New York Weddings

Get ready for some seriously sweet and beyond gorgeous images from Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography! This e-session has totally taken my breath away…and then when I read that this adorbale (and stylish!) couple will marry in a chateau in France later this year? I just about died! Click here for even more pretty.

From Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography… Tomoko is American, and Romain is French. They’ll be getting married in a chateau in France this year, and I can’t wait to photograph their wedding!

Photography: Mademoiselle Fiona Wedding Photography / Engagement Session Location: Central Park in New York, New York

A Dark and Stormy may be in order when scrolling through this Sands Point Preserve wedding shot by Jenny Ebert Photography. The beautiful couple was wed in a Medieval-style castle and they carried out their gothic-chic theme through the entire celebration. Candelabra centerpieces climbing with vines were accented with dripping-wax tapers…and the bride kept things dramatic with her layered Vera Wang stunner. You will not want to miss the rest of the romantic images in the full gallery!

From Jenny Ebert Photography… Jennifer Mushkin and Jared Goldman were married Saturday October 15, 2011, at Hempstead House in Sands Point, New York. Jared and Jenny met in 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival. A documentary he had produced, “Manda Bala” (“Send a Bullet”), was in competition, and she was working for the festival as a volunteer. One evening, she and some friends passed a house with a party going on and decided to drop in. Mr. Goldman noticed Ms. Mushkin come in. A few days later, Mr. Goldman’s film won an award, and he invited her to a celebration. Unfortunately, she was sick, having spent the entire festival working, then having fun afterward. So they met several days later in New York for a movie screening and then went to a piano bar. The rest is history.

Wedding Photography: Jenny Ebert Photography / Wedding Venue: Hempstead House at Sands Point Preserve in Sands Point, New York / Floral Design: Poppies & Posies / Officiants: Gary Gewant + Rabbi Widdom / Catering + Wedding Cake:  Mark of Excellence / Wedding Cinematography: Harrison Reinwald / Wedding Invitations: Helene Dorfman of RSVP Roslyn (helenersvp@optonline.net) / Music: George Gee Swing Orchestra / Wedding Dress + Veil: Vera Wang via Wedding Salon of Manhasset / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Hair: Vanu of Salon Novella (646-336-6151) / Makeup: Desiree Balzaretti / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff

We’re singing “Oh Happy Day” over this bright, modern wedding by Sweetwater Portraits. Full of striking details and perfectly contrasting hues, Beautiful Blooms did an amazing job in selecting unique flowers that are just as striking as this adorable couple. I’m in awe over this picturesque setting and want to steal that barn for my backyard! Let the sea breeze guide you over to the full gallery for more.

From the bride…Zach and I met while working on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in Iowa. We worked together for nine months, and it was only after we were both sent to different states (he to South Carolina and me to Nevada) that we realized we wanted to be together. We met again in Ohio for the primary, and then traveled the trail from state to state after that, together. We now live and work in Washington, DC.
Because we’re both from different states (New Jersey and Wisconsin), and because we’ve worked on campaigns all over the country, all we wanted for our wedding was simply to have everyone we loved in the same place and have a great time. It exceeded all of our expectations. I was so happy with the laid-back vibe, the bright pops of color, and the amazingly beautiful venue. We spent the whole day before the wedding on the beach with friends and family and it was the most perfect day. When I woke up on the morning of the wedding, it was gray and pouring outside. It rained all morning and all afternoon, while we got our hair and makeup done and headed over to the venue. Right when it was time to take photos, the clouds parted and the sun came out. We took photos, had the ceremony, and then the cocktail hour which was also outside. Right when we went inside for dinner and dancing, the sky opened up again and it poured through dinner. After dinner, we looked outside and there was a rainbow right outside. It was magical, and we felt like someone was definitely watching out for us. Finally, I will never forget our ceremony, which I didn’t even anticipate would be my favorite part of the whole day, when we mistakenly kissed too soon (I don’t know how we messed that up – it was only about 3 minutes into the ceremony!)

Ceremony Venue: Bonnet Island Estate Chapel / Reception Venue: Bonnet Island Estate Ballroom / Caterer: Merri-Makers Catering / Photography: Sweetwater Portraits / Flowers: Beautiful Blooms / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas and Envelopments / Music: Chris Garrow from Unforgettable DJ’s /  Hair & Makeup : Aqua Bleu Salon / Shoes: Kate Spade / Dress: Adele Wechsler / Bridesmaids Dress: Amsale  / Jewelry: Kendra Scott

Lovelies, you’re gonna want to sit down for this one…it’s the sweetest, most thoughtful, most creative proposal I’ve ever seen, and Minnow Park was there to capture every perfect moment. This future groom pulled out all the stops when popping the question to his misses by setting up a makeshift art gallery filled with personal Polaroids and custom art work representing them as a couple.  After all was said and done, the stunning sparkler was simply the icing on the (cup)cake! If you haven’t had your fill of engagement heaven, you’re in luck – love is overflowing in the full gallery!

Think you couldn’t possibly cry one more tear over all of that overwhelming sweetness? Think again. Check out the amazing video of the proposal shot by über talented Fred Lee.

 Click here for the FULL Gallery!

From the Bride: I thought I was joining a small group of friends for a day of painting at our friend’s studio space in Brooklyn. When we arrived at the studio, I opened the door and immediately saw a vase full of paintbrushes and a beautiful display of photos hanging by clothespins (later I learned these were album cover photos of every concert we’ve been to together), lit candles in flower petals and bouquets of flowers including dried arrangements and hydrangea in mason jars. I was instantly cooing at the creative and welcoming set up our friend had arranged for our painting session, but as I opened the door all the way and stepped inside the room expecting to see a handful of friends, I was greeted by the clicking away of a photographer and a videographer.

