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Lenz Vineyard & Winery Engagement Party

From the Bride… Since Ray and I met in NYC just a few years ago, we really wanted to celebrate our wedding day in the city where our love originally started to grow. When we found our wedding venue, the Midtown Loft and Terrace, it was love at first sight. We loved the skyline view, the simple fact that we could have a rooftop wedding AND the idea that our special day could be so close to home. After confirming our venue all of the other details seemed to fall into place.

We were pleasantly surprised at how much fun the process was. Even though we did most of the actual planning ourselves, we certainly were not alone. From our married friends who gave us advice, tips and spreadsheets to our church community who helped us out on our actual wedding day, we were amazed at how April 13th, 2013 ultimately was a picture of the many blessings in our lives.

We love New York. We love each other. Many thanks to our awesome photographers and friends, Trent and Dara for these cherished photos which were captured on our wedding day!

One of the things I adore most about saying “I do” is all of the parties leading up to the big day. Engagement parties, bachelorette parties, bridal showers… you name it and I am soooo there ready to celebrate the night away. So to say I am smitten with this lovely Lenz Vineyard & Winery engagement party? A total understatement. Because this is the type of affair that simply screams “awesome” with beautiful blooms from Landscape Adventure and one gorgeous moment after another captured by Rebecca Yale. See them all here.

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From Rebecca Yale Portraits… Sandy and Kain’s beautiful engagement party was the perfect end of the summer bash to kick off their wedding celebrations next year. The party was held at Lenz Winery on the North Fork of Long Island where Kain proposed to Sandy. The beautiful vineyard setting was further enhanced by the beautiful florals and framed photographs of the couple that decorated wine barrels throughout the courtyard. Landscape Adventure and Lenz created a stunning tablescape for the couple with beautiful pink and cream flowers offset by succulents scattered around the tables. The guests enjoyed a sunny cocktail hour on the patio drinking wine made at the vineyard and enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres made by Lia Fallon of the Riverhead Project. Next, guests headed into a tree-lined courtyard with beautiful banquet tables to enjoy their family style dinner. As the sun set over the vines the guests enjoyed a beautiful dessert table prepared by Kiss My Cake and homemade treats from the groom’s mother.

From the Groom… Sandy and I reconnected right after graduating college. Sandy was taking a class at FIT, so I took a train into the city to see her and the rest is history. We have come to love traveling and anything that has to do with food – any and all kinds are acceptable. We still love going to bars and getting a few beers and some wings (that’s more my doing) – but Sandy has opened me up to the world of wine as well. We took a wine tour in Seattle when we were visiting, and even have to come to love exploring wine in our own backyard of Long Island, New York. During the fall and beginning of winter, we would venture out east where we could experience the vineyards without all the tourists and summer crowds. The north fork became a special place for us because we always enjoyed the farms, antiques and environment that always didn’t feel quite like New York (in a good way). This is why I chose to propose to Sandy at Lenz Winery – because it was a special place for us and it just felt right to make a lasting memory in a place where we felt so comfortable. This now makes wine that much more special for the two of us – because behind each glass reminds me of the woman I love so dearly.

From the Groom… Kain and I reconnected after college but we initially met in high school. We hardly spoke to one another back then and we only shared one class together which was a freshman math class. I remember Kain sat right behind me in class and would always bug me (haha)! On our first date we had Thai food in the lower east side. it was Kain’s first time having Thai so I felt very honored, but little did I know that it was the start of our many food adventures and a lifetime of happiness.

Lenz has ALWAYS been my favorite vineyard on Long Island and now it’s extra special because it was where Kain proposed and where we had our engagement party. There is something about Lenz that always gave me this warm comfortable feeling of being at home.

This was the first time many of my close family and friends had met so it was extra special for us in that regard as well. We wanted everyone to get a taste of the things we love and the atmosphere that we really appreciate which is good food, good wine, gorgeous and just relaxing. Lenz was the perfect place for that. Everything about Lenz was beautiful and absolutely magical. The gorgeous top terrace to the breathtaking bottom terrace which were both covered in vines and ivy was simply amazing. The harpist, Janet King, also made it that much more relaxing. Our chef, Lia Fallon from the riverhead project, did an amazing job preparing our favorite dishes: from the assortment of local artisan cheeses to the butternut squash soup shooters to the Peruvian potatoes of the side dishes for our entree(My family enjoyed that as they are Peruvian). Everything was local, had tons of flavor and was executed magnificently! Our beer was also from a local distributor called crooked ladder brewing company which is literally down the street in town. Our desserts were from kiss my cake in Huntington which featured rainbow cookie, cotton candy, and bacon chipotle macaron as well as a variety of others. The chocolate chip cookies were homemade by Kain’s mom.

The party is a wonderful memory because it not only brought together all the people that are so special to us in our lives, but it also brought together Kain and I in our new lives together in our favorite place where we have always enjoyed spending our time together as a couple.

Rustic Aurora Ristorante Wedding

I’ve never actually stepped foot in the lovely little restaurant known as Aurora, but I can say with absolute certainty that it is one crazy amazing place to hold a wedding. That kind of place where rustic meets romantic in a garden-like setting perfect for dancing the night away with your closest friends and family. Case in point? This gem of a day captured by Kamila Harris Photography, an intimate love-fest with a whole lot of awesome and a whole lot of pretty. Check it all out in the full gallery.

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SMP Tri-State Welcomes Our Advertisers + A GIVEAWAY + A DISCOUNT

From Kamila Harris Photography… Raluca and Peter were born on the opposite sides of the world. He’s from Australia. She’s from Romania. They met in Colorado, fell in love, adventured all over the world, lived in Europe, lived in Australia, and now live in NYC. A few months ago they decided to get hitched and went down to City Hall. A few months later they had a celebration in Brooklyn, and I was lucky enough to be there to capture it.

