vase with floating candles in glass-cupped vases of varies heights around it. The Chuppah was designed with draped chiffon fabric, and floral clusters in the corners. The escort table had floral spheres of soft peach blooms, on elegant glass vases, surrounded by cupped glass vases, with sparkling peach floating candles. By sheer coincidence, our catering manager at the Roosevelt Hotel used to work with my mother, who is also in the hotel business in Los Angeles. When my mom came to see the venue and help with other planning details, we were all shocked when they recognized each other! It really set the mood for the rest of the planning experience.

The Roosevelt was incredible in providing support, guidance, flexibility, and charm to our event. Besides the beauty and elegance of the hotel, the service and support that Ferinoosh Khosravi (our catering manager) provided was unparalleled. She took care of everything (coordinating with vendors, ensuring the catering was exactly what we wanted, helping with our room reservations and so much more.) They also created a very unique menu for us, since my family wanted the dinner to be more family “Russian” style, so we had cold appetizers preset on the table, family style, as well as warm appetizers served throughout the evening before dinner, which was a plated entrée. There was also both black and red caviar, and other traditional Russian dishes, in addition to great American fare. We had a large raw bar for the cocktail hour in addition to passed hors d’oeuvres. The wedding cake was included in the venue package from Sylvia Weinstock and was simply gorgeous. The venue also provided delicious Tiramisu as an additional dessert.

At the end of the wedding day, which was early the next morning, I felt that I had just experienced the most emotional, nerve-wrenching, loving day of my life (they say when you have your first child, that trumps this, but still :-) I felt like the most beautiful woman in the entire world, promising to spend her life committed to her soul mate…and all the stress of planning, paying, organizing the wedding was all worth it!

When we watched the same day edit that Roey Yadgar films made for us, that was the only time during the wedding when I started just sobbing, I was so overwhelmed with emotion from the entire day and the video was so beautiful and perfectly portrayed our love story, that it just felt amazing to see….

Photography: Konrad Kolen | Floral Design: MC Nino Designs | Cake: Sylvia Weinstock | Wedding Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel | Wedding Cinematography: Roey Yadgar Films

You know what makes me happy?  A day like this.  A classic meets awesome affair dripping in gold and pink details and traditional stylings that are soon to be your everything (trust me).  It’s the sort of fairytale affair that you can’t stop dreaming about… if you’re in to dreaming about the world’s prettiest weddings.  See it all captured by Clay Austin in the full gallery.

From Clay Austin Photography… This fantastic couple could not be any cuter together and they just radiate love.  Their day started getting ready at the beautiful Double Tree Hotel in Tarrytown and then continued on to the magnificent Church of the Magdalene for the ceremony. After which the bridal party hopped on a bus and headed off to the gorgeous Blue Hill Farm for a few photos and then back on the bus to Tappan Hill Mansion for a perfect reception overlooking the Hudson River.

Photography: Clay Austin | Event Planning: Cait & Jules | Floral Design: Hope Stanley | Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca | Invitations: Everly Calligraphy | Ceremony Venue: Church of the Magdalene | Reception Venue: Abigail Kirsch | Rings: J. Albert Jewelers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Coren Moore Inc. | Catering: Abigail Kirsch | Hair: Eclipse Hair Salon | Band: Groove Authority | Grooms Attire: Vera Wang | Hairpeice: Sara Gabriel | Photo Booth: Photo Booth Lounge

Now that warmer weather has finally found its way to the East Coast, we couldn’t be happier to gaze upon bright, Spring-ified soirees like this bridesmaid luncheon from the lens of Martina Micko. It’s what happens when Color Pop Events, Gilded Lily Events and Makr join creative forces, and the result is a gallery chock-a-block full of colorful inspiration with a “Desert in the Spring” twist. Enjoy!

And now for the cocktail recipe that’ll rock your world – guaranteed.

Stephanie WeersCider Crisp Cocktail

prep time 5 Minute/s

cook time

total time 5 Minute/s

Serves 0Ingredients

• 2 oz apple cider
• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• 3 oz sparkling wine
• Splash of rosemary and ginger syrup

Instructions

1. Combine ingredients and garnish with sliced apple and rosemary. Enjoy!

From Color Pop Events and Gilded Lily Events… After one of the coldest and snowiest winters in recent memory, we were looking for some warmer inspiration for this styled bridesmaid’s luncheon, so we landed on a “Desert in the Spring” concept. The shoot was organized as part of The Not Wedding’s April New York City event, so all of the vendors (except the venue) were also Not Wedding participants.