My ears registered that Temper Trap’s ‘Sweet Disposition’ was playing in the background and I looked around the room to see a wall of poster sized photos of Dave and me along with various pieces of artwork including paintings and dried flower petals on canvas. The room was filled with oversized vases of outstretching cherry blossom branches, flowering quince, willow, jars and metal buckets filled with bouquets of lavender, hydrangea, yarrow, artemisia, on the floor and propped on wooden ladders. Varying sized candles were lit around the room and the lighting was romantic with hanging orbed lights. The middle of the room was divided by a fantastic mobile of hanging polaroids of photos of us. There were old Google chat conversation snippets printed on foam board all around the room reminding us of early chats we had online when we were first getting to know each other. Dave took me around the room ‘curating’ everything there. One wall represented the ‘Seasons of Love’ with pictures and paintings depicting Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.

The other side of the room had a large beautiful canvas painting hanging on the wall. Our artist friend Lana Chun, the one who was hosting this ‘painting day,’ created customized paintings for us all over the room. The main piece features a masculine feather-like shape and a smaller feminine and playful complimentary shape that represents us. The painting hung over a dessert table with a bouquet of hydrangea, bucket full of champagne, tiers of cupcakes and cookies.

We sat down on two chairs and the lights were lowered and a video started that was a montage of pictures of us. Towards the end of the video, there was a list of the many dozens of nicknames Dave has for me and led to the next name he’d like to call me ‘his wife’. He was then down on his knee next to me proposing and trying to put the ring on my right hand! After giving him my left hand and lots of crying and hugging, he handed me a small metal pail filled with letters in envelopes. The first couple letters were written individually in unique cards by my parents, siblings and 95 year old grandmother all living in California. The rest of the letters were titled by each of my nicknames from Dave and inside was a cute, humorous and sentimental note about the origin of the nickname and the context in which he likes to call me that name.

Dave set up a video chat for my family to join us, virtually, all over the country from California to New Jersey, I was able to greet all those who couldn’t be there with us. Shortly after, a group of our friends and family came in and they had been hiding downstairs during the proposal. We popped the champagne and dug into the desserts and danced away to the playlist Dave put together of all of our favorite songs, including our song ‘You’re My Best Friend’ by Queen.

Location: C&G Studio / Artist/Illustrator: Lana Chun / Photographer: Minnow Park / Videographer: Fred Lee / Dessert: The Cupcake Land

If this isn’t the most romantic little film I ever did see, than I don’t know what is! I love how these two talk about one another with so much respect and love. You can totally tell that their wedding will be a perfect reflection of who they are as a couple and we love that! love & you video captured the essence of this couple perfectly!

From love & you video: I met up with Caitlin & Jarrod back in November to talk about video for their June wedding.  From the first moment, I could tell that they were a special couple and that they had a great connection to each other.  In this industry you meet many couples, but Caitlin & Jarrod really fit so well together and you can see how their personalities are in total balance.  When they started to talk about their plans for their wedding I could tell from their descriptions that every detail for their wedding is going to reflect who they are.  When we did the ‘love story’ shoot I could feel a positive vibe from them the entire time.  We shot in Brooklyn, around where they live.  After the shoot, I took the subway home and they walked a few blocks to their place.  Even though there was not a camera on them, I’m sure they still looked as happy and as in love as they walked hand in hand home.

Cinematography: love & you video

When someone offers up a Venetian inspired shoot, you know what we do? Slap it up quicker than you can say “Pass the Limencello”. It’s ablaze with old world elegance and masks galore thoughtfully crafted down to the very last colorful bloom by Juli Vaughn Designs. And the images by Carmen Santorelli Photography are not only crazy gorgeous but will have you dreaming of Italian style nuptials that end in a Vespa getaway. We say Salute to that! Head to the full gallery for even more inspiration.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Carmen Santorelli Photography… Who doesn’t love the idea of infusing some magic into their wedding day? The concept behind this shoot was to infuse a taste of Italy into a wedding, without having to travel to Italy to get it. The idea came to me when a dear photographer friend who lives close to Venice sent me some beautiful authentic Venetian masks. Trying to incorporate the masks into the shoot while keeping everything classy and elegant was a challenge, but we took it to heart.

I knew I had found the perfect location when I visited Casa Belvedere in Staten Island, New York. The beautiful and intricate design, not to mention authentically Italian, was the perfect setting for the backdrop of this chic shoot. Juli of Juli Vaughn Designs styled everything in an enchanting way and added a touch of whimsy by using little animals (that wear glittery masks nonetheless!) for each setting. We wanted the bride to wear something that makes a statement, so we fell in love with a fabulous Ian Stuart gown, paired with a gorgeous Venetian lace cap hair piece created by Mignonne Handmade, as well as a Stephen Yearick gown, paired with a custom-made feathery hair piece graciously provided by Fine & Fleurie. The groom looked as chic as it gets in his Hugo Boss tux and custom made bow tie created by Naughty Knotty Bow Ties.

To add a true flavor of Italy we served Pallini bellinis, created with delicious Pallini limoncello, as well as stylish desserts and cake created by Nine Cakes. Lastly, for the grand exit, we used a Vespa, because what says Italy more than that? This session came together beautifully and we truly hope it inspires other brides (and grooms!) to pick a unique theme for their wedding. The images have been captured on medium format & 35mm film, as well as some digital.

