New York Weddings

We’ve said it before, and we will no doubt say it again – although rain isn’t always a welcomed guest at a wedding, it sure makes for some of our most favorite fêtes. Maybe it’s the intimacy it forces on everyone or the gorgeous images that come from the grey skies, whatever it may be – we love a rainy day soiree. And when that gorgeous grey day is captured by the talented Erik Ekroth, it’s safe to say we immediately file it away as another reason to love the rain. See it all here!

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From the Bride… We wanted everything to be fun and relaxed. We also wanted to make sure that our family and friends traveling from Canada and England got an authentic Catskill experience. The setting was rustic but still classy, so we used that to set the tone for the day. Almost everything at the wedding was symbolic to us as a couple and made by Matthew and I together. We didn’t have any specific colors, so everything was very eclectic.

It poured rain. We didn’t really have a contingency plan for the rain so we bought 100 umbrellas and hoped all would work out. All the guests were staying at The Roxbury Motel, which is a theme room hotel in Roxbury. They were transported by buses to the venue for cocktails on the porch in the rain. At the last minute we moved the ceremony into a tent. Our friend James, who is a writer and an actor, put together a very personal ceremony as the officiant. My father, who is a former minister, did a sermon using two ewoks to talk about marriage, and we each wrote our own vows. Following the ceremony we had another cocktail hour and had a live band play in the barn. During dinner there were a few brief speeches. We tried to tie the very traditional format of English weddings into our very relaxed personalties. Matthew made a music mix of the wedding songs of all our guests. The night continued with a party at the “Dry Creek” bar down the hill on a pond. We had a midnight snack complete with mac and cheese ferris wheel. Before everyone got on the buses back to the hotel, we had a bonfire by the stream and ended the night at 1 a.m.

Our invitation was a 10-page, accordion-style story book with images made by me and the story of how we met written by Matthew. In all the rooms of the guests we left boxes full of fun treats and PBR beer. There were pink flamingos along a path to guide guests to the wedding site. All the place cards were handmade with vintage wallpaper and hung with mini clothes pins to create a pennant streamer. Each table had our “slide show,” which was a custom-made view finder with photos of Matthew and me as children. The take away gifts were handmade cassette tape holders with a USB of our favorite songs. Matthew and I made each tape cassette together by hand. All the flowers were wild flowers in vintage jars and milk bottles. We worked on the wedding as a team and I learned a lot about my husband in the process. It was really interesting to find out what was important for him that day, and one of the biggest things he was involved in was the ceremony. As a designer and event director,  planning the wedding together took a lot of patience and compromise, but ultimately that nine months of working together has helped us plan a marriage and a life together following the wedding.

Wedding Photography: Erik Ekroth / Wedding Venue: Barkaboom Lodge in Bovina, New York / Floral Design: Elizabeth Geddes of E G Geddes Inc. / Catering: Mary Giuliani Catering & Events / Wedding Cake: Momofuko Milk Bar / Band: Basement Band / DJ: Andrew Klein of Gotham Events / Wedding Dress: Suzanne Ermann via VeKa Bridal Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers / Groom’s Shirt: Armani / Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan

Just when I thought it wasn’t possible for me to love Blue Hill at Stone Barns any more than I already do, along comes this darling affair captured by Sara Wight Photography to send my heart into serious overdrive.  The vibrant color palette, dazzling lace Birnbaum & Bullock gown and breathtaking garden setting is the epitome of everything I ADORE about this sweet Hudson Valley venue – charming, enchanting and simply breathtaking.  Click here for more.

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From the Bride… Pierre and I met in a restaurant, so I suppose it was only fitting that we marry at one as well. It’s incredible to think how far we have come since then, and I think our wedding summed up our relationship perfectly. Pierre now works as a pastry chef, and I now work at the James Beard Foundation, so it goes without saying that food has always played a major role in our lives. When we first drove up to Blue Hill at Stone Barns, we both knew immediately that this was where we wanted to get married. Situated in the heart of the Hudson Valley, Blue Hill is a truly special place unlike any I’ve seen before. Chickens scamper about the property (and they’re not shy), and flourishing fields of fruits and vegetables surround an inviting stone farmhouse that houses the restaurant.

Once we were able to settle on a date in early September, the rest of the planning fell into place beautifully. Since our wedding would be the first time our families would meet (Pierre’s entire family lives in France), we knew we wanted to keep the wedding intimate so that everyone would be able to get to know each other. Our ceremony took place in a small, stone-walled garden overlooking the farmland. Rachelle Garniez and her quartet played a lovely accordion-and-acoustic guitar rendition of “Storybook Love” from the Princess Bride (one of my all-time favorite movies), and one of my dearest friends sang “What a Wonderful World” during the ceremony. Afterwards, we enjoyed cocktails and canapés as the sun set, and we then sat down to a five-course meal made with ingredients fresh from the farm. Pierre made our wedding cake himself, and although he was somewhat reluctant to bear the added stress of assembling the cake only minutes before our ceremony began, in the end it was the perfect ending to our evening, dancing the night away to “La Vie en Rose.”

Photography: Sara Wight of Sara Wight Photography / Wedding Venue: Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, New York / Floral Design: Sandy Clothier Flowers / Wedding Invitations: Bella Figura / Wedding Programs: Wedding Paper Divas / Band: Rachelle Garniez Quartet via John Ragusa Music / Officiant: Paul Sittenfeld, A Family Friend / Wedding Dress, Veil + Lariat Necklace: Birnbaum & Bullock / Hair + Makeup: Kerry-Lou Brehm / Earrings: Nadri / Shoes: BHLDN / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit + Tie: Hugo Boss / Groomsmen’s Suits: Zara

It never fails, Judy Pak wows. WOWS I tell you. Her weddings are always stop-in-your-tracks gorgeous, and she has that classic elegance that never goes out of style down pat. She also seems to attract some of the most stylish clients, and this couple fits quite nicely into that category. Quite nicely indeed. And their Christmas in the City wedding? It’s perfection. See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Doug Coon, my boyfriend of three years, proposed to me when we were in Paris in May 2011, and I ecstatically accepted. We are consummate New Yorkers — I am a director/producer and he works in finance as an attorney, and we love our city! I had always dreamed of a glamorous New York City evening wedding, and my favorite time in New York is the holiday season. Food, aesthetics and music were all very important to us. We did the planning on our own, without much help from our parents and no planner. Finding a venue in New York proved complicated for us. Years ago, I had torn out a photo in a magazine that featured a glamorous black tie wedding at the Pratt Mansions. We saw the space in person over Labor Day weekend and our decision, after having seen about 20 venues, was made for us. The Pratt Mansions really go wild with their décor at Christmas – wreaths are put on every window, there is a massive tree in the parlor, and there are poinsettias all over the venue.   

My husband-to-be did not want to rush the process, but being a director and producer, I felt confident that I could pull off the planning in just three months, which is exactly what I did with a little help from our incredible vendors: Judy Pak, who took the dreamiest photos; Fernanda Coutinho of Petali, who made gorgeous bouquets and centerpieces; and Christopher Vincoli, who put together a spectacular, delicious menu. Our gorgeous city-specific invitations came from Cheree Berry. We got beautiful hand-drawn cards from Etsy that featured the twelve days of Christmas, our inspiration for the twelve tables our guests were seated at, for dinner. I collected sets of ornaments from eBay, which we hung on the Christmas tree. Each guest picked their ornament from the tree, which led them to their dinner tables. Friends of ours designed the menu cards, our itineraries and our thank-you notes, which were incredibly beautiful.