The Dogwood restaurant in Brooklyn hosted the “luncheon” and provided an array of yummy treats as well as a signature cocktail, The Cider Crisp. With the “Desert in the Spring” concept, we wanted the tablescape and decor to feel fun and fresh with beautiful pastel pinks, oranges, and greens, with pops of hot pink and gold. We used flowers such as ranunculus, parrot tulips, lilies, and garden roses to create the centerpieces. As a thank-you gift, each bridesmaid was given a wedding “emergency kit” from the bride in a dip-dyed muslin bag with tags designed and printed by Makr.

We used a woven runner for the table and an array of teal, peach and gold votives to compliment the flowers. Our favorite element was the antlers in the cloche jar – it showed a new, unique way to use antlers in your decor! Our table also featured vintage plates and frosted glassware from Gilded Lily Events’ personal collection. The shoot definitely provided a brief respite for us on a chilly March day and signaled the inevitable transition into spring.

Photography: Martina Micko Photo | Event Planner: Color Pop Events | Event Design And Florals:: Gilded Lily Events | Invitations + Paper Accents:: Makr | Venue, Desserts And Drinks: The Dogwood

Obsessed doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about these adorable Alexandra Grecco tulle skirts. Releasing her first collection in 2010, Alexandra Grecco creates heirloom-quality pieces that are as nostalgic as they are timeless. Ready to fall even more in love with these pretties? Just take a peek below.

Finding inspiration in the designs and years of the past, Alexandra Grecco’s 6-layer tulle skirts are perfect for unique bridesmaid attire or a romantic engagement photo shoot! Based in Brooklyn, the company crafts all of its pieces right in NYC’s garment district.  Beautifully made, the skirts are fully lined and layered for a perfect fit and have a lovely silk waistband. Available in two different lengths in sizes 00-12, as well as in a gorgeous selection of colors, there is really nothing sweeter.

Alexandra Grecco regularly offers a 15% discount when purchasing three or more tulle skirts, but for our lovely readers, she’s offering 25% off any quantity with code stylepretty! Offer valid until May 28, 2014. 

The Prize: A lucky reader will win a gorgeous tulle skirt from Alexandra Grecco! (value $188)

To Enter: Comment on this post with how and where you’d wear your Alexandra Grecco tulle skirt!

To Win: One winner will be selected at random and announced right here on Friday, May 23, 2014

Terms & Conditions:  See them all right here. Good luck my dears! xoxo

Photo Credits: Ivory Tulle Skirt Couple : KT Merry | Ivory Tulle Skirt Photo: Atlantic Pacific

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City anniversary sessions never fail to wow. And when they happen to be captured in the City by Martine Payne Photography, let’s just say wow doesn’t even cover it. This couple left with a collection of images they will treasure forever, and you can see them all here.

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From Martine Payne Photography…This beautiful couple, Heather a New Yorker, and Greg an Australian celebrated their 3 year wedding anniversary with this gorgeous photo shoot in Tribeca. They were married in the beautiful Harbour side Taronga Zoo in Sydney and decided to celebrate their love in style with a more casual, fun photo shoot.

Photography: Martine Payne Photography

I’ve always been a girl’s girl. The type who fusses over the frills and wears polka and pink with no shame…the stereotypical wedding blogger, if you will. So when miss Twah Dougherty of Style-Art-Life and Erin Braun Design passed along this soft, romantic Hudson Valley affair our way, my day was made about ten times over. Brace yourselves, SMPers, because this is the feminine garden wedding gone oh-so-glam.

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From Twah… I must admit I was secretly star struck when I discovered that I would be shooting the wedding of Kurt Loder’s (An MTV Legend) son. As a child of the 80’s, I grew up watching MTV back in the day when they primarily played music videos. Anne wanted a bit of garden glam while Brendan wanted to incorporate a bit of rock with a heavy emphasis on great music and food. From listening to their vision, I introduced them to the wonderfully talented Erin Braun of Erin Braun Design which brought the entire styling of the day to life!