Photography: Carmen Santorelli Photography / Photography Assistant: B Hull Photography / Location: Casa Belvedere in Staten Island, New York / Event Styling + Floral Design: Juli Vaughn Designs / Wedding Cake + Sweets: Nine Cakes / Drinks: Pallini Limoncello / Invitations: Ashley Pepitone / Party Rentals: The Vintage Rental Company / Furniture Rental: Taylor Creative Inc. / Wedding Gowns: Ian Stuart + Stephen Yearick via Kleinfeld Bridal / Feather Hair Piece + Jewelry: Fine & Fleurie / Lace Cap Head Piece: Mignonne Handmade / Makeup + Hair: Erica Ogawa / Groom’s Tuxedo: Kleinfeld Men / Bow Tie: Naughty Knotty Bow Ties / Female Model: Carla Mueller / Male Model: John Hyland

This bride and groom should have asked their wedding fairy for everything they ever wanted, because their one wish, to have a tried + true New York kind of wedding, came true 100 times over. Judging by Craig Paulson Photography‘s images, I’m betting if they would have wished for rivers of glitter or mountains of diamonds the whole world would have been a bit more sparkly. Everything from the great Central Park views, to that stunning, stunning gown, to the GLAM ballroom reception screams Manhattan Chic, a dream come true for our couple. And the gallery? Now that’s a dream come true for all the rest of us.

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Jimmy and I first met in the summer of 2007 when I was visiting a friend in the Hamptons who happened to be in his share house. I had just gotten out there on a Friday night and the last thing I expected was that I would be meeting my future husband! I was chatting with the girls in the kitchen when in walked Jimmy. I knew he looked familiar – he was the handsome bartender from Martell’s on the Upper East Side! The rest is history.

In December of 2010, days before Christmas Jimmy proposed. We walked over to my parents apartment to share the news but he surprised me with both our families waiting for us. It was the perfect night!

Jimmy and I met on the beach but our love story really began in Manhattan. As native New Yorkers we wanted our wedding to be all about the city we both know and love. We were married on August 13th, 2011 at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, where my parents were married 34 years earlier, which meant so much to us. We felt like celebrities when we walked out of the church for the first time as husband and wife. After the ceremony we took pictures with our family and friends outside of Rockefeller Center and Radio City. Our most special moment was captured when we were photographed in front of the big clock at Grand Central station kissing – a unique moment that will forever be on our apartment wall.

The reception was romantic and classic. The lighting at 583 Park really set the mood and our wedding colors, blue, yellow, and white were everywhere from the flowers, to the the bridesmaid and flower girl dresses, the grooms buttoners and my shoes. Everything from the food to the music was perfect and most importantly everyone had a great time and danced the night away to our amazing 14 piece band. As favors, our guests went home with delicious New York City bagels and the Sunday Daily News. It was our perfect New York City wedding!

Photography: Craig Paulson Photography / Flowers: Florist: The Garden District / Ceremony Location: St. Patrick’s Cathedral / Reception Venue + Catering: 583 Park Avenue / Band: Charles St. Paul Band, Star Management Inc.

Getting married in the heart of New York City just seems super romantic to me. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, life stands still just long enough for two people completely in love to say I do. That’s enough to make anyone swoon. And this wedding is the perfect example of a swoon-worthy city soiree. Timeless elegance mixed with a whole lot of love makes for one gorgeous gallery (thanks to the talented eye of Lindsay Madden Photography) – allowing time to stand still for just a bit longer for all of us this morning!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Lindsay Madden Photography… The Bryant Park Grill is a really special place to have a wedding as it sits right in the heart of NYC. It’s an elegant & timeless NYC venue, and that is exactly how Suzanne and Eric’s wedding felt. Their ceremony took place on the rooftop of the Grill, shadowed by the NYC Public Library and skyscrapers. The sun set just as the cocktail hour began, and the lit cityscape became a beautiful backdrop to the beginning of the night. Suzanne & Eric’s reception was held inside the Grill, where guests had a view of the park. Debbie’s Designs decorated the space utilizing a palette of beautiful spring flowers. Think pale pink, green and white. Just perfect! The DJ, Generation Events, got the party started right away and kept the party going well into the night. Suzanne wore a Vera Wang dress with Jimmy Choo shoes, and she looked absolutely breathtaking. Eric wore a fitted Hugo Boss suit and a classic bow tie. It was NYC elegance all the way! The bridesmaids wore black, one-shoulder dresses from Amsale, and the groomsmen wore tuxedos and bow ties as well! Suzanne and Eric smiled and laughed throughout the entire day, and I was lucky enough to capture their beautiful wedding!

Wedding Photography: Lindsay Madden Photography / Wedding Venue: Bryant Park Grill in New York, New York / Floral Design + Lighting: Debbie’s Designs / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Cake: Billy’s Bakery / Entertainment: Generation Events / Wedding Dress + Veil: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair: Kerri Urban / Makeup: Powder Bar / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Groom’s Tuxedo: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Groomsmen’s Tuxedos: Coleman’s Tuxedos / Getting Ready Location: Bryant Park Hotel

Here at SMP, we consider ourselves big Carla Ten Eyck fans. Maybe even the biggest. When Carla sends one of her weddings our way, I can not contain the glee. And when Datura: A Modern Garden is behind the floral design – the glee maybe doubles. As you can most definitely see from this wedding, Datura has a way with flowers – turning them into pieces of art that make a wedding phenom. And Carla Ten Eyck has a way with her camera – turning the phenom wedding into a piece of art itself. Seen in it’s entirety in the full gallery, this wedding is our favorite kind of art.