I wore a gold and ivory lace Monique Lhuillier gown I purchased at a trunk show in San Francisco where my sisters live. Our bridesmaids were our sisters, who wore fabulous full-length gowns by Two Birds Bridesmaid. Eva Fehren Fine Jewelry designed our wedding bands and my engagement ring. We were married by our best friend, who was ordained for the event. We had live music for the entire evening. The music included Orchestrations, who accompanied my friend Brooke during the ceremony, the awesome band New York City Swing led by Joe Shane, the cabaret darling Kathy Kaefer singing standards during dinner, Jack Spann playing Christmas tunes during the cocktail hour, and finally, I sang “The Rainbow Connection” to my new husband. It was the stuff of a perfect New York City night.

Wedding Photography: Judy Pak Photography / Photography Assistant: Falcon Griffith / Wedding Venue: The Pratt Mansions in New York, New York / Floral Design: Fernanda Coutinho of Petali NYC / Catering: Christopher Vincoli of Tastings / Wedding Invitations: Cheree Berry Paper / Menus, Itineraries + Thank-You Notes: Friends of the Couple / Music: Orchestrations, NYC Swing, Kathy Kaefer + Jack Spann / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Hair: Peter from Extravaganza Hair Designs / Makeup: Katy Sullivan / Rings: Eva Fehren Fine Jewelry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: twobirds

There is something so wonderful about a classic and sophisticated soiree. One that has details that will withstand the test of time and emotion seeping through each image. Well, we have Raquel Reis Photography to thank for sending over just a soiree for us to gush over this morning. Simple yet stunning, it’s a wedding that will never go out of style, and we couldn’t adore it more. See it all here!

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From the Bride… Jack and I met in 2006 through my older brother, Matt. I had just graduated from college, and Jack was in his last year of law school. Shortly after meeting him, I told my sister that I was going to marry Jack one day. She thought I was crazy, but a few months later, Jack called my brother to see if he could take me out to dinner. The rest is history. Jack and I dated for five years, almost to the day. Our first date was on October 12, 2006. We got engaged on October 22, 2010 and then got married on October 15, 2011. Needless to say, the month of October is an important one for our relationship. Our wedding style was classic, clean and sophisticated. We wanted the entire feel of the day to be calming, fresh and light, so we chose all neutral colors for our overarching wedding scheme — from the flowers to the invitations and the attire to the décor.

Jack and I grew up 10 minutes away from each other, so we knew that we wanted to get married at our local church by a priest that we both remember fondly. At the ceremony, trumpet players greeted guests outside of the church with festive tunes as they walked in to find their seats. The trumpet players also played during the ceremony and afterwards, as guests left the church on their way to the reception. Being that we were having our ceremony at 6:15 p.m., with our reception immediately following the ceremony, Jack and I decided to see each other for the first time down at the beach. Because the harbor is so special to both of us, it was the perfect place to meet and take pictures with our immediate families and wedding party. Jack was standing at the edge of a dock when my limo first pulled up to the beach. It wasn’t until I got out of the limo and started walking toward him that Jack turned around to see me for the first time. I’ll never forget that moment. Our friends and family are super fun. They also happen to be fabulous dancers, so we knew that our dance floor would be packed the entire night — especially with our incredible Motown band, Eturnity Band Orchestra, rocking out. My father is one of the best dancers around, so we’ll never forget when he hit the floor during the first song of the night to do his famous “curly spin!” It got our guests amped to leave it all on the dance floor, and, today — months after our wedding — we constantly look back at the dance floor photographs for a guaranteed smile and good laugh.

We assembled wedding boxes for all of our wedding guests who were staying at local hotels. Within each of the boxes were a variety of goodies, including Jack’s mother’s famous homemade granola mix, including old-fashioned oats, almonds, peanuts, coconut and more!  In keeping with the look and feel of our wedding, we tied the bags of granola with rope and put a vintage-looking sticker on top, which read: “Made With Love, Kitty’s Granola.” Jack’s mother is also a talented jewelry maker, so we designed silver key tags for each of the groomsmen, which featured their nicknames creatively hand-engraved on the tag. Jack’s sister and myself both helped Jack’s mom to hammer the nicknames onto the tags. These DIY elements were both very special moments I shared with my now mother-in-law and I will have the memories of making them forever.

Wedding Photography: Raquel Reis Photography / Wedding Venue: Cherry Valley Club, A Private Country Club in Garden City, Long Island / Floral Design: Doris the Florist, Inc. / Wedding Invitations: Lion in the Sun / Motown Band: Eturnity Band / Family Photos Location: Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club in Cold Spring Harbor, New York / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via The Wedding Salon of Manhasset / Bride’s Earrings: Bijoux Heart via Net-a-Porter / Bride’s Rings: Antique from Her Great-Aunt (One Borrowed from Her Sister) / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka (Randall in Ivory) via Zappos / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew (Monde in Fawn) / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Sam & Libby via Marshall’s / Flower Girl’s + Junior Bridesmaid’s Dresses: J.Crew (Joliette in Ivory)

Call me crazy but I think the zoo might be the next hot venue trend!  From San Diego to Australia, we’ve seen some pretty amazing weddings in these wild settings.  Uplift Photography brought us this gorgeous wedding from one of the most famous ones – The Bronx Zoo.  I love that they incorporated a little wild side into their decor with fun animal escort cards and a zebra cake but didn’t lose an ounce of elegance in the process.  See it all here in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

There’s even more to love in this film by Diana Diroy!

From the Bride… When my husband proposed (by hiding a ring in a box of Cracker Jacks!), we knew we wanted our wedding to be a celebration of all we’ve shared and the many more adventures we hope to have together. We approached the day with a respect for tradition, but a desire to showcase our own style, personality and love for family and friends.

We picked the Bronx Zoo as our venue because when we saw it, everything about it just felt right. It was elegant and chic, but also quirky and fun. The historic architecture was a beautiful complement to our more modern style. (And how can you beat a cocktail hour IN the Madagascar Exhibit!?) It was “us.” All other decisions fell into place in a similar fashion, from brightly-colored florals and fun footwear to a zoo-inspired invitation suite and animal theme to play off the location. As a very detail-oriented person, I really enjoyed giving meaning to the details of the day. Our readings were all song lyrics because we love music. My husband and I both wore jewelry from grandparents who are no longer with us. The biggest and most rewarding project was our chuppah, which was made of quilt squares that guests designed and returned with their RSVP cards. I’ll never forget the moment I reached the end of the aisle and stepped under the chuppah with my groom. I was overwhelmed with happiness. For me, part of what made our wedding day so special was that it was so distinctly a reflection of our loves and our love for one another. My advice to other brides is to remember that there is no “right” way to do anything, only the way that makes you and your fiance feel right (even if it’s a zoo!).

A tremendous amount of gratitude is owed to our vendors. All of our vendors had personalities which matched ours, and it allowed us to trust them completely. Every minute of research to find the “right” vendor was time well spent because on the day of our wedding we knew that the team of people around us would make sure everything was fantastic!