The day was anything but traditional. There was no ceremony, no formal group photos, the bride wore a short dress with a beautiful lace back, with a studded leather jacket over it, and her hair in a side braid.

The cocktail hour and family style dinner reception was held at Aurora, a quaint and rustic Italian restaurant in Williamsburg. The place was filled with love and warmth, as well as guest from all over the country and world. The bride, a graphic designer, designed the seating charts, the bride’s aunts put together the florals (flowers bought at Dutch Flower Line), a friend was their DJ (starting off the dancing with traditional Romanian folk music), another friend served as the event MC, and everything turned out so amazing. The romantic setting with brick walls and ivy was a photographer’s dream. This intimate wedding celebration was so beautiful and I’m so excited to share it with you.

Photography: Kamila Harris Photography | Flowers: Dutch Flower Line | Reception Venue: Aurora | Hair Stylist: The Parlour Brooklyn

Days like today make me happy. Because today isn’t just any old Saturday, it’s a day that we get to spend with some of the brand new members of our SMP Family. I’m talking the TWWP Anniversary Bridal Event, New Museum and Joseph Lin Photography here to fill your day with a whole lot of inspiration and a whole lot of pretty. So let’s not wait another minute and start this crazy awesome meet and greet!

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If there is one bridal show you simply have to attend this year, it’s the TWWP Anniversary Bridal Event, a non-stop evening of expert advice, pretty, pretty inspiration and, of course, some yummy bubbly. It’s basically a can’t-miss event with three full hours of some of the best wedding resources you’ll ever see, and there’s even a fabulous giveaway! Amazing.

From TWWP Anniversary Bridal Event… Presented by The Westchester Wedding Planner, this bridal show will take place on March 27th, 2014 from 5:30pm until 8:30pm at Haymount House (25 Studio Hill Road, Briarcliff Manor, New York). This amazing celebration of the magazine’s first year anniversary and all things ‘wedding’ will give couples an exceptional opportunity to discover the best wedding resources Westchester has to offer, along with lots of inspiration and a chance to learn from the experts.

Our mission is to connect couples with select Westchester vendors and give them everything they need to plan and execute the wedding of their dreams.

Visit with Westchester’s best florists, photographers, hair stylists and makeup artists, and chat with the fabulous ladies of the Bloomingdale’s Bridal Registry. Indulge in hors d’oeuvres and champagne, courtesy of the Haymount House, while you mingle with acclaimed professionals such as Laura Damiano and her award-winning invitation designs (Best of Westchester Voter’s Pick 2013), and Erika Pitt, owner of the exclusive Be Unique Boutique in Mount Kisco. Fabulous gift bags and giveaways, this is an event you will not want to miss!

Come enjoy an evening with new friends as we celebrate the past and share the excitement of the future!

Register early as space is limited.

Thursday, March 27th, 2014
Haymount House, 25 Studio Hill Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Early bird tickets at $20 admits you and a guest
Register – http://twwp.eventbrite.com

The Westchester Wedding Planner is giving away 2 sets of tickets to the event (value $35 each)! Each set of tickets is good for a bride and a guest. Please leave a comment below telling us why you can’t wait to attend the event and two winners will be selected at random on January 31st, 2014 and announced right here on SMP! For terms and conditions, click here.

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Looking for an ultra-modern, crazy chic + seriously fabulous venue to say “I do?” Then look no further than the New Museum, a contemporary wonderland just perfect for tying the knot in style. Think wide open spaces, a wrap-around terrace and a Manhattan skyline backdrop that will take your breath away every moment of your wedding day. And did I mention they are giving a discount to SMP readers? You sooo have to check them out.

From New Museum… The New Museum is the only Museum dedicated exclusively to contemporary art in NY. Our world-class institution was named one of the “Seven wonders of the world” by Condé Nast Traveler and the “Best museum” by Travel + Leisure. The Sky Room is our premier event space. With floor-to-ceiling windows and a wrap-around terrace, the adaptable space provides stunning panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. Our versatile ground floor Lobby includes views of our Lobby Gallery, two-story windows with streetscape views, as well as the exterior of our New Museum Store, which serves as a useful backdrop for product displays and event décor. Take advantage of our renowned exhibitions by including a private tour at your event. Led by highly trained New Museum docents, our tours offer clients an added cultural experience to their event. For more information on upcoming shows please click here.

New Museum is offering $1000 off venue rental fee for weddings booked in 2014 for the 2014 season. Valid through December 31, 2014. To receive the discount, just mention you saw the post on SMP!

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SMPers, meet Joseph Lin, a talented photographer that is about to render you speechless with his amazing captures and beyond breathtaking abilities. Think one stunning moment after another snapped up in beautiful images that are basically your everything. In other words, this is a portfolio (and photographer) you need to get to know. So grab that cup of morning coffee, sit back and soak in all of the pretty. It’s worthy of your entire Saturday.

From Joseph Lin Photography… Having attended the prestigious International Center of Photography in midtown Manhattan, Joseph Lin is technically trained in making his photos vibrant and beautiful but it is his quirky demeanor that brings about the reactionary joy & personality in his subjects. Born and raised in Manhattan, his facetious character is an asset to any lively environment, making him a popular choice for many event planners in the region. Never dragging along with his camera and always full of optimistic energy that can only be seen for individuals who truly love what they do. And once the event comes to a close, expect him to spend endless nights gargling in java to ensure that every photo presented to his clients are bodies of art.Joseph’s work can regularly be seen in the Daily News and New York Magazine. He has also been awarded “Best of Weddings” from The Knot for 2011, 2012 & 2013.