Click here to see the rest of this gorgeous, gorgeous wedding in the gallery!

From the lovely bride… Our wedding was filled with a variety of personal touches. From scouring our parent’s basements to shopping on Etsy, our wedding included various vintage items that created a vintage, yet chic look.

The various effects could be seen throughout our wedding and included the following:

-Lauren’s grandmother’s antique table and Remington typewriter
-A “Brophy brick” from Lauren’s ancestor’s brickyard
-Lauren’s floral bouquet had her grandmother’s locket tied to the front
-Lauren’s father’s antique trunk was used for gift cards
-Stephen’s parents restored an old plantation shutter, which was used to display the escort cards and skeleton keys.

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck / Cinematography: Jim Altieri’s Vintage Cinema / Flowers: Tony Palmieri, Datura: A Modern Garden / Event Planning: Lauren Ferrera of Bowen and Company / Ceremony Location: Highlands Country Club / Reception Location: Highlands Country Club / Invitations: Lion in the Sun / Dessert Bar Designer: Corine Dell’Orso, Lovely Lollies / Dessert Bar signage and backdrop: Nichole Michel, Coral Pheasant Stationery and Design / Photo Location: Stonecrop Gardens / Wedding Cake: Pastry Garden / Acoustic Guitar Player: Steve Black Guitar / DJ: Spencer Potter, Turntable Events / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Calligraphy: Nicole Black, The Left Handed Calligrapher

We’re wrapping up another fabulous week here at SMP New York with this elegant rooftop fete. Captured perfectly by Kay English Photography, this modern wedding is the epitome of all that is cool with pretty pink orchids and to die for black and white programs. Each and every detail was thoughtfully curated and there’s a whole lot more pretty right here in the full gallery!

Just wait til you see this pretty party come to life in this film by 15 Minutes of Frame!

 Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… The wedding theme was a modern, city wedding held at Tribeca Rooftop in NYC. The ceremony was held indoors underneath a ceiling full of skylights, followed by a cocktail hour on the rooftop overlooking the city. The color scheme was different shades of gray and pink. My mother-in-law hand-made pillows to go on the couches for the outdoor lounge area during cocktail hour. Guests had signature cocktails to match the theme: pink lychee martinis and strawberry mojitos. The reception was back indoors, where there were three different style centerpieces: all orchids in different shades of pink. Many of the small details including the table numbers, programs, menus, cake toppers, door decals and fingerprint guest book tree were ordered online from Etsy.

Wedding Photography: Kay English Photography / Wedding Venue: Tribeca Rooftop in New York, New York / Floral Design: Pedestals Floral Decorators / Wedding Cinematography: 15 Minutes of Frame / DJ: DJ Gaza (Gary Hoffmann) of 74 Events / Table Numbers, Programs, Menus, Cake Toppers, Door Decals + Fingerprint Guest Book Tree: Etsy / Wedding Dress: Jenny Lee via The Plumed Serpent Bridal / Bride’s Hair Piece: Thomas Knoell Designs / Hair: Stacy Pitt of Styles on B / Makeup: Nam Vo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale via The Plumed Serpent Bridal / Ring: London Jewelers

Dave Robbins Photography and one cool couple are about to take you on a journey that begins only a few months ago in lower Manhattan, and ends back in the ’20s at a speak easy so stunning, you’ll swear you’ve died and gone to whiskey heaven. Between the beginning and the end is a super glam modern ceremony set up by A.a.B. Creates, in which the bride’s culture is not only kept front and center, it truly looks as though it’s taking place in the clouds. Where it’s really happening is the historic Altman Building (built in 1886!). This raw carriage house is warmed by pretty pastel and antique Melarosa florals, feathers, and table numbers made from vintage books in a way you haven’t seen them before (if you have, lucky you!). We know you’re dying to see how, so begin your back to the future trip now in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Jason and I were super excited to have our wedding in New York City, which is where we met and fell in love. The Altman Building, originally a carriage house circa 1886, was the perfect backdrop for a winter soiree that used history as inspiration. Jason and I are both drawn to “Prohibition Era” style because it feels very intimate and classic, so we tried to encapsulate some of that aesthetic — like using a real vintage oak bar from the 1920’s, dusty books with our table numbers cut out and table linens made of men’s suit fabric — without feeling like we had everyone in costume! While we were planning with Mayra and Xochitl of the awesome A.a.B. Creates, we focused on objects instead of just colors, like velvet headboards, leather chesterfield couches, deco illustrations of New York Ciy and even HBO’s Boardwalk Empire! We wanted our friends and family to feel like we had hidden them away in one of the city’s luxurious speakeasy bars, so guests were greeted with passed Manhattans and Moscow Mules, given carnation boutonnieres with their names instead of escort cards, and left at the end of the night with little muslin bags filled with whiskey stones and bottles of Maker’s Mark. 

Our wedding was also an opportunity for us to fuse Jewish tradition (my family is observant) with our very modern lifestyles. For example, the bride usually sits on a throne during the Kabbalat Panim (the ceremony where the groom veils the bride), but we used a gorgeous vintage velvet sofa for my mom and I to use instead. Before Jason was escorted by the band to greet me on our “throne,” he was on the other side of the venue having a traditional Groom’s Tish, which is where all the men sing and drink and the father of the bride and the groom sign the Ketubah. Jason was skeptical at first, but said that waiting to see me (and having all of his favorite whiskey brands to keep him company) was a really special experience. 