From Erin Braun Designs… As soon as I met Anne I fell head over heels for her wedding vision, her appreciation for all the lovely little details that make an event shine, and her love for Brendan since the age of 15. I was thrilled to be a part of creating this elegant, romantic, and memorable wedding that was beautifully photographed by Twah Dougherty!

Boscobel House and Gardens has one of the most breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley! The 18th century house and winding rose gardens created the perfect backdrop for this outdoor intimate wedding. This fun music-loving couple wanted to combine the sophistication of their life in New York City with a Tuscan garden-inspired styling to represent the Bride’s Italian roots. We created a palette of soft romantic tones of white, blush, dusty greens, and grey with touches of metallic. Succulents, Silver Brunia, and David Austin Roses were prominent and gorgeously styled by Stems. We used the Bride’s vintage family silver pieces as floral containers and accents to create beautifully unique tablescapes. I created hand painted watercolor invitations and paper details to compliment the soft and exquisite styling of the wedding.

Music is what brought Anne and Brendan together, so it was important to incorporate personal details that reflect their love for music and fashion and represent Brendan’s music and entertainment lineage. The bridal party walked down the aisle to a Nirvana compilation and they read the lyrics of “Walk The Line” by Johnny Cash during the ceremony. Each reception table had a fashion illustration by Verrier with lyrics from some of their favorite songs that represent them as a couple.

Feather details were incorporated throughout the wedding to add texture and whimsy. We strung metallic brushed feathers throughout the Herb Garden for a dramatic entrance into the reception. The Bride wore a stunning tulle gown by Badgley Mischka and I created a custom Venetian inspired crystal belt to complete her look. The guests enjoyed a gourmet, family style, farm-to-table meal using fresh local ingredients from the Hudson Valley. Venetian masquerade masks were passed out to each guest and everyone danced the night away! The images from Twah Dougherty truly capture how incredible Anne and Brendan’s wedding was!

Photography: Twah Dougherty | Videography: Kiss The Bride Films | Event Design: Erin Braun Design | Event Planning: Erin Braun Design | Florist: Stems | Wedding Dress: Badgley Mischka | Bride's Shoes: Valentino | Jewelry: Mikimoto | Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew | Caterer: Main Course Catering | Makeup: Amanda Hudziak (amanda.hudziak@yahoo.com) | Hair: Styles On B | Groom's Attire: Black Lapel | Transportation: Mahogany Ridge | Accomodations: Roundhouse | Ceremony Belt: Sareh Nouri | Custom Hair Piece: Erin Braun Design | Custom Reception Belt: Erin Braun Design | Custom Wedding Band: Vale Jewelry | Estate & Garden: Boscobel | Flowergirl Dress: Olivia Kate Couture | Groom's Accessories: Alexander McQueen | Groom's Shoes: Prada | Invitations & Stationary: Erin Braun Design | Music: Jarrell Entertainment | Reception Dress: Catherine Malandrino | Rentals: Events Unlimited Party Rentals | Save The Dates: Genevieve Walker Wedding Maps | Table Illustrations: Verrier

There’s no doubt about it: traditional NYC weddings are about as pretty as it gets.  Especially when you take a fabulous group of vendors (think Designs By Ahn, Haiyin Lin Photography and 2Be Photography & Design), add in a gorgeous bride and groom and let them work their magic at a locale as amazing as the Ritz Carlton Battery Park.  One word: stunning.  See it all in the full gallery.

From the Bride… My husband and I got married in Easter weekend on March 30th, 2013 in New York City. We met during college in 2007 and about one month after we started dating, I moved back to my hometown, Hong Kong, to pursue my career in marketing, while he stayed in NYC. We were a long distance couple for about 1 1/2 years until I moved back to NYC. He popped the question while we were traveling to our favourite city, Barcelona, in April 2012.

Since we first met and fell in love in New York City, we wanted our wedding set in the city. The Ritz-Carlton, Battery Park was the perfect fit for our dream wedding. We wanted our spring wedding to feel modernly romantic and elegant. We incorporated a few of traditional Chinese customs into our big day, including a tea ceremony in the morning. I chose to wear a Chinese Qun Kua custom-made in Hong Kong during the tea ceremony. A Qun Kua is a symbol of Chinese tradition and culture. It is just so much more meaningful in wearing kua during the traditional tea ceremony.