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Welcome to the SMP Family lovelies! xoxo

Organic Glamour Inspiration Shoot + WIUP

I think it’s totally safe to say we’ve kicked the New Year off with a bang. But we’re not finished just yet. Because before we send you off into this snow-filled weekend we 100% must share this Brooklyn Winery shoot from the ridiculously talented Michelle Edgemont, Revel, and Brklyn View Photography. They’ve captured our rustic + gold loving hearts in every way possible, and the cherry on top? We’ve got a few fun announcements waiting down below! xoxo

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From the ladies at Revel… Lavender and antique gold were our inspiration for this glamorous yet organic styled shoot, featuring flowers, leaves, wood and stone. We wanted to reimagine lavender – not Easter-egg pastel lavender – but a more grown up, sophisticated hue. We accented this romantic color scheme with antique gold, wood, and rock candy for the perfect mix of nature and elegance. For high-impact décor that won’t break the bank, we spray painted over 400 maple leaves to create a gorgeous golden leaf installation with matching garland for the Bride and Groom’s chairs. Another great DIY project was the rock candy cake, dusted with edible gold glitter for an extra touch of charm. Our lovely partners at BHLDN provided the perfect accents like druzy stone place card holders and whimsical golden bird confetti. The organic look of wooden tables and wood-covered walls at Brooklyn Winery, and the fantastic Queens Spread appetizer table completed the look!

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Get excited! We’ve got super special discounts from…

Lauren Michelle

Priscilla Thomas

Shine Wedding Invitations (a free sample!)

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Don’t forget to RSVP to this upcoming affair…

Bridal by the Bay Event at Chesapeake Bay Beach Club
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And of course, we’re dishing this week’s lucky winner…

Nicole won $250 in bridal goodness to Ceremony Boston!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Elegant NYC Elopement at Per Se

Elopements have always and will always be some of my favorite weddings on SMP. So when I see an elopement as intimate and stunning as this one captured by Esther Sun Photography, I immediately tuck it away in a place reserved for the SMP weddings that I simply shouldn’t forget – because with a love like these two obviously share (not to mention those shoes), this, my dears, is an affair worth remembering. See why here.

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Traditional NYC Wedding at Gotham Hall

From esther sun photography…Sheena and Jeff”s elopement was a simple yet extremely elegant one in New York City. It was intimate, romantic, authentic, beautiful, and so much fun. I literally could go on and on about how I am obsessed with every part of this celebration. They had the sweetest little ceremony with close friends and family, followed by an amazing five course meal at Per Se. Then we captured their joy and love around the city.

There are no words. Truly – there are no words worthy enough to even begin to describe this gorgeous NYC affair from the always (always) amazing Christian Oth Studio. Because this, my friends, isn’t just a wedding. It’s a breathtaking celebration planned to perfection by Details by Gina with fabulous paper goods from Village Invites and a whole lot of gorgeous florals from Belle Fleur. Dive into every beautiful image right here in the full gallery. It’s the best way ever to spend your Friday.

And a beautiful film from Fairytale Studio… Yes. Please.

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Modern Black, White + Red Cipriani Wedding

From the Bride… Mike and I met in college at NYU through fraternity and sorority life! For eight years we continued to date throughout my attendance at medical school and his job relocation to Texas, and never once did our dedication to one another falter. Our relationship has the word “soulmate” written all over it. Having only grown up 15 minutes apart from one another I’m surprised the stars did not connect us earlier in life. Just before starting my job as a physician at NYU and moving in together in NYC, Mike and I took a wonderful Italian vacation where he proposed on a gondola at sunset on our first night in Venice. On our arrival home we had a surprise engagement party in our apartment, planned by our wonderful friends and family. Apparently, everyone knew I was getting engaged except for me!

We spent the next two years basking in our engagement and slowly putting together our wedding. Mike stems from a large Italian family and we have a big group of friends so having a huge NYC wedding was the only option. Both of us were born, raised and lived our entire lives in NY, so it was only natural to have our wedding here. Once we saw Gotham Hall there was no doubt in our mind that we were to have our wedding in that glorious building. The glass dome ceiling and stunning architecture, impeccable lighting, and beautiful draping created a magnificent venue. From day one, I knew I wanted Christian and Mike Falco to photograph my wedding day. There are no other photographers that are able to capture the moments in the timeless detail and quality than the Christian Oth Studio. Working with David from Fairytale Studios was a treat, and their work is outstanding. We couldn’t have planned the day without our lovely coordinator, Gina, who knows all the ins and outs of planning a wedding. All of our vendors were stupendous, and we were very lucky to have such wonderful people helping plan our special day!

Our wedding was a perfect, beautiful day and we were surrounded by the most loving and supportive friends and family two newlyweds could ask for! We are very lucky to have one another and begin a lifetime of blissful marriage together.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Badgley Mischka

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A day like today deserves a party. So before you pull together you shiny NYE party tonight, I thought we’d take a little glance inside the gorgeous wedding of a Christian Louboutin buyer and her beau. Ever Swoon planned the gorgeous soiree captured by both Heather Waraksa + First Day Films and “party” might just be an understatement.

Don’t miss this gorgeous highlight film from First Day Films!

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From the stunning bride… Our wedding was a true testament to fate. Zach and I met at Columbia University while we were both undergrad students. We had mutual friends and socialized frequently, but never dated while we were in school together. Five years later, my best friend was dating one of Zach’s frat brothers (they too are now planning a wedding!) and we somehow all ended up at the same concert together. We didn’t leave each other’s side after that night, and 3 years later we were engaged!