The whole night was very typical of us as a couple. Even though it was gorgeously designed and felt very surreal, neither of us could stop laughing! I tripped all over him and my dress trying to do the traditional seven circles around the groom during the ceremony, and we totally tried (in vain) to cut the wrong part of the cake. At the end of the night, we were surprised with an extraordinary dessert bar (think Willy Wonka), and my dad dared the rabbi to do the “Macarena” dance. You can see in the photos how it all came together — perfectly. 

Wedding Photography: Dave Robbins Photography / Wedding Venue: The Altman Building in New York, New York / Event Design + Planning: A.a.B. Creates / Floral Design: Melarosa / Wedding Invitations + Monogram: M+E Design / Food: Glatt Kosher via Michael Scott Events / Linens: Nuage Designs / Band: Golem / Wedding Dress: Custom Pnina Tornai via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Miu Miu / Hair: Anthony Joseph of Enve Beauty Lounge / Makeup: Edward Bess of Edward Bess / Bridal Party’s Hairpieces: Suzanne Couture Millinery / Bridesmaids’ + Mother of the Bride’s Dresses: Custom by Douglas Hannant / Groom’s Suit: Against Nature / Rings: Custom via Betteridge / Accommodations: The Standard Hotel

Lovelies, let’s start this Monday off right-with a beautiful couple whose love started on Spring break, took a several year hiatus and finally culminated in a gorgeous vineyard wedding. The perfect blend of rustic and elegant, this stunning celebration truly spoke to the bride and groom (and their adorable pup!). Janelle Brooke Photography + McKenzie Miller Films beautifully captured all of the thoughtful touches from this vino-inspired wedding. You can uncork the rest of the images right here!

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Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Jeremy and I met on a spring break vacation to the Bahamas with zero intention of finding our soul mates! We were each with our own friends at the pool one day when we met. It was absolutely electric! There was no way we could possibly stay away from each other. While on vacation, we stayed up countless nights on the beach talking about everything and nothing … and soon found out that we lived only a half hour away from each other on Long Island. I was 19 and he was 22, and we tried to make our relationship work, but being young, we never gave it a real shot. We kept in touch over the years and coached each other through our dysfunctional relationships. We’d joke and say that one day we would get married, and somewhere deep down we both hoped it would come true. Life went on as we traveled our different paths until we decided it was our time to finally give it a real shot! After six months of a long-anticipated relationship that lived up to every expectation we built up over the years, Jeremy proposed!

We enjoyed our engagement and wedding planning. We both wanted our wedding to feel personal, like we thought of every single person while wedding planning. The last thing we wanted was another generic wedding. We wanted a very natural space with absolutely no “glitz and glam,” a really raw, rustic feel. Jeremy and I both love wine, so the vineyard was an easy choice for us. We learned that we would have to bring in every single vendor, but that left us able to customize, which was exactly what we wanted. We had to choose everything from flatware to floor plans and so much more. Jeremy is incredibly handy, and we made our details ourselves… our place cards were slices of wood that he cut and sanded, then I stained and wrote everyone’s name and table numbers on them. We made our four-tier cake/cupcake stand (we got dessert from my favorite bakery, Two Little Red Hens in NYC), our ceremony and cocktail hour signs, our wine bottle table numbers, etc. In doing all these projects together, we were able to share a vision of what we wanted our big day to be, and we really enjoyed spending the time together while creating everything. Most importantly in any wedding planning, we found the most incredible, down to earth vendors, who later became friends. Amanda from Amanda Barbara Events paid even more attention to detail than I did, something that I didn’t think was possible! She executed every detail and the vision that we had the day of that would never have been created without her. Janelle and Terrie from Janelle Brooke Photography captured every movement of the most magical day of our lives. Not only did they do our photography, but they kept my sanity the whole way through! McKenzie from McKenzie Miller Films, whose car we jumped in to go from site to site to take photos before the ceremony, was such a calming influence that day! Jacqui from PTG Rentals that was able to get us everything from the tent, to the flatwear, to the candy cart and the linens we wanted! There are just too many vendors to name them all, but everyone was just amazing!

When the big day came, everything fell into place and even the weather cooperated! Seeing Jeremy for the first time privately before our ceremony was one of my favorite moments of the day. It was such an intimate and personal time that we would never have gotten, had we tried to cram our photos in after the ceremony. The ceremony went according to plan, and our beloved bulldog, Elby, walked down the aisle with ease! We were feeling confident that the rest of the day would go off without a hitch — until the kitchen caught fire, and we and our 165 guests were evacuated! Advice to all future brides out there: if something out of your control happens, just sit back and let it go! It’s SO NOT WORTH freaking out! Luckily after an hour, we all came back in to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” very appropriate for our situation and because we are both Billy Joel lovers! We danced and enjoyed the rest of the evening. We are lucky to have such amazing friends and family that were able to stay calm and roll with the unexpected situation! It was certainly an event our guests will not forget!