I wore an Enzoani gown for the Western wedding ceremony. For floral design, we chose blush pink and cream. The bridal bouquet was a beautiful mix of garden roses, ruffled tulips, ranunculus, and accented with dusty miller and brunia, elegantly hand tied in ribbon. We were married under the bloomed cherry blossom branches from Designs by Ahn. We then took pictures on an open terrace overlooking the beautiful sunset views of the Hudson River. For reception centerpieces, we used cherry blossoms, as well as seasonal spring flowers such as hydrangea, garden roses and ranunculus.

Since we did not have a wedding planner for our wedding, I decided to take on some DIY wedding projects to create a unique personal touch. I created our table numbers using New York Landmarks (i.e. Central Park, Times Square etc), escort cards, Wedding Card Box, wedding signages, and other personal details. My bridesmaids were kind enough to help me assemble the wedding favors the night before my wedding. We gave a detailed time schedule to the wedding party and our vendors, and my husband stepped in on the day of the wedding to make sure our wedding run smoothly.

Since we had a Manhattan wedding, we hired a local jazz band to perform during the cocktail hour and reception dinner. We used gold balloons spelling out LOVE, plus stars and hearts for our stage backdrop. We had our first dance choreographed to “It Had to Be You” by Harry Connick Jr. Our wedding cake, a combination of green tea cake with lemon Chiffon Filling and Earl Gray Tea with Chai Spice Filling topped off with white fondant, was created by City Sweets and Confections. We enjoyed every minute. Everything was absolutely perfect and turned out beautifully. It was our dream wedding come true.

Photography: 2Be Photography & Design | Flowers: DESIGNS BY AHN | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Wedding Cake: City Sweets & Confections | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair & Makeup: VickyC5 | Wedding Favors: Financier Pastries | Officiant: Kim Worley | Venue: Ritz Carlton Battery Park, New York | Jazz Band: Audrey Silver Music | Morning Photography: Haiyin Lin Photography

This gorgeous couples’ love story reads like a lesson in fate. She was a Broncos cheerleader and he was the Bronco’ assistant coach – once their paths crossed (and after a little game of playing hard to get) their lives were never the same. That football team ultimately led them to their wedding day, which was as close to perfect as you can possibly get, and thanks to 4Eyes Photography, we can see every moment here.

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From the Couple…We met in October of 2010 in London, England. Allyson was a member of the Denver Broncos Cheerleading squad and they were doing some promotional work for the NFL’s International Series game prior to departing on a week long Military Tour of the Mediterranean. Brian was working as an assistant football coach for the Denver Broncos. We met after the game at the team hotel – actually crossing paths on the way back from the restroom. Brian offered to buy her a drink and was subsequently denied. We met again a few weeks later at the Broncos annual Christmas party, finally exchanged numbers, then went on our first date on Jan, 1, 2011. The rest is history.

We chose the venue – Allyson’s family home in Lake George, NY – because it was a place she was so fond of growing up & holds a special place in her heart. Its such a beautiful place, we had no doubt that is were we wanted to get married. We only had a limited amount of time in the summer when Brian wasn’t working and Lake George in the summertime is about as good as it gets.

Allyson loves the outdoors & nature. She fell in love with the thought of outdoor weddings & wanted to capture the essence of her families 1930’s home as well as the feel of the Adirondacks. Allyson’s grandmother gave her a British sixpence from 1892 on the day of the wedding for “something old”.

Groomsman received a cigar box with their Tie, a custom bottle opener with their name on it, and a small bottle of whiskey .
We had baskets in the rooms with local beer, “hangover kits,” a map of the area, candle for the room, and Colorado Nut mix. Tried to have a little of lake George and a little of Colorado.

Guests left the reception with cookies and milk – which was such a fun idea to end the Reception !

Most Vivid memories?
Seeing each other for the 1st time was definitely one of our favorites.
The boat ride from the church to the reception on a vintage classic Chris-Craft boat.
Seeing Allyson walk down the aisle was breath-taking.
Seeing everyone dancing and celebrating was so much fun – and everyone really danced almost the whole time. It was a blast.
Getting ready with our bridal parties.
Cutting the cake and our cake cutter broke.
Our 1st dance.
The blessing prior to dinner being served was really funny.
As for favorite pictures, we have so many. Our photographers Kellie & Rupert / 4Eyes Photography were awesome, they seemed to capture EVERY moment!