Zach proposed on a spring evening in March on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Having such an iconic New York location as the backdrop for this important first step, we knew that we wanted to make our wedding an ode to our favorite city – where we had grown up, fallen in love, and where we now call home.

First things first we needed to find a location, and we pounded the pavement of the city for the perfect venue. Both Zach and I are foodies and wanted to make sure that our guests enjoyed an amazing meal as well as an amazing party. With this in mind, we eventually found ourselves at Cipriani 42nd Street. It took only a few seconds after stepping through the revolving doors to know that we had found the place. Cipriani is a New York City landmark and was formerly the Bowery Savings Bank, built in 1921; elements of the bank remain untouched on the interior down to the original ironwork and signage. We loved this touch since Zach works in finance at Credit Suisse, and found it a fortuitous personal element.

With the backdrop set, I began to imagine the remaining details. Probably one of the most important things I kept in mind was that I wanted the wedding to feel young and fresh, but of course still elegant and beautiful. This concept set the tone for the planning that would follow – choosing invitations in a classic engraved script but set on an angle with a red painted border was my message that this would be a formal wedding, but with a twist. Similarly, when selecting our ceremony music, we knew we wanted a classic quartet, but we only wanted to feature contemporary favorites from Adele, Florence + The Machine, Michael Jackson and Beyonce in lieu of the classical pieces traditionally used. We weren’t worried since we knew Starlight Orchestra was the absolute best and there really isn’t anything they can’t do. Claudia led the quartet on the Harp and was absolutely perfection. When it came to the reception, of course Valerie and her musicians hit the mark – giving the kind of performance that keeps everyone on the dance floor all night. There really is no one better.

When it came to the “fashion” – I really took the reigns. Despite majoring in Political Science, my professional path has led me to the buying offices of Henri Bendel, Intermix, and most recently, Christian Louboutin. Shoes have always been my passion, so I knew I had to step it up for our wedding (no pun intended). For me, I selected Dos Noeud, a satin peeptoe pump in the gentlest shade of baby pink with a large bow at the heel. Louboutin is very well known for making wedding shoes in strass (crystals) – and I couldn’t not wear a pair, so I went for a twist, picking our classic sneaker Louis in nude strass for when my feet needed to come a bit closer to the ground. They were a highlight of the dance party! Of course, there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to get Zach into his very own pair, and it was a “go big or go home” kind of scenario. He chose Ironito, a great patent tux shoe adorned with spikes on the toe and heel. There may have been some injuries when he was hoisted up in the air during the horah, but baby, beauty is pain – and some groomsmen learned their lesson that night.

I really feel that the best events are those in which the details matter. I paid close attention to adding elements that really made the evening our own – a balloon drop of 500 white balloons (a staple in the LCD Soundsystem concerts we had attended together), our favors of mini black & white cookies from Greenberg’s Bakery packaged in Chinese take-out boxes (hands down 2 of the top NYC Jewish delicacies!), signature His & Her Martinis, photos of our dog Zooey under the chuppah, and of course our hashtag on Instagram: #zachandsandra.

Last but certainly not least — for ambiance, I really wanted to contrast the Italian renaissance architecture in Cipriani with some whimsy and glamour. Since our wedding was taking place in July, I wanted it to feel like guests were transported into a modern Midsummer Nights Dream or a chic garden party in the Hamptons or Hudson Valley. I knew it wasn’t a job for just anyone, and Tantawan Bloom immediately came to mind – I had seen their work before and knew how phenomenal and special it was. It only took 5 minutes with lead designer Golf Srithamrong and his talented team (Laura, I love you!) to know that I couldn’t possible work with anyone else. Planning a wedding isn’t always roses so I really wanted my vendors to feel like friends, and without a doubt Golf and Laura felt like family. Together we poured over my print outs, magazine tears, and Pinterest board — I knew I had my heart set on an impossible task – bringing in towering trees to help offset the high ceilings in Cipriani and making the space feel more intimate and cozy. While real trees weren’t possible, Golf didn’t blink an eye and told me he could re-create the overall affect, and “not to worry – it’s going to be gorgeous.”

The result was above and beyond my wildest dreams – on the day of our wedding, Zach and I stepped into our very own moonlit garden on 42nd street. Focusing on a crisp and clean palette of white and green, the overall effect was modern, but softened by the amber twinkle of candlelight. Strategic pops of white sequins and shimmer added some glam and were a nod to my wedding gown by Vera Wang. My favorite part — scattered throughout the room were beautiful urns exploding with lush green branches – better than any trees I had ever seen. To say that it was perfect is an understatement. At every turn, I was in awe. Words simply do not do it justice and we were absolutely speechless – Golf had given us a fairytale.

We didn’t want the evening to ever end, but thankfully we have the most beautiful images and video captured by the talented Heather Waraksa and First Day Films to always remind us of this special day and to transport us once again to that magical night.

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New York City Engagement Session

Fact: Rebecca Yale Photography snaps up some of the prettiest pictures on the planet; the kind of images that leave you speechless and take your breath away all in the same instance. So starting off our week with one of her breathtaking engagement sessions? Beyond awesome. Especially when it’s a New York City love-fest with an adorable duo and some crazy amazing landmarks (hello One Girl Cookies). See it all here.

From Rebecca Yale Photography… Julie-Anne and Laurent are native Parisians, but have been living in New York City together for the last year. They are getting married next September back in France, so they wanted to embrace their new city for their engagement photographs.