Wedding Photography: Janelle Brooke Photography / Wedding Venue: Pellegrini Vineyards in Cutchogue, New York / Floral Design: Flowers by Burton / Wedding Day Planning: Amanda Barbara Events & Decor / Wedding Cinematography: McKenzie Miller Films / Wedding Invitations: PaperTiger Studio / Wedding Cake: Two Little Red Hens / Cake Topper: M&M Clay Creations / Props: PartyGoodies / Rentals: PTG Event Services / Favors: Pellegrini Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay / Signs, Cake Stand, Place Card Board: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Veil: Bridal Reflections / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka via Nordstrom / Bridal Hanger: Erica May Made / Bride’s Necklace: From her Grandmother / Bride’s Bracelet: Borrowed from her Mother-in-Law / Bride’s Engagement Ring: Michael’s Jewelery / Wedding Bands: Rosanne’s Jewelery / Hair: CoCoBelle / Makeup: Faye, A Friend of the Bride / Bridesmaids’ Gifts: Necklaces by Guenevere Rodriguez / Groomsmen’s Gifts: Ray-Ban Sunglasses via Accent on Eyes

Whether you speak English, Thai, French, Japanese, or Finnish, we all have the ability to speak to each other in one universal language – and that language is love. Loudbyte Cinematography is always the MOST amazing at capturing that love in a way that will last forever, which is why we are always IN love with their wedding highlight films. So filled with joy and happiness, laughter and family, and of course, the ever popular love.

Click here to see a full gallery of images!

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From the lovely bride … We wanted to mix essences of Japanese and Thai culture in our wedding to represent our cultural background. Cherry blossom was used as the main decoration to fill the tall loft space, symbolizing the beginning of Spring in Japan.  We also used white orchids, which is common in Thai weddings, for the boutonnière and bride’s hairpiece. In the ceremony, we incorporated sake exchange and presented orchids to our parents. We were happy to be able to incorporate our current life together in New York City with both our cultures and traditions of Japan and Thailand. 

Cinematography: Loudbyte Cinematography / Photography: Michael Gross Photography / Second Shooter: Chasi Annexy Photography / Ceremony + Reception Location: TriBeCa Skyline Loft Studios / DJ: Bill Galbo, Metropolitan Music DJs / Celebrant: Gerald Fierst / Flowers: Melarosa / Event Design: Bride + Groom / Shoes: Something Bleu / Dress Designer: Demetrios / Bridesmaid Dress Designer: David’s Bridal / Men’s Fashion: Hugo Boss

If you drifted off in a bed of wildflowers and dreamt about the most romantic wedding, you would most definitely be transported directly to this soiree. It’s set at The Palm House at Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, so it’s s given that the flowers were destined to be perfect. And judging by Gulnara Studio‘s take on the day, everything from the bridesmaid dresses to the sweet almost Alice in Wonderland feel to the beautiful couple are picture perfect as well. Click here to see more!

Click here to see the rest of this sweet dream!

From Gulnara Studio … Meg and Dave got married at one of the most incredible locations in Brooklyn, the world famous Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.

The  ceremony was originally planned to be outside but it began to rain so the couple had to decide very fast if it should be outside or indoors. It was not a very hard desition as the Palm House is surrounded by beautiful lights coming from the glass ceiling.  The ceremony was so emotional and surrounded by friends and family under the huppah. I loved that they had the rings passed and blessed by ALL the bridal party and guests. What a unique ceremony!

Despite the rain we did have a chance to get the FABULOUS portraits in the sculptural installation by Patrick Dougherty.  All the table numbers, papers, ring pillow were made by the bride. I really enjoyed the wedding and it was so much fun to spend the day with both families.

Photography: Gulnara Studio / Ceremony & Reception: The Palm House at Brooklyn Botanic Garden / Florist: Poppies & Posies / Catering & Wedding Cake: CharlesSallyCharles at Brooklyn Botanic Garden / Dress: Allure Couture / Groom’s Cusom Tux: Alton Lane / Linens: New York Party & Linen Rentals, LLC / Wedding Rings: Marisa Perry / Bridesmaids’ Dress: Alvina Valenta / Invitations & Cards: Wedding Paper Divas / Shoes: Alfani / Groomsmen Tuxedo: Dante Zeller / Favors: The Knot Shop / Ketubah: J. Levine Judaica / Table numbers, menus, programs, ring bearer pillows: DIY by the Bride / Entertainment: Paul Rodriguez

There’s something so fabulous about an intimate, city wedding. Especially one that is elegant and understated, where each and every detail counts. And that’s exactly why we’re totally gushing over this beauty by Alexandra Meseke Photography. It’s simple and timeless and oh so meaningful. Click here for even more!

 Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Marcus and I got engaged in the summer of 2011 in his college town of Luneburg, Germany. We decided to have a small, intimate wedding in New York City where we met, fell in love, and hoped to make our home together. We wanted our wedding to be warm and welcoming to our guests, and New York City was a perfect setting with its openness to people and things of all different cultures. New York City was also geographically centered for our close friends and families, who were coming in from all over the world. There is a word in German, “gemutlichkeit,” which relates a feeling of contentment, belonging, and coziness — this is exactly what we envisioned for our wedding.

We decided to get married that fall and set a wedding date just three months away. Aside from wanting an intimate and welcoming feel for the wedding, we did not have specific themes or styles in mind. Enter “the dress.” I knew it would be difficult to find a wedding dress on such short notice, and given that we did not have a particular design in mind, it would be hard for me to narrow my search from the overwhelming variety of possibilities. But as fate would have it, I came across a distinctive sample gown that had been on display in a bridal store and was immediately inspired. While most people choose the dress to fit the wedding, I used this dress, with its old-world opulence and intricate, crocheted Italian lace details, as the starting point and designed the wedding around it.