Wedding Photography: Jade & Tim O’Connell of Uplift Photography / Wedding Venue: Bronx Zoo in Bronx, New York / Day-Of Coordination: Jennifer Fitzmaurice / Floral Design: Rachel Cho / Wedding Cinematography: Diana Diroy / Wedding Cake: Baking by Jamie / Band: Arcadia / Lighting: Morris Grey of Shades of Grey Productions, Inc. / Graphic Design Details: Lauren Panepinto / Wedding Dress: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Wtoo

Seaside soirees always go beeline for my heart strings. They strum away and don’t let go. With their dreamy light, gorgeous ocean views and the feel of being beachside all makes my wedding-obsessed heart sing a little louder. So this Montauk beauty captured by The Popes is obviously strumming my seaside-loving heart strings this morning, and it’s sure to do the same for you! See it all here!

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From the Bride… On the evening of November 15, 2007, we had both decided last minute to take a break from our busy careers and attend a charity event in lower Manhattan with our friends. It was a stormy evening, but my father nudged me to go by saying, “You should go because you never know who you are going to meet!” Upon arriving at the event, I bumped into a friend who attended Miami University with me for two years. Later that night, he introduced me to Stephen because for two years prior to transferring to Miami University, he had attended SMU with Stephen. We talked and danced the night away! Every day, month and year since that moment we met has helped to mold us into the best versions of ourselves, which makes us a strong duo. 

Stephen moved to New York City in July of 2000, and I moved to the Big Apple in January of 2004. While we both love our frenetic city lives, we share the same passion for escaping to the East End of Long Island. We had both had summer share houses in the Hamptons with our separate group of friends up until the year we met, when we started to rent house a house together with our friends. During the summer of 2010, we stumbled across a home in Amagansett that we both just knew would be a perfect home for us to start the next journey of our lives together as a married couple. It is tucked in the woods, and some of our favorite times as a couple include sitting on our deck sharing a bottle of wine as we gaze at the stars or listen to the trees rustle. It is so peaceful and it gives us a chance to relax. We love taking walks all year round on Atlantic Avenue Beach, which is the beach where The Popes photographed us on our wedding day following the ceremony. We both travel for work, so our weekend escapes outside the city give us the chance to catch up with one another, which made it the natural choice for our wedding location. We also really wanted to share our experience in the Hamptons with our families and dearest friends. We realized it was quite a trek for a lot of our guests but were confident that it would be a great escapade for those that were able to attend.

As we were choosing our color palette, we really wanted to embrace the natural light and colors of the East End. We envisioned the reflection of the sun and moon on the water, the sandy beaches and the color variations in the sky at sunset.  The core colors of our palette were dark navy blue, light blue and ivory. Guests commented on how beautiful and unique our flower arrangements were because we added dark berries and light/blue lavender thistle, which really popped and helped to make these colors feel more appropriate for autumn rather than nautical/summer colors. We both love cheesecake, so we ordered a fun variety from Eileen’s Cheesecake in New York — flavors included were chocolate, pumpkin, strawberry, snickers, caramel pecan, blueberry, pina colada, Maker’s Mark chocolate bourbon and grasshopper, to name a few. All of our guests loved our band choice. Super T and the Tyrone Smith Review had everyone shaking their groove thing all night long. They played a special rendition of “Just like Heaven” by The Cure as our first dance, which was incredible. We did not have a traditional sit-down dinner, and so most of the celebrating was done on the dance floor, up onstage with Super T or in a conga line.

Wedding Photography: The Popes / Reception Venue: Montauk Yacht Club in Montauk, New York / Floral Design: Amagansett Flowers by Beth / Wedding Coordination: Jill Gordon Celebrate / Wedding Officiant: Reverend Steven Howarth / Catering: Montauk Yacht Club / Wedding Cheesecakes: Eileen’s Special Cheesecake / Bar Service: Montauk Yacht Club / Lighting + Linens: Jill Gordon Celebrate / Event Rentals: Party Rentals Ltd. / Wedding Invitations: Village Invites / Save-the-Dates: Alice B. King Fine Stationery & Gifts / Entertainment: Super T and the Tyrone Smith Revue / Transportation: Sunny Limos / Wedding Dress + Veil: Melissa Sweet for Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Earrings: London Jewelers / Hair + Makeup: Hiroko Takada / Groom’s Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna / Accommodations: Montauk Yacht Club + Montauk Manor / Rehearsal Dinner: East Hampton Point / Wedding Registry: Sur la Table, Michael C. Fina + Bloomingdale’s

When a team of New York City’s finest vendors set out to inspire, they do so in a BIG way – it’s really the only way they know how. So when we set our sights on the gorgeous images of this Marie Antoinette photo shoot by Judy Pak Photography at the Metropolitan Building we stopped dead in our blogging tracks. Because it.is.gorgeous. Their interpretation of the “Modern Marie” was brought to life through the lavish styling of Michelle Edgemont and overflowing florals from Barbara’s Flowers making for a shoot that is decadent to say the least. There is SO much inspiration to be had we couldn’t possibly fit it in one post, so be sure to visit the full gallery for even more whimsical glamour!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Judy of Judy Pak Photography… If there is any day that a girl should be free to live out her every decadent whim, it is on her wedding day. We New York City vendors endeavored to capture the playful, opulent, ultra-feminine spirit of Sofia Coppola’s film “Marie Antoinette” with an inspired wedding shoot for the modern bride. Sofia Coppola’s film so skillfully took a character who we all thought we knew as a detached aristocrat and portrayed her in a more relatable (though equally lavish) light. Likewise, for this inspiration shoot, we steered away from a stuffy aristocratic look and instead used glitter and pops of bold feminine colors together with accents of antique glamour to pull together a extravagant, Versailles-worthy affair for brides of today. The Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, New York, was the perfect setting for a wedding of this kind, filled with the kind of details you imagine Marie would have wanted in her own parlor: gilded molding, dramatic chandeliers, and antique books and furniture. In glittery, neutral-colored couture gowns by Samuelle Couture and Galit Levi with makeup and hair by JAC Beauty, we kept this Marie Antoinette bride and her friends’ looks contemporary with flowing hair, whimsical up-dos and brightly-colored nails. Big City Little Sweets made us all drool for their decadent, gold-dusted cupcakes, candy-colored macaroons and beautifully overflowing dessert table. Barbara’s Flowers made sure that the table spread and bouquets were designed to perfection: lavish and overflowing with a wealth of roses and greenery. Event designer Michelle Edgemont made sure that the shoot had no shortage of flirty feminine details with a lovely boudoir dresser covered in feathers, pops of color and glitter on the table, and unexpected modern details like an adorable triangle banner, glittery sneakers and confetti. Judy Pak Photography, with the help of second shooter Caroline Frost, captured every moment with playful, whimsical images that perfectly convey the sweet innocence and youthful extravagance of our “Modern Marie.”

Photography: Judy Pak Photography / Second Shooter: Caroline Frost of Frost Photography / Venue: Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, New York / Floral Design: Barbara’s Flowers / Event Styling: Michelle Edgemont / Desserts: Big City Little Sweets / Wedding Invitations: Papel Paper & Press / Wedding Dresses: Samuelle Couture + Galit Levi via Designer Loft / Hair + Makeup: Jina Pak + Wendy Wang

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Sometimes mixing things up a bit makes for an incredibly beautiful event. And who says you can’t  have drinks before the “I Do’s”? Not this wedding. Guests were greeted with a pre-ceremony cocktail hour followed by a candle-lit sunset ceremony overlooking the Hudson River. Romantic doesn’t even begin to describe that situation. It’s all in the pictures captured by Meredith Davenport of Christian Oth Studio. And those pictures tell the story of a lovely garden party designed and styled by Hatch Creative Studio along with planning by Daughter of Design. See the full affair right here.