We wanted to focus on iconic New York landmarks starting with the dramatic skyline of Manhattan from DUMBO. We walked all around the water front stopping at One Girl Cookie for a couple of espressos, which was the perfect setting for a classic New York coffee shop. We crossed over the Brooklyn Bridge, which was pretty empty at that early hour and like many girls before her, walking home after a long night of dancing, Julie-Anne took off her heels and carried them across the bridge. Our last stop of the day was in Central Park where we stood on the rocks above Wollman’s Rink where the city meets the park a perfect juxtaposition of the beautiful nature of the park surrounded by the skyscrapers of Columbus Circle. The rain held out just long enough for us to stroll down the iconic Poet’s Walk and cross over Bow Bridge. Their French elegance and charm, not to mention their love for each other shines through in their beautiful engagement photographs.

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Coffee Shop: One Girl Cookies | Photo Lab: Richard Photo Lab

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3 West Club Engagement Party Inspiration

There are engagement parties, and then there is this drop-dead gorgeous photo shoot from one very talented group of NYC vendors, which is what I’m calling “engagement party perfection”… and I’m sure you’ll agree. Because when a team like this gets together (think L’Oasis Floral Design, Stacie Ford Weddings, Elegantly Iced and Dulce Dreams Events) it’s beyond anything you’ve ever seen… seriously. See it all captured by Charlie Juliet in the full gallery.

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From Dulce Dreams Events… One of the joys of being part of the wedding industry is having the opportunity to collaborate on fun projects that stretch your creativity and bring together a group of professionals who are not only talented but are passionate about their craft. Knowing these people and being able to call them friends is such an honor! My dear friend CJ from Charlie Juliet is no exception. Her talent is unexplainable—she has an innate eye for beauty and capturing “moments” that not many possess. What a treat to know and work with such a photographer!

Therefore, when CJ and I casually met for dinner one evening, we could not help but talk of all the things that inspire, motivate, and captivate us in the wedding industry and in our wildest dreams. One conversation led to the next and by the end of our dinner we knew we had to see our vision come to life!

In this fantasy, we dreamed of a couple so excited about their impending nuptials that they wanted to celebrate their engagement in the most romantic and enchanting way possible. We love the romance and drama of a masquerade theme but wanted to avoid the “traditional” feathers and dark color palette. Instead, we focused on softer, romantic colors like blush pink, gold, and wintery blue subtly and elegantly highlighted in our stationery and “engagement” cakes.

Right in the heart of Manhattan, the 3 West Club was the perfect backdrop for this glamorous celebration. With high ceilings and beautiful crystal chandeliers adorning the ballroom, the venue had the perfect touch of enchantment and fantasy we were looking for. Since this was not necessarily a wedding, we wanted our bride-to-be to forgo white and instead wear something worthy of a masquerade ball.

Jacqueline from Nearly Newlywed curated all of our gowns and found the perfect Collette Dinnigan gown in a beautiful blush hue then accessorized our bride-to-be only with classic earrings from Bauble Bar. Russell with Styles on B is such a darling to work with and knew right away how to style our models’ hair as soon as he saw our gowns—dramatic romance! The ever-so-fabulous make-up artist Stacie from Stacie Ford Weddings gave each of our models a different, yet cohesive look that played well with their unique features, gowns and the setting.

Adding our own little twist to this story, we wanted to have our bride and groom-to-be celebrate their impending nuptials with friends and members of the wedding party. Keeping in mind our vision and storyline, we opted for non-traditional bridesmaids dresses and had our ladies dress as if they were attending this particular fete as guests of honor as well. Valentino and Elie Saab graced our bridesmaids whilst delicate accessories from the talented Thea of Hushed Commotion served as added adornments.

To help bring this vision to life, Jessica from The Crafty Chemist graciously sent us some of her one-of-a-kind handmade masks that for our models and also decorated our table as place cards. We were absolutely blown away with Lindsey from Elegantly Iced who created not one, but three magnificent cakes. The cakes created by Lindsey are a perfect example of talent and collaboration at its best! They were the perfect embellishment to our story and dazzled in their own light.

For the paper products, Jackie from Sincerely, Jackie has the perfect collection for anyone looking for a luxurious and romantic suite. The Bourne Glam Luxe Collection was the perfect fit for our story with gold engraving and soft pink details. Working with Laurence from L’Oasis Floral Design was a no brainer for me. Not only do I trust her work and style, but is also a true joy to work with and is as equally excited about our endeavors as I am. Her lovely designs sat beautifully on the custom linen graciously provided by Nuage Designs, which enhanced the romance and magical scenery for our fairytale.

Gabriel from GT Modern Creations never fails to impress with his gorgeous films and this one in particular is an absolute stunner. I am so proud to have worked and shared this vision with such great talent that truly makes the wedding industry exceptional.

Sometimes I can’t believe I get to stare at gorgeous weddings like this one from Clean Plate Pictures at Montauk Club of Brooklyn and call it my job. I literally have to pinch myself from time to time. And today is one of those pinch myself days. Because this wedding is the definition of perfect, from the Bride’s gorgeous Sue Wong gown right down to the stunning reception and everything in between – and you can see all the pretty right here.

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From Clean Plate Pictures… Kara and Scott’s wedding was amazing! It was my first time shooting at The Montauk Club of Brooklyn and I’m in love with the 19th Century Venetian Gothic building, plus it really fit their style. Kara and Scott are such a relaxed, happy couple and the day was full of fun quirks, including the bluesy, neo-folk 5-piece band during the reception, the delicious hot sauce and honey covered Fried Chicken and Pug cake toppers. And even after a wedding dress mishap Kara was able to find a beautiful dress only a couple of weeks before the wedding. These two are so sweet. I’m so glad that they had me along for the day. It was so much fun!