Less than three months after getting engaged, we got married at The Lotos Club in NYC. The Lotos Club took our breath away with its architectural details and classical charm, but it was still ideally-sized for the intimate gathering we wanted. We had our ceremony in the Tennyson room, and kept the colors crisp and white as to not compete with the ornate gold mirrors and windows. Cocktails were held in a foyer with French Renaissance architectural details, where we also kept the flowers white for a more elegant ambiance. However, we wanted a contrasting feel for our reception. We chose to have our wedding luncheon in the Library room with everyone seated together at one long table. The room itself was decorated with engraved wood details and filled with books from floor to ceiling, imparting a inviting, home-like feeling. To make the setting even more warm and rustic, we chose to have multiple small arrangements of varying heights with different flowers, all in lush red and purple hues. It was an amazing experience to celebrate our marriage with our closest friends and family members all sharing our table. And even more amazing is that we are able to relive and share the experience with the amazing photos and video from Alexandra and Michael Meseke, who were able to capture the feel and our personalities so perfectly.

Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Alexandra Meseke Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: The Lotos Club in New York, New York / Floral Design: Ariston Flowers / Officiant: Rev. Mark Giller / Wedding Cake: Pasticceria Bruno / Calligraphy: Ted Clausen / Printing: Superior Letterpress Company / Guitar: David Galvez / Wedding Dress: Michelle Rahn / Bride’s Veil: Sara Gabriel / Bride’s Shoes: Dolce Vita / Bride’s Earrings: Rachel Leigh / Hair + Makeup: Elise Cole of FaceStation / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Shoes: Allen Edmonds

Lace is one of my true loves…and this next bride donned it with the utmost style! Photographer Erik Ekroth captured all of the elegant details of this romantic + rainy Blue Hill at Stone Barns wedding beautifully, from the bridesmaid’s coral dresses to the too-pretty-to-eat fruit décor. Don’t miss the rest of the dreamy images right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We wanted our guests to feel relaxed and comfortable, as though they were in our backyard, but also have the feeling of it being a very special occasion. After searching venues, we found Blue Hill to be the perfect location to achieve that balance. We kept the wedding formalities to a minimum and just let the night unfold organically.

I woke up the morning of the wedding at the Mark Hotel, where my bridesmaids and I got ready for the day. The rain was pouring and pouring, forcing us to relinquish any hope of a sunny, summer day wedding. As much as we had hoped for and anticipated a summer wedding, the rain couldn’t have been more fun. With all our guests inside the restaurant and the rain pounding outside, it gave the day a really intimate feel, with everyone happy to be inside and warm. The endless votive candles gave the restaurant an amazing warmth. We were married at the Church of Saint Aidan, where TJ and I were both baptized. Following the ceremony, we had cocktails in the restaurant at Blue Hill and then dinner upstairs in the ballroom, followed by dancing downstairs again in the restaurant. We loved having different areas of the property to move around during the day/night so our guests felt as though they were roaming around a house with each room having a different feel. We wanted our love of food and fresh produce to shine through, so we decided to have TJ’s business supply our floral team with the most beautiful seasonal produce available. We had a display of amazing apricots and figs and cherries that were meant as display but were so beautiful and appetizing, our guests couldn’t help themselves! Our friends and family tasted all the delicious produce throughout the party, and it was so fun and relaxed to have people with fruit in their hands as they were sipping on the champagne! We achieved the backyard BBQ feel without even meaning too! Our florist Ned Kelly brought a bicycle to Blue Hill and designed it with the most beautiful flowers and little chalkboards signaling to guests where the dinner and dancing took place. It was so adorable and a great touch!

As far as advice, don’t sweat the small stuff! You won’t remember half the details you were hoping to achieve once the day unfolds, just smile and enjoy what is truly the best time of your life!

Wedding Photography: Erik Ekroth / Ceremony: Church of Saint Aidan / Reception: Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, New York / Event Planning: Francesca Events / Church Flowers: Georgewood Florist / Floral Design: Ned Kelly & Company / Dinner Music + DJ: Hank Lane Music / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Groom’s Suit: Dolce & Gabbana / Groom’s Shoes: Prada / Groom’s Tie: Domenico Vacco

Welcome back to another wedding Wednesday! This is by far our favorite day of the week here at SMP because we get to share so many gorgeous weddings. From New York to New Zealand to Mexico, we’ve got a crazy beautiful line up for you today so sit back, relax, and don’t forget to check out the full galleries because these are the sneak peeks!

First up is this super sweet DIY bicycle themed wedding that was almost moved indoors because of rain. But lucky for this adorable couple, the rain clouds cleared and allowed for a beautiful mist covered ceremony in which all the maids cycled down the aisle. Mabyn Ludke Photography captured it all and you can see the rest of the homemade DIY goodness right here in the full gallery.

  Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Mabyn Ludke Photography: When I pulled up to the Frog Pond Bed & Breakfast in Skateateles it was pouring rain, but that didn’t stop Elaine’s sunny disposition! Today was the day she got to marry her other half, her puzzle piece, her Michael!  Even though person after person kept asking to move things inside, Elaine & Mike had faith that their wedding would still go on as planned. Their faith proved founded as the pouring rain turned into a drizzle which then turned into a fine mist. Good enough! People pulled out chairs & umbrella’s and got ready! During all of the rain hullabaloo, Elaine and Mike opted to see each other before the wedding. We set up the “First Look” session on the front porch of the Frog Pond. I felt so privileged to be the one behind the camera, to witness their love, and document their tears of joy. My heart went to mush right then and there! Their ceremony essentially took place in a cloud! Mist hovered around the tree tops as the bridesmaids bicycled down the aisle! Their ceremony was so beautiful & full of emotion from their hand written vows to the foot washing, I was practically tearing up the whole time! As they took their first kiss the sun broke through the clouds like we were at the epic conclusion of a movie! It was such a confirmation of their union! They celebrated by journeying down the isle together on a tandem bicycle while their wedding party joyfully skipped behind them! The sun stayed out in celebration as the rest of the day consisted of photo shoots, amazing home made food, & a rockin’ dance party! My eyes and heart couldn’t get enough of this glorious day. Everything was unique, beautiful, and heart felt. A truly beautiful love story!