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From Annie of Daughter of Design… Danielle and Jake met almost a decade ago at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, and they now live together in Manhattan. Though New York weather can be a challenge, they knew they wanted to chance an outdoor location for their wedding. They originally planned on getting married at Danielle’s parents’ house in Westchester, New York, but luckily found a superior alternative mid-way between Manhattan and Westchester in the Bronx. Wave Hill is an expansive 28-acre estate composed of a cultural center, art galleries, and fantastic public gardens in Riverdale, New York, overlooking the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades. It was the perfect site for Danielle and Jake’s vision – a fun and sophisticated dinner party. To that end, guests arrived and enjoyed pre-ceremony cocktails on a beautiful lawn overlooking the Palisades. They were greeted by the sound of Carte Blanche, a jazzy ensemble featuring classic standards and vintage attire, and had the chance to explore the property and snap some Polaroid pictures and sign a guestbook.

Just before sunset, guests were shepherded to the ceremony area on the great lawn to watch the sunset over the Hudson River as a quartet played. Barb of Hatch Creative created a chuppah that was both wild with flowers on the bottom, and simple, with Danielle’s late grandfather’s tallis forming the top. Large olive branches were arranged at the foot of the aisle, and hundreds and hundreds of mason jars were arranged all around the lawn with votives inside, creating what became affectionately known as the “sea of light.” Despite torrential rain in the preceding days, the guests faced a glorious pink and orange sunset as the couple spoke their vows.

After the ceremony, guests were guided to a spectacular clear tent with chandeliers hanging throughout. A framed silk-screened menu was placed on a table with flowers in vintage medicine bottles, which mimicked the gorgeous arrangements, designed by Hatch, along the long tables inside. The flowers were a brilliant array of jewel-toned purples, oranges, and greens arranged in stone urns, wooden boxes, and vintage medicine bottles. Carte Blanche serenaded the guests during the dinner of family-style antipasto, mushroom ravioli, roast chicken, and sautéed fish. After toasts and dinner, a truly epic hora began the DJ dance party. Guests were served passed desserts, such as ice cream sandwiches and mini-milkshakes, while cookies and coffee were placed on the tables. To everyone’s great delight, late night snacks – bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches, zeppole, French fries and sliders – were provided to the party-goers, and chocolate favors were distributed to enjoy on the ride home. On the way out, the couple passed by guests holding sparklers. The wedding was a stylish yet relaxed affair in a gorgeous setting on a perfect fall day.

Wedding Photography: Meredith Davenport of Christian Oth Studio / Wedding Venue: Wave Hill in Bronx, New York / Floral + Event Design: Hatch Creative Studio / Event Planning: Daughter of Design / Officiant: Cantor Gerald Cohen / Catering: Great Performances / Lighting: Frost Productions / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. / Tent: Stamford Tent & Event Services / Wedding Invitations: Mr. Boddington’s Studio / Calligraphy: Neither Snow / Ceremony Music: Arco Ensemble / Cocktails + Dinner Music: Carte Blanche / DJ: Dave Fischoff of Popshop DJ Squad / Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Fillmore / Hair: Joseph A. Ronkese of Premier Salons / Makeup: Nam Vo

XOANDREA have put together the most adorable way to celebrate your best ladies and have a fun day of dress shopping at the same time.  Not like we need an incentive to go shopping but following up a fun day of donning dresses with a rooftop celebration does sound absolutely divine, don’t you think?  Nothing beats sipping champagne in a fabulous frock!  Click here to see it all!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Andrea of XOANDREA… This shoot is all about four girlfriends going shopping for the bride’s wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dresses in the best city for shopping: NYC. They stop by the fabulous Gabriela’s bridal salon in Meatpacking District and D’arcy, the bride-to-be, starts trying different gowns. Her best friends, Marilia, Krystina and Toni, are having the best time trying super sweet bridesmaid dresses and waiting for D’arcy to show off what she is trying on. Afterward, they head over to Tribeca Rooftop, where a bartender is already waiting with champagne, to celebrate their friendship. While the sun sets behind the amazing skyline, the ladies go on celebrating with drinks, food and LOTS of fun. NYC at its best!

Photography: XOANDREA / Second Photographer: Helga Schaefer / Locations: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon + Tribeca Rooftop / Floral Design: Cornucopia Flowers / Illustrated Drink Stirrers, Rings + Debossed Velvet Accents: Astrid Mueller / Stationery: The Pink Orange / Furniture Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. / Linens: Nuage Designs / Table Styling: Swank Productions / Wedding Gowns: Legends by Romona Keveza, Marchesa + Jenny Packham via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Two Birds Bridesmaid / Hair: Keila Sone + Cha Cha Savoy / Makeup: Tanisha Faye / Fashion Styling: Lakeniya Kelly of The Dapifer

One look at this breathtaking Tarrytown soiree captured by Beaty Photography and it’s not hard to see why Blue Hill at Stone Barns rests high atop my list of favorite venues.  This fab location is ALL KINDS of perfect – and made even more so by these two lovebirds and their sweet, eco-friendly affair. From the organic details to the adorable puppies to the lovely fall hues, this is most definitely one for the books.  And don’t even get me started on the gorgeous bride and her oh-so-chic ensemble from Gabriella New York Bridal Salon. Simply. Stunning.  Click here for more.

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And a seriously STUNNING look at the day from Anecdotally Yours… Enjoy!

From the Bride… We were engaged at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. I knew something was wrong with Andrew, as he was anxiety-stricken the entire day. At one point, he handed me a wad of cash and told me to have fun at the slots while he stayed up in the room. We had a dinner reservation for Le Cirque, and I am the type who likes to relax, take my time, listen to music and just chill while getting ready. So you can imagine my surprise when I walked out of the bathroom, and there was Andrew on one knee holding my engagement ring. The room had been covered in red roses and there were strawberries, champagne, etc. Poor Andrew knew he would not be able to make it through the proposal, so he wrote down everything he wanted to say to me. He began crying, had to then return to his notes and finished with me standing there in utter shock. I had no clue it was coming and I immediately told him yes — and here we are today!

Our theme was “Country Girl Meets City Boy.” I am originally from Arkansas and spent most of my summers with my grandparents on their farm. Andrew is a native New Yorker who grew up in Manhattan on the UES. Nobody would have ever imagined that the two of us would get together. Our wedding was also completely sustainable, organic and environmentally-friendly. Our wedding invitations were printed on organic flour cloth that could then be re-used by guests. People have been sending us pictures of how they are using their wedding invites, and it appears that most of them are now using them as kitchen towels. The entire meal was completely farm-to-table, which is very important to Andrew and me, as we want to know where our food comes from. With regard to the bee/honey theme, I was always amazed with my grandfather’s beekeeping, so that was definitely incorporated into our wedding with bees, fresh honeycomb and with our colors of honey, wheat and tobacco.