The Metropolitan Building is one of my favorite places in the world to get married. It’s like this perfect combination of vintage charm and Jane Austen-esque romance that just screams for a pretty party. And when an adorable duo like this ties the knot amongst its historic charm (with the help of some of NYC’s most fabulous vendors), it’s more than a wedding… it’s an epically awesome celebration. See it all captured by Kaitie Bryant right here.

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Romantic Vintage

From the Bride… It was only natural that we get married in New York City, since it’s where we met and fell in love.

I also knew that because I live in NYC, I had no ability to search yard sales, haul craft materials in a car, or go to giant discount stores to find the little details that so many brides use to make their wedding personal. So the minute I walked into the Metropolitan Building, I knew it was our venue – it was so breathtaking and didn’t need a thing added to make it a gorgeous setting for our wedding. I loved the vintage, whimsical feel of the venue and tried to incorporate that in our details, such as displaying our parents, grandparents and great grandparents wedding photos, and the luggage tags and skeleton keys used for the escort cards.

My dear NYC friend LeeAnne did our wedding flowers – she has such talent and vision that I didn’t even know what the flowers were until the day of the wedding (one less thing to plan). The flowers were so gorgeous, as one friend said; they “almost stole the show.”

While I found the planning process to be extremely exhausting, I was able to completely enjoy our wedding day. We both felt present in the moments of the day and were overwhelming blessed to have all our friends and family share in the joy God gave us in our marriage.

One moment I will never forget from our wedding was during our ceremony – we chose to sing “Come Thou Fount” and everyone’s voices filled the room in such a powerful way, I got chills. It was so beautiful.

New York City Engagement

This engagement session right here? It represents everything I love about the fabulous NYC. It’s seriously gorgeous, uber-chic (just look at this bride-to-be, lovelies) and is bursting with a loveliness that can only be found in one of the world’s greatest cities. In other words, it’s pure perfection all wrapped up in amazing images from Rebecca Yale Photography. See them all in the full gallery.

From Rebecca Yale Photography… Amy and Jason wanted to embrace their downtown neighborhood for their engagement session and hit up all their favorite spots in the West Village and Tribeca. We started by walking the cobblestone streets of the West Village and stopped in at Bar Fedora for a drink. Then we headed down to Tribeca where Amy and Jason explored some of the beautiful architectural landmarks of the neighborhood. After a quick outfit change into a fabulous suit and sparkly gold dress we walked along the water in Battery Park City and hopped aboard an old tug boat from the 1930’s docked in the harbor as the sun set behind us.

From the Bride… The quiet cobblestone streets of Tribeca, cozy parks of Battery Park City, and charm of the West Village have made us fall in love with New York, and watched us fall in love with each other. It is in these places that we first met, have had countless date nights, spent evenings wandering aimlessly, and found our first home. We loved capturing these special spots in photos we can have forever!

Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography | Dress: Rent The Runway | Bar: Bar Fedora | Film Processing Lab: Richard Photo Lab

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Foundry Wedding

Modern meets industrial might be my favorite way to say “I do,” especially when that glorious gem of a day is planned by the genius that is Exquisite Affairs Productions, serves up yummy treats from Marcey Brownstein and is set against a stunning Foundry backdrop. That’s what we like to call a dream team of vendors, and the result is pure magic, right down to the tulip-lined tables. Get your city chic on in the full gallery captured by Brian Hatton. It’s amazing.

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Shenorock Shore Club Wedding

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Modern

From the New York Times… Ashley Ellen Windle and Andrew Lowell Gurman were married on Sunday 5/26/13 at The Foundry by Cantor Lisa Shapanka Arbisser at the Foundry in Long Island City, Queens.

The bride, is a violinist with the Muse String Quartet and also teaches violin at the Thurnauer School of Music at the Kaplen J.C.C. on the Palisades in Tenafly, N.J.

She graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins and received a masters in music from the Manhattan School of Music.

Mr. Gurman, 37, is a managing director at Michael Lord & Company, a Manhattan firm that recruits lawyers. He graduated summa cum laude from Yale and received a law degree from Harvard.

There’s no doubt about it, this is a wedding that is beyond beautiful. A day that is overflowing with modern meets romantic stylings that are the perfect match to a stunning seaside backdrop. But dive even deeper into all of the gorgeousness, and one thing is certain: this is a wedding that is all about celebrating love. The love these two sweeties have for one another, and the love they share for their amazing friends and family. See every heartwarming moment captured by Kelsey Combe right here in the full gallery.

And a little something special from Moho Creative? Yes, please.

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New York City Engagement Session

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Yacht Club

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Romantic

From the Bride… Rob and I met on the dance floor of the Sand Bar in Fire Island, NY in August, 2009. He danced over to me and my girlfriends in a goofy pair of sunglasses and certainly caught my attention. The following week we went out on our first date back in New York City and from then on we’ve been pretty much inseparable.

My father passed away when I was in college and sadly Rob never got to meet him, I know they would have loved each other so much. Rob knows how much my relationship with my dad means to me, so when he proposed in Montauk, NY Labor Day weekend, three years after we met, with the same diamond my father gave to my mother in 1969, it was one of the most special and treasured moments of my life.

We both grew up in New York, so we knew getting married here with all of our friends and family present was exactly how we wanted to celebrate our day. We were married in the beautiful Church of St. Augustine in Larchmont, NY – the church I attended with my family as a child. It was so special to walk down the aisle with my oldest brother. We were also fortunate to have a family priest marry us – his care, humor and closeness kept our larger church wedding feeling small and intimate.