Photography: Mabyn Ludke Photography / Hair: Mckenzie Macko / Makeup Artist: Bride’s Mother / Dress: David’s Bridal / Jewelry: Etsy and Ann Taylor / Ring: Bride’s Mother / Veil: Bride’s cousin / Flower in Hair: Target / Shoes: Lord and Taylor and DSW / Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Sung / Grooms Hat: Calvin Klein /Groom’s Shirt: JcPenny / Groom’s Tie and Suspenders: Macy’s / Groom’s Pants: Banana Republic / Groom’s Shoes: DSW / Ceremony Venue: Frog Pond / Reception Venue: Restored Barn at the Frog Pond / Florist: Bride’s Aunt / DJ: Friend / Caterer: Family / Cake: Family / Event Designer: Bride / Wedding Coordinator: Family / Invitations & Stationary: Bride

I love seeing weddings come to life. Especially when those shooting the film are the fabulous people at 31 Films. This same day edit is a testimony to their crazy talent. And the wedding they filmed is so super gorgeous, you’ll want to watch it more than once. The outdoor ceremony at Oheka Castle is so pretty, I can practically feel the warm, summer breeze on my face!

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From 31 Films… It’s always a goal for us to get to know our couple’s stories and to put them into the films that we produce. We flew to New York to produce this same day edit for Joanne and Andy. Through a fun skype chat, we got to know them. Joanne and Andy work in the city. They met at a small group from their church and hit it off. Joanne gave Andy an unfinished Jenga block set to represent that they’re relationship is a building process.

The location was at the historic Oheka Castle, which was breathtaking. Most of the guests were coming from the city on the wedding day, so we wanted to show the journey from the city to the castle. We also shot footage around the financial district, where they work. The stop motion animation represented who they are individually and together through this building process themed through out the wedding day. Their personal vows were very touching and emotional which was key to their story. On top of all of this, they are a fun group and know how to party! You could tell that every detail had important meaning to Joanne and Andy. We worked hard to infuse this into their story.

Wedding Cinematography: 31 Films / Wedding Venue: Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York / Wedding Photography: CLY Creation

New York City is a hot spot for engagement photos. With all those amazing cityscapes and lush green parkscapes, it’s a city that will forever be a draw to newly engaged love and the capturing there of. And today’s image capturer, Anne Robert Photography, knows her stuff. From breathtaking photos of a Brooklyn Bridge kiss to a couple and their fur baby strolling through Central Park, this is engagement session gold. And in the spirit of Memorial Day (because this was totally planned) the two are fully decked out in red, white and blue. It’s pretty images, an adorable couple and their Americana Nouveau style and you can see it all here.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Anne Robert Photography… Before heading off to Fiji for their wedding, Leah and Daryl knew they wanted a part of them captured in the states. What better place than their fav city: NYC? They went to all of their favorite spots in Central Park and then headed over to the Brooklyn Bridge to hang out and capture one the most romantic places in the city. To top it all off what a romantic way for these two to express their love, but to get matching tattoos. Perfectly chic ones at that!

Photography: Anne Robert Photography / Location: New York, New York

Does chipped paint make you chipper? It’s your lucky day. This Hamptons inspired CLY CREATION photo shoot at Gary’s Loft features spring floral spreads and beachy place settings on shabby chic vintage tables. Occasion9 takes the decidedly modern grey and yellow pairing up a notch with balls of yarn, colorful spools of thread, and found buttons. This white backed beauty ends in a set of  dreamy bathroom shots. You simply must see to believe how lovely bouquets in a bathtub can be in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

We wanted to try Hampton style in NYC! We created couple of different set up for wedding tables, flower, and food. We made the yellow and gray bouquet inspired by combination of buttons, especially vintage clock buttons. It was hand-tied with dusty miller, billy balls, yellow roses, daffodils and mixed vintage buttons. For warmth and an intimate mood, we used yarn balls in the main color scheme and combined with branched lemon to get the freshness. The table was set for a “romantic dinner for two” with vintage tea cans, stock, baby’s breath and arbicum in pastel blue and green.

The cheese, antipasto and bread display was a collaboration between the florist and caterer. The rustic theme was “Farm to Table.” The florist provided moss, little daisy flowers, and other greenery. The caterer provided vegetables (leeks, radishes, greens, turnips, beets and more) from Union Square Green Market to tie in. Whole bread and Parmesan bread sticks added to the “rustic” charm. Situating this station in front of exposed bricks was an excellent idea. Gary’s Loft has many antique and white washed tables and chairs that we were able to utilize. The mock kitchen at Gary’s Loft is a perfect place for a dessert station. Whether you go for a seated dinner or a buffet  style event, having this dessert station is a nice idea. We included French macarons; lemon meringue pie; homemade apple pie; red velvet cupcakes; homemade chocolate chip cookies; cranberry, macadamia nut and oatmeal cookies; meringue cookies and favor jars filled with different flavors of jelly beans.

The silkscreened invitations showed a young country couple sitting on a bench, inspired by rustic and vintage style with an indie pink color.

Photography: Chung of CLY CREATION / Location: Gary’s Loft in New York, New York / Floral Design + Stationery: Occasion9 / Catering: Amy Kang of Madeline’s Catering & Special Events