When I began to walk down the aisle, it started to mist just a bit. The sun was setting, and everything was lit by candles on the farm. It was beautiful and felt magical. My now-husband screamed, “I do” during the vows. He had been waiting to get married for a while, so he was excited. Then when it came time for me to say “I do,” you heard nothing but this large flock of geese squawking. I couldn’t say it because I was laughing and the geese were flying over, but after they gave their approval I went ahead with the vows. The rabbi asked us to turn around and capture this one moment at our wedding. He said it was something that could not be captured by a camera, so we both turned to the guests and took in the entirety of everything that was happening. We were surrounded by nothing but friends, family and love. 

Wedding Photography: Beaty Photography / Wedding Venue: Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, New York / Wedding Coordination: Stephanie Weir of Sweet Bourbon Events / Floral Design: Ariella Chezar Design / Cinematography: Jeff Short + Erica May of Anecdotally Yours (Formerly Reclaim Creative) / Wedding Cake: Amy DeGiulio of Sugar Flower Cake Shop / Wedding Stationery + Genealogy Tree: Everett Weng of Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence / Transportation: Luxury Ride NYC / Band: The Atlantics via John Ragusa Music / Lodging: The Standard Hotel / Wedding Gown: Claire by Anna Maier Ulla-Maija via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Veil + Hairpiece: Sara Gabriel via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Moonstone Stud Earrings: Emily & Ashley / Diamond Bracelet: Underwood’s Fine Jewelry / Bride’s Wedge Shoes: Aruna Seth via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Bride’s Flat Shoes: Aruna Seth via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Hair + Makeup: Jane White of Cosmetic Therapy Institute / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: 57 Grand “Waverly” (Custom Color: Antique Gold) / Bridesmaids’ Citrine Drop Earrings: Emily & Ashley / Groom’s Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna / Groom’s Tie: Zegna / Groom’s Cufflinks: Heather Moore / Wedding Rings: Underwood’s Fine Jewelry / Brooch Bouquet: The Ritzy Rose

Oh Darling! Photography always seems to bring us the most, well, darling weddings. Charming and packed to the brim with personal details, this pretty little number can easily be filed aways as one of the most darling soirees around. And the rain? Well it just made it that much more delightful. The smiles in every image tell the story for us, and you can see even more in the full gallery of images!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Mike and I were immediately inspired by the many weddings we had begun to see that truly represented the couple. Getting married in a barn started out as a joke, but once we began our search, we realized it was the perfect setting. Shadow Lawn in High Falls, New York, was a beautiful estate, romantic, scenic, and far from the hustle and bustle of the city. I had a growing smile on my face as we drove away after our first visit. Mike took one look at me and knew that getting married in a barn was no longer a joke. My wedding invitations were extra special and were drawn by my best friend Katie, who lives far away in Portland, Oregon. We had a lot of fun (well, I did!) coming up with design ideas. It took a while, but I felt like the invitations truly represented our style and my family and friends certainly appreciated the labor of love.

The wedding ceremony was the best part of the day. Our officiant, Barbara Ann Michaels, was a huge help in the process. She created a ceremony where our guests got to know us more as a couple — the good and the struggles. Mike and I had been together for more than 10 years before our wedding day, so we wanted to share what we had worked for in that time. We wanted people to understand our beliefs in love and marriage, accepting the good and the bad together. Our ceremony mentioned my habit of writing many lists, and lists to organize those lists, and Mike’s bad habit of never being on time. It was so much fun to have our loved ones there with us, both laughing and crying as we said our vows. Our wedding day gave us a new appreciation for rain. What started out as a 10% chance of rain turned practically into a monsoon, and what followed was nothing but a good time. Yes, we got wet. My dress by the end of the night had a ring of mud at the bottom. Yes, our guest got wet – they had to take umbrellas to and from the bathroom. Of course, many guests and vendors proceeded to tell us it had rained on their wedding day. But the rain didn’t stop anything. Everyone was up out of their seats dancing as it poured outside.

One of my favorite memories from the night was seeing my grandma and her boyfriend Vinnie up and dancing. She hasn’t been feeling herself lately, and to have her there was important. But to see her up and dancing? That was priceless. My grandma later told me that all weddings should be in a barn! I was so happy that we were able to create new memories together. Another one of my favorite moments was my dance with my dad. I choose the classic, “Little Deuce Coup” by The Beach Boys. It’s one of his favorite songs and is something that will ALWAYS make me think of him. I kept the song a surprise up until the moment, and seeing his face light up was great. We had so much fun dancing to this song, as my dad had no problem working the crowd.

Wedding Photography: Oh Darling! Photography / Wedding Venue: Shadow Lawn in High Falls, New York / Floral Design: A Night In Bloom Event Floristry / Catering: The Artist’s Palate / Dessert: Maxine’s Catering and Bittersweet Bakers / Officiant: Barbara Ann Michaels / Wedding Invitations: Designed by the Bride + Drawn by the Bride’s Best Friend, Katie / DJ: The DJ Solution / Wedding Dress: Carol Hannah / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Carol Hannah / Hair: Amanda at Studio One Hair Design

What are you plans for this unseasonably warm first weekend of Spring? Will you be trying on gowns? Tasting cakes? Being showered with love and presents? Or maybe it’s finally the big day? It’s so exciting to think that you LBBers are dancing around getting ready for your biggest of days. My excitement for you can only be match by my excitement for this phenom couple. Who had their laid back, but oh-so-stylish engagement sesh in NYC with Artstar by Laura Stone. Why am I so excited? Aside from the obviously fabulous shoot you are about to lay your pretty peepers on, we’ve got the wedding to follow this engagement shoot bright and early Monday morning! See you then lovelies. xoxo

Photography courtesy of Artstar by Laura Stone.

The lovely week lined up as pretty as can be:

a Chicago loves New York love story captured phenomenally on film
a beautifully vibrant Oakland soiree with the most wonderful couple
a beach wedding in Mexico, perfectly relaxed and perfectly chic
a gorgeous London affair that is absolutely grand
a destination Florida Keys wedding with a touch of Manhattan
a Colorado mountain fête that breaks the mold in a fabulous way
a very, very yummy bit of lip-smacking dessert inspiration
a Maui military matrimony to. die. for.
an absolutely classic chic soiree with so much amazing in North Carolina
a Texas wedding with Sweet Girly Romance in every corner
a capital FABULOUS California soiree we are ALL crushing on

Three links we just can’t live without this week, and thus HAVE to share:

a bundle or two of amazing paper blooms perfect for the infinite bouquet via Design*Sponge
a neon dip-dye Easter egg tutorial (!!!) from Merriment via Oh Joy!
a wedding planned in 6 weeks and boasting the most amazing stripes via Snippet & Ink

It’s safe to say that there’s a new favorite television show in town and it goes by the name of Downton Abbey. Are you as obsessed as we are?!? We’ll go with a big, fat YES. But even if you’ve never watched a single second, the beauty of this Downton Abbey inspired shoot will reel you in. Arielle Doneson Photography teamed up with Firefly Events to showcase all those gorgeous Edwardian details we can’t seem to get enough of and how easily they translate into an ultra romantic wedding style. Click here for the full gallery.

We get a little extra excited whenever we get to see a photo shoot come to life and this time it’s at the hands of Tree of Life Films. Such an appropriate name don’t you think? Poor that second cup of joe and grab a front row seat to all the behind the scenes action right here…

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Teissia of Firefly Events… When Arielle Doneson approached Firefly Events with the idea of a Downton Abbey-inspired photo shoot, we couldn’t have been more excited. Shooting both digitally and on film, Arielle has a wonderful eye for capturing the small moments that make your big day so special, so we were thrilled to work with her. As diehard Downton Abbey fans, the three of us started compiling ideas on our Pinterest boards and reaching out to some of our favorite vendors. What we love most about the Edwardian style featured on Downton Abbey are the beautiful, rich colors and the romantic details seen in everything from jewelry and hats to dishes and flatware. We really wanted to highlight these aspects while giving them a modern update. To do this, we started by setting our shoot in a minimalist, white-washed loft overlooking the New York City streets. We loved how this backdrop made every detail pop. 