Photography: 4Eyes Photography | Cinematography: McKenzie Miller Films | Event Planning: Elegant Occasions by JoAnn Gregoli | Floral Design: Stonekelly Events & Florals | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Invitations: Elum Designs | Men's Attire: Indochino | Save The Dates: Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence

Wanting to pay homage to all of the special places that were such an amazing part of their relationship, these two sweeties travelled from the hustle and bustle of NYC to the sunny shores of California and back again.  The result?  A collection of drop-dead gorgeousness captured beautifully by Chaz Cruz with a whole lot of love bursting from every image.  See it all right here.

From the Bride… In November 2012, Bryn proposed to me on the staircase of his childhood home in San Francisco, just a block from where we met and fell in love.

Our shared love of the outdoors often took us to Marin County, where the we went on our first date. Many Fleet Weeks, Festivals and Spring Trainings later – it was our careers that led us to New York City where we currently reside.

San Francisco beginnings, Marin adventures and New York City hustle – these three places are the settings and future of our lives together.

Photographer: Chaz Cruz Photographers | Beach Dress: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Gold Dress in Central Park: J. Mendel | Long Sleeve Dress In SF: Belstaff | White Formal Dress on NY Rooftop: Ralph Lauren

Now this is how you celebrate the beginning of May: with a sweet introduction to Cody Raisig Photography and HowAboutWe.  Up first?  The amazing Cody Raisig, a talented photographer who happens to know a thing or two about capturing those special moments between you and yours on your big day.  Think one gorgeous image after another that will completely take your breath away…

From Cody Raisig Photography… I realize that authenticity is the ingredient for elegant wedding images. So forget about the pretentious poses and embrace the unscripted moments and a small dose of relaxed portraiture, creating a breathtaking wedding photo experience.

Visit Cody Raisig Photography on Facebook, Twitter, tumblr. and Pinterest!

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As someone who is constantly looking for a new date night activity, I am completely obsessed with HowAboutWe.  I mean, who wouldn’t absolutely love an online service that handles all of those pesky date night details, leaving you and yours to just relax and have FUN?!?  It’s pure genius, lovelies…

From HowAboutWe’s Community Director, Jessica Tom… HowAboutWe for Couples helps make date night happen. Whether you’ve just started dating, just got engaged, or have been married for years, dating your partner is essential. We take care of all the details, so you can concentrate on the most important thing—spending time with each other.

Every date in our collection (seen here) is chosen for its quality and originality. Members get the best possible value on every booking, one free date a month, access to exclusive events, extras — like car service and flower delivery — and free personalized date planning for special occasions.

From waterfront yoga classes to exclusive chef’s tables to sci-fi robot-making workshops (check them out here, here and here), we’re here to help you discover and enjoy amazing dates. HowAboutWe for Couples is currently available in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles and Chicago. Not in any of those cities? We also have a national version with dates delivered right to your door.

Signing up is free and members in our five cities get one free date a month! See our collection of free dates here.

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Welcome to the family, Cody Raisig Photography and HowAboutWe!  We are so happy to have you! xo

A true fairytale come to life, this Sleepy Hollow Country Club wedding beautifully captured by Ulysses Photography is what wedding dreams are made of. From the stunning ceremony arbor crafted by Forever In Bloom to the glided reception, and everything in between, this gallery is overflowing with prettiness.

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From the Bride…Ben and I knew that we wanted our wedding to be a great time and unique to us. After months of searching for the perfect venue, we happened upon Sleepy Hollow Country Club. The view across the lawn of the rolling hills and the Hudson River, the unique architectural details, and the giant oak tree in the center of the ceremony lawn all created the most picturesque and beautiful scene for our special day.

It was important to us that our wedding day demonstrated who we are as a couple and the love that we share. We decided to write our entire ceremony, including sharing our own personalized vows. The ceremony was delivered by one of our dear friends and certainly added to the individuality of it. To get our party started, we walked back down the aisle to Bob Marley, Is This Love. It was a great, unexpected surprise for our guests and transitioned well to our amazing band, The Hudson Project. The only time we left the dance floor was to have a waffle sundae (a huge hit!).