Shenorock Shore Club in Rye, NY was the obvious choice for our reception. It is a place so special to me and my family, growing up there as members and now with Rob and I as our own members, it was the perfect place to start our new lives together. Shenorock was such a special place to my dad. He always loved to sit on the beach and take pictures of seagulls. In fact it has become a joke in our family that whenever a seagull comes around we pretend it’s him coming to say hello. Despite being ruined in Hurricane Sandy in October, 2012, the team at the club rebuilt the most beautiful clubhouse in time for our June wedding. The day was perfect, not a cloud in the sky, the gorgeous deck overlooking the Long Island Sound was an amazing setting to host our family and friends. The evening was so gorgeous it really became and indoor/outdoor wedding with our guests wandering throughout the serene setting.

When it came to the overall look and feel of the wedding, I knew I wanted it to be soft and romantic, playing off of the natural beauty of the setting. The girls at Black Dahlia Design turned my vision into perfection with lush white peonies, gorgeous garden roses, full tulips and a soft pop of lilac. I loved the juxtaposition of the glittery mercury glasses and woven, gray linens. Our printed materials all kept to the soft, gray and white color palette with small floral details. Our guest book was a nod to our New York roots and my dad, a book honoring 100 years of Grand Central Terminal. Grand Central was my dad’s favorite place in the city, a place he was in and out of everyday, a place we always met him in the city, a place Rob and I took engagement photos, a place that feels like home. Another nod to my dad was a group of photos of me and him and a wooden seagull Rob and I have in our home. Funnily enough, seagulls appear in the background of our pictures or perched on the roof of the clubhouse – in his own way my father was letting us know he was there with us.

Our bridal party embodied the soft colors of the day, my gorgeous girls in long chiffon dresses from Amsale in the soft Dove color and the boys in classic navy suits and lavender ties. As for my dress, I saw it in a magazine a few years before we got engaged and I knew it had to be the dress I wore the day I got married. When I went to Mark Ingram Atelier I tried on a variety of gorgeous dresses but as soon as I put that dress on, I knew. The extraordinary lace, the cap sleeves, the delicate buttons down the back, it was perfect. I sewed a small blue heart from fabric from one of my father’s ties into my dress as my something blue – it felt important to me to have a piece of him with me throughout the day. My mother’s vintage earrings and a stunning headpiece topped it all off. I became exactly how I envisioned myself looking as I married the man I loved so much.

Overall, the most important thing to both of us on our wedding day was that it truly felt like us. From the mini grilled cheese sandwiches at the cocktail hour, to the full peonies in our centerpieces, Rob’s surprise New York Giants cupcakes, our awesome photo booth, even those goofy sunglasses worn on the dance floor – we wanted our guests to leave feeling like they didn’t just attend our wedding, they truly shared our day with us.

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If there is one city in the world just made for engagement sessions, it’s the fabulous NYC. With its crazy cool backdrops, impeccable style and innate beauty, it’s just begging for an adorable duo and cuter than cute love story to really make it sing. Case in point? This pretty little shoot captured by the always awesome Alicia Swedenborg, a day that is boasting all of the above, plus one crazy amazing gallery. Join me there for all of the pretty.

From the Bride… John and I met at our church in Hong Kong. I was on the welcoming team and on the day of July 7, John was the first person I welcomed to church when I was on duty. As always, each partner will have his and her take on who made the first move. Let’s put it that there was certainly chemistry the first time we met, and John, as a gentleman, emailed me to… check out my bridal boutique, Trinity Bridal, and bring me out for dinner thereafter. As he was in the fashion industry, I genuinely thought there may be a business opportunity to work together! Well, God has better plans for us, and over dinner, we clicked instantly. On December 28, John did the most marvelous and courageous deed by kneeling down in front of everyone at a Brooklyn Nets game to propose to me. I don’t think a girl can ask for a better proposal.

New York is a very special place to both of us. John spent 10 years in New York, and to me, New York is a place where my dreams came true in relation to my business. We could not think of a better place to take our engagement pictures. And Alicia’s style brings out so much personality in a couple, we knew we wanted her to take our pictures from the beginning.

Backyard Wedding

This is the kind of wedding that starts your work week off with a smile. The sort of magical affair that boasts one meaningful detail after another, with a laid back meets elegant vibe that is all kinds of awesome. It’s a day that was styled to perfection by the lovely + oh-so-talented sister of the bride (Experience Events) and is set against a stunning at-home environment that you can’t get enough of. See it all captured by Casey Connell right here.

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Backyard Lakeside

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Casual Rustic

From Experience Events… What do you do when your sister wants to have her wedding at your family lake house with six weeks notice?! You get to work! I was, of course, thrilled to create this intimate celebration for friends and family at our Adirondack lake house – a place very special to all of us, especially since our Mom passed a few years ago.

We wanted to create a celebration that blended into the look and feel of our house, named Birch at Paradox. Of course birch details prevailed – we used wood grain for the invitation enclosures, birch straws for the welcome drinks, birch candles and birch vases were interspersed on the tables. We setup a simple ceremony space to really show off the beautiful mountain views. Courtney and Mike love to cook, so we used bouquets of local herbs in his grandmother’s mason jars as aisle markers. I had Rebecca, from The Pink Orange, create tags to hang from the jar to highlight the meaning of each herb. Courtney walked through an aisle decked out in wishes for patience, friendship, enduring love, etc. It was my favorite touch of the whole day! We then saved the herbs and she and Mike have them to cook with all year!

Guests grabbed petals and filled envelopes with a custom stamp on them which read “toss one hundred wishes, then a thousand and then more.” As the happy couple headed up the aisle, we all showered them with petals and good wishes.