We knew immediately that we wanted to work with Rebecca Shepherd for the floral design. She has an amazing eye, and her unique point of view was exactly what we were looking for. We chose a color palette of pinks and plums accented with plenty of greenery. One of our favorite Brit traditions is the garden party, and we wanted to bring a touch of that indoors. To do this, Rebecca created a structure of birch poles wrapped in seasonal greens to stand over the table. We hung a candlestick chandelier draped in flowers from the top beam — it was one of our favorite romantic details! For the tabletop, we combined sets of antique silver, vintage china from The Vintage Rental Company and an assortment of brass stemware, vases and candlesticks from Rebecca Shepherd. These were all set on an ivory linen tablecloth with layers of antique doilies running the length of the table and under each place setting to add texture and depth. Clusters of feathers placed inside miniature brass goblets created a simple, romantic presentation for each name card. These delicate touches perfectly offset the bold colors of the florals.

A wonderful baker and owner of Pickles and Pies, Erin Crosby, our beautiful bride, baked herself into a frenzy and provided us with an amazing array of desserts. We put together a delicious dessert bar with beautiful bold vintage pieces while allowing the florals to be soft and feminine. We really hit the jackpot with this gorgeous dress from Claire Pettibone, as well as the amazing headpiece by Sara Gabriel and beautiful vintage necklace, all borrowed from Gabriella New York! These pieces really brought our vision to life. Tying it all together with hair and makeup was Alexandra Brock! We love the red lips and romantic updo she chose for the bride. I believe that we’re not alone when we say that the hats on Downton Abbey are one of the best parts of the show! We loved the idea of combining these incredibly chic hats from Preston and Olivia with an ultra feminine wedding dress. It’s the perfect example of how a bride can transition from ceremony to reception just by changing up her accessories. These hats also brought a unique pop of color and romantic detail. For the groom, we took a cue from cousin Mathew and dressed him in a modern day Army uniform and kept his look classic and clean. As if all of this was not amazing enough, our friends at Tree Of Life Films joined us for the entire day and created this beautiful short film capturing all the magic both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Enjoy!

Photography: Arielle Doneson Photography / Venue: Studio Luminoso in New York, New York / Event Design + Styling: Teissia Treynet + Alia Wilson of Firefly Events / Flowers: Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design / Cinematography: Tree of Life Films / Bakery: Pickles and Pies / Invitations: Firefly Events / Vintage Rentals: Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design + The Vintage Rental Co. / Rental Company: Party Rental Ltd. / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone via Gabriella New York / Necklace: Gabriella New York / Hair Comb Headpiece: Sara Gabriel via Gabriella New York / Hats + Headband: Preston and Olivia / Hair + Makeup: Alexandra Brock / Military Uniform: Kaufman’s Army & Navy

Oh you can just feel the love surrounding this darling duo in this gorgeous Catskills wedding by Joshua Zuckerman Photography. A celebration of two people head over heels for each other – that just happens to be full of steal-worthy details. The entire affair is vibrant and love-filled, making for a full gallery that cannot be missed!

A for just a bit more of this vibrant affair, here is this fabulous couple’s wedding film by I Do Movies…

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/38818580 601 338]

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Lisa of Joshua Zuckerman Photography… The couple, Meghan and John, was inspired by the Catskills and the Emerson Resort’s sophisticated décor. They wanted a rustic, relaxed atmosphere with a New York City feel, so they kept the colors to black and white with some pink. The beautiful flowers by Steven Bruce Design provided wonderful pops of color against the lush green background of the mountains and gave the wedding décor a playful feel. Meghan and John made time for couple portraits before and after the ceremony so we had time to take advantage of the natural beauty of the area. The bride changed into a pair of sparkly flats for navigating the rocky shoreline of the nearby river. The guests had a blast with lots of dancing and tequila shots late into the night. The Momofuku cookies as a take-home gift were a little reminder of the couple’s NYC roots.  

Wedding Photography: Joshua Zuckerman Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: Emerson Resort and Spa in Mount Tremper, New York / Wedding Planning: Hudson Valley Events / Floral Design: Steven Bruce Design / Wedding Cake: Bread Alone / Wedding Cinematography: I Do Movies / Wedding Stationery: Eric Green of Digital.illy / Music: Scratch Events / Wedding Gown: Anna Maier Ulla-Maija via Saks Fifth Avenue / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Nina / Jewelry: Macy’s / Hair: Stacy Pitt of Styles on B / Makeup: Heather Canavan of Baby’s Breath Bridal Services / Men’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse

I can guarantee that you have never seen nautical done quite like this.  Sure, some of our favorite maritime elements are incorporated – blue and white stripes and cute ship and anchor details – but this fabulous fête brings seaside chic to an entirely new level of glam!  brian dorsey studios captured every luxe detail so head on over to the full gallery to see them all!  After you’ve finished going gaga over this chic-to-the-max soiree make sure you catch the amazing video by 5 West Studios below!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Danny and I met in 2007 outside a CVS drugstore in Hoboken, New Jersey, when a conversation struck up between our two groups of friends.  True to form, I was on my cell phone and paid little attention.  Danny and his friends then randomly showed up at the same place we were going. As I was coming down the stairs, Danny turned around and pointed at me. I pointed back, tripped down the stairs, and he literally caught me. I realized I had misplaced my cell phone, and Danny sent me a text to see if we could find it. I didn’t find it until the next day, and I sent Danny a text letting him know it had been returned safely. He asked when he could see me next, and the rest is history, as they say.

We spent the last day of a trip to Paris eating cheese, bread and drinking wine at the Eiffel Tower and watched the tower light up. When Danny took my hand to help me up when we were heading out, I felt something in my hand.  He stopped me, turned and said, “So will you marry me?” I immediately said yes. We went to the top of the Eiffel tower and had champagne — it was a truly amazing experience.

Growing up in the maritime industry (my family owns Western Towboat Company) in the Pacific Northwest, I knew right away that I wanted to incorporate classic nautical elements into our wedding. I chose the colors navy, gold and ivory and we really worked to define a theme of elements to incorporate throughout, beginning with our save-the-dates, expanding to our invitations and through our entire wedding. We really created a nautical story. Alpine Creative Group created a monogram for us that we used in all elements of design, along with our chosen fonts. These elements were incorporated into every printed aspect of our wedding: programs, table cards (which were named after my Dad’s tugboats) and menus. Our flowers were one of my favorite aspects of our wedding. Our florist Emily created a variation of high and low centerpieces that incorporated beach wood, candles and orchids, which sat on navy and ivory linens and truly created a visual masterpiece.

Advice for brides-to-be: A friend of ours who recently been married told us to take five minutes out of our wedding to go someplace, just the two of us, where we could watch our wedding as it was happening. We stole five minutes to go up to the mezzanine level of Gotham Hall in the middle of our reception, and it was the most amazing feeling to take everything in and see all of our family and friends enjoying themselves.