I love the details of weddings, so we focused on adding personal aspects throughout. We had our place cards done in beautiful gold calligraphy to match the gold molding throughout the venue, we created our own programs with the same matching gold ribbon, and we even set up a table for our guests to write their wishes for the newlyweds on scrolls with gold rings. For my “something old,” I had my bouquet wrapped with fabric from my grandmother’s wedding gown and my mother’s wedding veil. I also carried my grandmother’s delicate handkerchief with a blue crochet edge in my wedding gown pocket (one of my favorite parts of the gown!).

We have Ulysses and Jenni of Ulysses Photography to thank for capturing the most wonderful day of our lives. They have the incredible talent of making two people (who do not love being in front of a camera) feel completely at ease. We now have the most beautiful album and treasure every single photo of our wonderful day.

What was so incredibly special about our wedding is that we were surrounded by so much love and happiness; you could just feel it running through the rooms. Every minute of the day was a fairytale, and we could not be happier!

Photography: Ulysses Photography | Floral Design: Forever in Bloom | Wedding Dress: Victor Harper | Cake: Riviera Bakehouse | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Makeup: JK Flashy | Hair: Nicci Marinelli | Ceremony Music: Bach To Broadway | Bridesmaids Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar | Paperie: Crane & Co. | Reception Music: Elan Artists | Wedding: Sleepy Hollow Country club

Crating a great wedding day often comes down to the vendors by your side. And lucky for this New York couple, they were in some seriously good company. With Firefy Events, Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design, One Girl Cookies and Mademoiselle Fiona there to make certain their eclectic Indian-inspired vision went off without a hitch, you can bet the gallery is one perfect place to be. See it all here!

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From Firefy Events… Working with Shankar + Liz was nothing short of a dream. Individually they each have such fun, creative spirits, and together they’re an absolute blast! When we’re planning a wedding with couples, we usually make a list of “buzz words” that help guide us through the process, and FUN was definitely at the top of their list. To kick things off, we selected one of the most beautiful and eclectic spaces in New York City, to be the back drop for their November nuptials: The Metropolitan Building. This space is like going on a treasure hunt, complete with secret nooks and crannies, rooms filed with mismatched antiques, and vibrant colors painted on the walls.

Shankar comes from an Indian background and we couldn’t wait to incorporate aspects of this into the wedding- particularly when it came to the flowers. We went with a mix of vibrant hues from cobalt blue and burgundy red, to rich pinks and buttery yellows. These were all tied together flawlessly by Rebecca Shepherd Floral Designs, and complimented by an array of unique candle holders and lanterns.

One of our favorite things to work on with Liz + Shankar were their invitations and paper for the big day. We worked with Lion in the Sun to customize illustrated designs from Printerette, which included bride and groom figures modeled after Liz + Shankar, and a golden Ganesha climbing the Empire State Building! To keep things interesting, the RSVP was in the form of a Mad Lib. These were such a hit, we decided to display some of the funniest ones for guests to read at the cocktail hour. The invites were so much fun to work on, that we decided to incorporate them into all sorts of fun items for the wedding day, like matchbooks, stickers, and guest towels.

Two things that are always sure to make the night a hit, are a killer dessert bar, and an amazing dance party. We worked with One Girl Cookie to come up with a spread to make you swoon, including mini strawberry shortcakes, pumpkin spice whoopie pies, and mini caramel apples. We got serious and topped the whole thing off with a donut tower from Liz + Shankar’s favorite local shop, Peter Pan, in lieu of a traditional cake. Last, but not least, Affiniti NYC made sure that each and every guest tore it up on the dance floor! It was truly one of those nights that no one wanted to end. Thankfully Mademoiselle Fiona was on hand to capture every beautiful detail!

Photography: Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Maia Pearl Catering | Make Up: Nicole Sievers Makeup Artistry | Hair: Styles On B | Band: Affiniti NYC | Groom's Suit: Brooklyn Tailors | Officiant: Jesse Hendrich | Bride's Dress: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon | Dessert Bar: One Girl Cookies | Donuts: Peter Pan Donuts | Florlals: Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design | Getting Ready, Ceremony, Reception: Metropolitan Building | Invites + Day Of Paper: Printerette Press | Invites + Day Of Paper: Lion in the Sun | Planning & Design: Firefly Events

Modern weddings are sort of my jam. They’re the perfect intersection of elegance and ease, and today we’re diving into a Brooklyn affair that I’m pretty darn certain will steal your heart. With gorgeous blooms by Violet & Verde and a knockout gallery from Chung & Bo Of CLY CREATION this one,  my dears, is too good to miss.