The self serve bar was set up in a family friend’s vintage canoe (originally used on Adirondack guide trips in the 1950’s) and used our farm table for appetizers right in front of the beach. Dinner and dancing on the beach followed – we kept the palette soft, yet not too feminine using pale blue striped linens from la Tavola which showed off the birch and mercury glass touches beautifully. Adirondack chairs scattered across the beach with soft pillows gave guests the perfect vantage point to enjoy the sunset. My event planner/designer/sister-of-the-bride mania may have gone into overdrive when I found myself sewing aprons for the waitstaff – but they looked so perfect in their seersucker aprons the day of the wedding!

Lanterns were scattered across the property and candles tucked into the walls of the beach to add a beautiful glow as the night progressed. We even had lanterns on our raft and torches in the water! The evening was capped off with cigars and coffee at the bonfire and each guest was treated to a t-shirt designed by the bride and celebrating the day and the place where we all gathered.

I used our Mom’s pin to fasten the ribbon on the bride’s bouquet and also tied our Mom’s signet ring into Courtney’s dress – simple touches to make sure she was included in the day. And when we saw that gorgeous sunset we could, of course, only think of her shining down on all of us as we danced on the very beach we played on growing up. It was a sweet and magical day full of family, friends and old and new memories.

Photographer: Casey Connell Photography | Catering: Black Diamond Caterers | Hair & Makeup: Sonya Heimann | Ceremony & Reception Location: Private Residence | Event Planning, Event Styling & Design, Floral: Herberger Event Co. | Invitations & Paper Goods: The Pink Orange

Hudson Valley Wedding

This, my friends, is one very talented bunch. I’m talking a beautiful bride and groom (plus awesome friends and family) who really know a thing or two about crafting an amazing wedding. Think DIY florals, homemade IPA and a stellar taco buffet and you are on the right track. Add in a team of talented vendors (hello Wedding Planning Plus and Kent Meister Photography) and it’s a day that is alllll about the pretty. See so much more in the full gallery.

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Outdoor Weddings Rustic Weddings

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Rustic Vintage

From the Bride… When my new husband and I started our wedding planning, we were so excited to just think about the day and imagine our family and friends being there with us, it was hard to focus on the details about how to make it happen! We started planning by getting clear on how we wanted the day to feel, and what kind of experience we hoped for our guests. Both of us are pretty laid back and fun loving, and we envisioned a relaxed comfortable day, where our guests were well appreciated with delicious food and drinks. I grew up in the Hudson Valley of New York State, and we are both lovers of the outdoors, so we thought it made sense to get married upstate and enjoy the natural beauty. Overall, we wanted our wedding day to be meaningful, relaxed and FUN.

We chose our venue at Oak Hill because it’s so incredibly beautiful. Saying our vows with a backdrop of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains? Yes, please. The reception was held in a recently built two story wooden barn. Idyllic.

Our wedding really was the product of so many friends and family members lending their talent and contributing unique gifts and skills. Looking back, I’m pretty overwhelmed by how amazing my family and friends were! My close childhood friend and metal smith/jewelry maker extraordinaire Amelia Toelke made my husband’s wedding band. It was so special to have her craft this for us! She also helped me with a bunch of DIY projects for decorations. My stepbrother-in-law makes epic homebrew and brewed five gallons of IPA for us; we called it “Hoppily Ever After” ha! My dear friend Arielle and professional makeup artist did me up on the big day (it was so wonderful to have her with me while I was getting ready, as I was quite nervous!!). Our friend Kent Meister was our photographer, which was awesome because we know each other and he knows our style. My stepsister did the table flower arrangements; we designed them together over email! My parents gathered pussy willows from their land to use as decorations. A husband and wife duo we are friends with were our DJs for the evening, bringing a collection of old school R&B, funk and 80’s vinyl with them. Another friend, Mara Simons Jones is a farm-to-table caterer so we enlisted her help for our delicious taco buffet dinner that suited meat eaters, vegetarians, vegans, and the gluten free alike! My aunt owns a wine and beer boutique in Salem, MA and provided an incredible selection of wine. I’m so grateful for all the wonderful personal detail that filled our wedding day. All the help and assistance of my friends and family truly made our wedding day unique, personal, and heartfelt.

There were many DIY elements that we focused on. I love crafting, so our wedding was a wonderful opportunity for me to enjoy some crafting time with my friends. We created small animal place card holders, garland to decorate the barn, cute satchels filled with lavender that our guests pelted us with after the ceremony, chalk board cutouts for the bar, blue and white mason jars wrapped in twine, and of course all the stationery that my friend Miriam designed for us!

My husband and I love nature and that was the biggest inspiration for our wedding. We knew we wanted to get married outside in a beautiful setting. We also wanted our family and friends to be relaxed and comfortable so the feeling of the day shaped our planning as well. During the planning we kept a couple questions to reflect on when making decisions-is it worth it? Is it meaningful? Is fun?

The best advice I received was to be in the moment during the whole wedding day and take it all in. This helped keep me from stressing too much and also slowed the pace of the day. Our wedding day felt spacious and I have so many wonderful memories of my husband and I together, and also time spent with family and friends.

My advice for other brides? Get your Thank You cards printed as soon as possible either before the wedding or shortly after if you are using a photo–this really helped me be timely. I was overwhelmed with gratitude from everyone who came to support us on our wedding day. I actually looked forward to connecting with my family and friends via the Thank You cards. Also choose awesome vendors that you trust, it pays off big!

Autumn DIY Wedding

This wedding is amazing. It’s cozy and warm, totally gorgeous and seriously overflowing with those heartwarming, make you smile moments we sort of live for. Even better? Above and beyond all of that awesomeness, it’s a true labor of love from a super crafty bride and groom, plus wonderful friends and family. Think DIY paper goods, burlap touches and some seriously yummy treats. See it all captured beautifully by Rebecca Yale right here in the full gallery.

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