Wedding Photography: brian dorsey studios / Ceremony: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York, New York / Reception: Gotham Hall in New York, New York / Floral Design: Emily of Chestnuts in the Tuileries / Event Planning: C&G Weddings / Wedding Cinematography: 5 West Studios / Wedding Cake: Cake Alchemy / Wedding Invitations: Alpine Creative Group / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Makeup: Blushing Brides

Boasting pretty maids in cardigans, hand-tied bouquets and the loveliest of oceanside views, this darling Montauk affair is ALL ABOUT adding a big ol’ dose of sweetness to our Monday morning – and we are head over heels for every last second captured by Minnow Park LLC.  Yep, the elegant meets laid back vibe, DIY touches and uber-adorable bride and groom have us smiling from ear to ear… and with an entire gallery filled to the brim with pretty, trust us, you will be, too.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… My husband and I were married on the shore of Fort Pond Bay in Montauk, New York. He grew up in nearby Southampton, and I fell in love with Long Island on weekend trips we took whenever we could steal some time away. By the time the wedding rolled around, we had moved from New York to California, so we decided to spend the week before the wedding in Montauk instead of taking a honeymoon. It was perfect.

After wonderful weather for a rehearsal dinner of lobster rolls and s’mores around fire pits on Friday, we woke to heavy weather on Saturday. An hour before the ceremony the last rain fell and the sky broke into something incredible. We wanted a wedding with a beautiful backdrop where our promise could take center stage, and Navy Beach Restaurant delivered. Spanish guitar led the way for a ceremony full of close friends on the shore of the bay. Inside, we decorated the party with a few details, from countless paper crabs punched by my mother-in-law to pirate and sailor hats for the guests. Our fathers wore boutonnieres I made from felt and anchor buttons, and my husband made the origami boats used as table numbers. Only the girls had flowers, which we picked up at a local shop and tied just before the ceremony. The food — fried chicken and truffle mac and cheese — stole the show. We followed up with cupcakes and danced the night away. I’ve never had so much fun or felt so much love. We feel so lucky to have these memories (and these photos!).

Wedding Photography: Minnow Park LLC / Wedding Venue: Navy Beach Restaurant in Montauk, New York / Flowers: Purchased from East Hampton Florist + Arranged by the Bridal Party / Spanish Guitar: Jonathan Fritz / Wedding Invitations: Designed by the Bride & Groom + Printed by Culture Lite Printing (415-362-3893) / Bride’s Dress: Bloomingdale’s / Shoes: Bandolino / Jewelry + Pins: Heirlooms / Groom’s Suit: Macy’s

We are sending you off into the weekend with an engagement shoot by Kensington Blue Photography that not only captures the love between these two cuties but also seems to show the heart of good ol’ New York City as well. The city seems to be the third party in this gorgeous shoot, and provides the perfect backdrop for all the lovely in the full gallery of images…making for a fabulous way to start the weekend if you ask us!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From Lesley of Kensington Blue Photography… Catherine and Preston wanted unique but characteristically New York engagement portraits. We planned to shoot in Central Park, the Metropolitan Hotel, along Fifth Avenue and in the subway. These locations would provide the typical scenes of life in NYC, but it was the surprises we encountered along the way helped us to capture the magic of Manhattan. Every portrait session in New York City is an exciting adventure since we can’t control the crowds, the food carts, the street performers, the tourists or the crazy cab drivers. It is always a thrilling challenge for me to create portraits in this ever-changing cityscape. With Catherine and Preston’s engagement portraits, we not only captured the essence of their love, but also the heart of this amazing city they live in.

Photography: Lesley Colvin of Kensington Blue Photography / Location: New York City, New York / Dress + Shoes: J.Crew

One of my favorite, favorite things about spending my days with gorgeous weddings is that no matter where I’m sitting, what I’m wearing, or who I am listening to, I can instantly be transported into a romantic fairy tale wedding, wearing a stunning gown, and listening to a bride & groom make promises for forever. And when the wedding is as phenomenal as this, planned and designed by DM Events Planning and Design, and captured magically by Carols Andres Varela Photography, it’s easy. So don your imaginary formal wear, pick up your imaginary champagne and toast this very real couple in the gallery with me!

Michael and I first met six years ago. I was working in the music industry and Michael and his partner had a music label with offices in the Woolworth Building in NYC. Michael sublet excess office space to the company I worked for and he and I met shortly thereafter; thus setting off a close to six-year pursuit that, according to Michael “culminated in victory”. Over those six years, despite having been in and out of each other’s lives, Michael and I became very special friends and ultimately best friends. Then, in February 2009, after having been asked many, many, many times I finally succumbed (or as Michael likes to say “she hit her head”) to his charm and I agreed to be his girlfriend. We then got engaged in March 2011 and we decided almost immediately that, having been best friends for almost six years there was no need for a long engagement. And, we both can’t think of a better way to get through life than with your best friend. It’s a place where the loving feelings that we have can be nurtured and can flower and bloom. You see, when friends become lovers and then husbands and wives, the two is infinitely better than the one, to each other and to the world.

The Woolworth Building is a beautiful skyscraper that was once the tallest building in the world. It’s a New York City landmark and it’s also a personal landmark as it is the place where we met. Each time we see it we make sure to embrace and trade kisses. This beautiful building will forever hold a special place in our hearts not only because it’s where we met but also because it’s where we got engaged!

After getting engaged, we decided on not just one but two wedding celebrations! We were first married in Bogota on the 27th day of August. It was a grand celebration in a private club in the heart of Bogota. No, it was an event! We had mimes, jugglers, cirque du soleil type performers, a saxophonist, a bolero singer, a Latin band and a troupe of 30 performers in full Carnival de Barranquilla costumes. We had some of the musicians of the Bogota’s symphony play at the church ceremony in one of the most beautiful churches in Bogota. The wedding cake was probably 5 foot tall! It was quite a celebration – it was over the top fun and truly a memorable day. It was our dream!

For our New York celebration, we decided on the Trump Soho Hotel. We both really appreciate the modern yet warm style and the downtown chic of the Trump Soho so it was an easy decision for us. We worked with Dawn and Melina, the best planners in the city, to create a modern yet warm environment for our celebration. I love orchids because they are the national flower of my beautiful country and Michael and I love the color purple so that was our primary inspiration. To celebrate my Colombian heritage, we used purple orquids in tall clear cylinders filled with water. We surrounded them with white flowers and candles and beautiful place settings using metallic chargers and very modern purple champagne glasses.

We had a meaningful wedding blessing ceremony in front our family and friends. We also had a very special candle lighting ceremony that our family participated in because we wanted to signify that not only were two becoming one but also that we were now one larger family. Family is precious to us so we wanted to make sure we incorporated them into our ceremony.

In Bogota, Michael has a favorite story about how he was standing near the altar waiting for me to enter the church. He remembers how the very tall church doors that had been closed slowly started to open. I was driven to the church an old Model T automobile and, he apparently was able to see my car pull up and he was able to watch me get out. Not supposed to happen but glad it did! He vividly recalls the setting sun and how he was mesmerized by the reflective glow of sunlight all around me. He describes how he watched me “walk so gracefully to the church and WOW was that I was a vision of beauty”. Michael says that he felt his legs shake for a moment but then he stood up tall to greet me – his bride. He is also so grateful to share a very special moment with my father as he first gave Michael a warm embrace and then a firm handshake before he presented me, his only daughter to him. Michael says he felt like the luckiest man alive.