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From the Bride… Dan and I first met two and a half years ago at a bar in NYC. It was a pretty typical encounter, but with a small twist. I was the one who approached him at the bar, bought him a drink, and then later asked for his number. Having grown up in New Jersey and lived in NYC for the past 13 years, you could say that I’m more blunt and aggressive than Dan, who’s from Texas and much more of a gentleman. Although we met as strangers in a bar, we quickly formed the best kind of relationship, where your significant other is truly your best friend.

Once we started planning our wedding, we both agreed that we wanted to do something low key that reflected our personalities. I work as an Art Director, and photography is a passion of Dan’s, so we wanted to bring some creativity into the day as well. We decided early on that a ball room type of venue wasn’t really us, so we started our search for more urban spaces. reBar was the first place we visited, and we loved the exposed brick and all the lighting fixtures. Luckily, we were able to find a really beautiful church nearby for the ceremony as well. More than the aesthetic value, we loved that we were able to start our marriage inside a church because of our shared faith.

Having our family and friends there to celebrate with us meant so much to us as well, especially those who participated in the wedding. Our friends Peter and Fred performed the ceremony music beautifully, and a long time friend of mine officiated the wedding. We were so happy when we found CLY Creations, they really captured the day beautifully, and we loved reliving everything through these pictures!

Photography: CLY Creation | Floral Design: Violet and Verde | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Nine Cakes | Church: Saint Anns Church | Reception Venue: Rebar | Hair: VickyC5 | Bride's Gift: Lana Chun | Groom\'s Attire: Hugo Boss | Make Up Artist: Christie Lee Make Up | Photobooths: We Love Photobooths | Video: Mint Wedding Cinematography

City hall weddings are some of my favorites.  They’re sweet, intimate and totally timeless.  But when you take a bride and groom as cute as these two, add in some gorgeous DIY details (hello, purple dress… I heart you) and a reception filled with Stumptown Coffee goodness, it’s more than timeless.  It’s epic.  See so much more captured by Melissa Kruse Photography right here.

From Melissa Kruse Photography… “We’re a bit geeky. But we’re the quiet type of geeky, as in you wouldn’t know unless you really knew us,” James smiled with his southern drawl. Geeky – as in the bride crocheting her bouquet and his boutonniere (the final details of which came together while waiting for their number to be called at city hall) and the groom sporting Spock socks on their wedding day. THAT kind of Geeky.

Jess, the self-dubbed “crafty type,” also handmade her dress for this very special occasion. And it was purple, her favourite colour. Having met many years ago while in school, Jeff had since moved across state borders until they reconnected on Facebook (of all places!) and love pulled him back to Knoxville to be with Jess. This moment, five years in the making, was incredibly important to them… and so was doing it their very own “simple” way. So they quietly escaped to NYC for an intimate City Hall wedding.

And their ceremony was just that – calm, sweet, and incredibly unique. Incorporating Jess’s love of trains with this great city’s MTA Subway, and rounding off the day with their personal favourite – sipping really good Stumptown coffee… heart patterns and all.

Photography: Melissa Kruse Photography | Dress: Handmade, The Bride | Ceremony Venue: NYC City Hall | Reception Venue: Stumptown Coffee

Ladies, mark your calendars for Sunday May 4, 2014 from 1-6pm, because Gabriella New York Bridal Salon is having their spring sample sale — and it’s not to be missed! The sale is first come, first to get the dress; and gowns will be priced up to 70% off! Amazing, no?! 

Carrying gowns from incredible designers such as Marchesa, Reem Acra, Jenny Packham, Legends by Romona Keveza, Amy Kuschel, Elizabeth Fillmore, Angel Sanchez, and more, the Gabriella New York Bridal Salon spring sample sale may just be your one-stop shop for the dress! No appointments are necessary, but be sure to get there early because it’s first come, first served! Gabriella New York Bridal Salon is located at 155 Wooster Street, Unit 3W, New York, New York 10012. Happy dress shopping, my dears!

Designers Pictured: Kelly Faetanini | Elizabeth Fillmore | Jenny Packham | Anna Maier-Ulla Maija