Having had a grand celebration in Bogota, the NY celebration was all about having fun. We wanted to have a really great party so we enlisted the services of an amazing DJ and a really great Latin band. We danced our first dance to “The Hustle” and then to salsa by Marc Anthony (Valio la Pena – It was worth it). It was fantastic; so much fun and everyone loved it. I know Michael didn’t appreciate the four weeks of dance lessons but we got the job done in great style! For Colombia I wore a sequined gown by Monique Lhuillier and for New York I wore a Jenny Packman gown with Jimmy Choo glitter shoes and Tejani accessories. My handsome husband sported a velvet blue tuxedo by Dolce & Gabbana and custom made velvet shoes. So much fun!

For New York, we gave fresh Colombian Coffee in a custom designed and personalized coffee bag that recited the grooms’ speech and that had our wedding photos from our Bogota wedding. It gave us an opportunity to share something authentic from Colombia while sharing bits of our Bogota wedding with the New York guests. The coffee bags were a big hit and we continue to get calls from friends asking how they can get more of that delicious Colombian Coffee. For the Bogota celebration, we gave Marie Belle exotic teas in beautiful tins. We wanted all our Bogota guests to enjoy a little bit of elegance from our favorite tea shop in New York City.

Event Design & Planning: DM Events Planning and Design / Photography: Carlos Andres Varela Photography / Venue: Trump SoHo / Flowers: Flora NY / Cake: Nine Cakes / DJ: DJ Kev Sakoda of Scratch Weddings / Jewelry & Accessories: Tejani / Stationery: Ceci New York / Gown: Jenny Packman / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Groom’s Tuxedo: Dolce & Gabbana

Words cannot express how much happiness Wayne Yuan Photography and Cheryl J. Wedding and Events have brought me with this Columbia University wedding.  It is just the sweetest day full of romance, meaningful moments and picture perfect details.  It’s formal with feeling fussy with a fresh, elegant style that makes us swoon!  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

We’re going to keep the romance going with this sweet film by Love In Progress!

From Cheryl of Cheryl J. Wedding and Events… Jane and Reuben met at Columbia University during their MBA’s. Honoring this time together and how they first met was very important to the couple. They decided to get married at the beautiful St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University. The dramatic elegance of the chapel, along with its presence on the campus where they had spent so much time together, made it the perfect choice. Similarly, the Columbia University Faculty House, a close walking distance from the main campus, provided a close-by, elegant location for the wedding reception.

Jane was a busy professional woman who needed to organize her wedding in the most efficient way possible. Both starting out their careers in investment banking simultaneously meant late nights, weekend conference calls and little time for endless wedding vendor meetings. They felt it crucial to employ the services of a wedding planner, and Cheryl J. Weddings was their first choice. Jane had a romantic, youthful yet understated taste. She gravitated to the soft, tissue-like blooms of peonies and Japanese garden roses and favored a “plucked from the garden” feel for her flowers. Her love of pastel pinks and lush garden accents brought a youthful and vibrant feel to the décor. The bridesmaids were dressed in short, bright dresses, suited to such a young and zestful bridal party, and the men stuck to traditional black to add a touch of formality.

Jane and Reuben wanted to honor their rich Korean culture and made the Korean Tea Ceremony a central part of their reception. Due to their guests being a mix of Korean and Western ethnicities, the tea ceremony was clearly explained and narrated for everyone to understand and enjoy. The traditional ‘nut throwing’ ritual foretold that they would have many children together, which entertained everyone immensely … they better get started!

Wedding Photography: Wayne Yuan Photography / Ceremony: St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University in New York, New York / Reception: Columbia Faculty House at Columbia University in New York, New York / Wedding Planning: Cheryl J. Wedding and Events / Floral Design: Mille Fiori / Cinematography: Love In Progress / Wedding Cake: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes / Band: New York Edge Music / Officiant: Jewenelle Davis / Limo: Black Tie Limo NY

They say rain on your wedding day brings good luck. We say rain on your wedding day brings a cozy atmosphere with a special kind of beauty that CAN NOT be matched. And of course, we’re sure it brings good luck too. It was definitely good fortune that Clark+Walker Studios was on hand to capture the beautiful day for this lucky couple. And good fortune to us that we have a full image gallery to cozy up in all day!

Our wedding took place on a pouring rain day in Lake Placid, NY at The Lake Placid Lodge. It was very difficult for me, as the bride, to comprehend that I had planned for 18 months and my wedding that I had been picturing in a certain way was not going to be exactly as planned. The ceremony was suppose to take place on the lawn by the lake facing the mountain my husband proposed and the cocktail reception to follow was going to be on a dock full of rugs and rustic lounge furniture. Being a perfectionist, I was bummed but tried to put it out of my head. Needless to say, everything went smoothly – even given all the new locations for ceremony & cocktail hour.

One of the most memorable experiences during the wedding occurred before the ceremony even began – it was putting on that gorgeous Oscar gown and seeing the whole picture together & of course having that emotional moment with my Dad.

Then it was time to toast and freshen up one last time before me and all my ladies walked down the aisle! All the girls were lined up inside right outside the long, rustic porch The Lake Placid Lodge provided as a backup location. It was decorated exactly as I imagined the outside location to be! They even took a mum and stuck my “Ford Wedding” sign in it so no detail would be missed! As I waited in the elevator for my groom to get to the alter I was nervous and slightly panicked! As soon as I stepped out and saw my dream come true and my dad to walk me down the aisle – all was calm and the fun was about the begin!

I turned the corner to 65 closest family and friends, wooden chairs made from local artisans covered in blankets for the 50 degree rainy day, my birch cones full of hydrageas and other beautiful florals matching my bridesmaid bouquets, a wood burning fireplace, rustic rugs covering the deck, pack baskets overflowing with branches and flowers and of course my wonderful husband at the end of the aisle.

Christopher looked amazing – he is a guy that likes to be comfortable but look good! Boy did he ever – he had a very non-traditional assemble on.He even kept his beard of now three years and it really completed the picture. The best part of it all is I got to be “me” and he got to be “him”.

The ceremony was short, non-traditional but oh so sweet – we read our vows to one another and then it was time. I wasn’t even thinking about it at the time I just know we had to hold that kiss for a photo opp. Then before I knew it he had thrown me to his side and we a princess worthy first kiss! My guests all threw up leaves I had provided in clear envelopes (picked fresh two days before) at that moment.

My first look at the reception room screamed romantic rustic fairytale! The way the flowers were arranged reminded me of the light and flowiness of my gown, Everything was so clean cut and beautiful. We had the cones from the ceremony reused in the lounge areas & wooden kissing balls that lit up above everyone seated for dinner. Everything at that moment came together for me. But it was ONLY a moment – we didn’t have a minute to sit down when Alisha, the photographer ran up to me saying it was suppose to stop raining for 15 minutes!

After that I was satisfied and as far as I was concerned it was time to celebrate! We did our first dance to a choreographed mash up of Justin Timberlake – My Love and Lovestoned. We had a dessert display of a small cake to cut, donuts, candied apples, cobblers, cider, brownies and cupcakes to fit our fall rustic theme. At the end of the night – everyone dug into the pizza we served before everyone went off to bed! It was a great night and a memorable day to last a life time!

Photography: Clark+Walker Studios / Flowers & Event Design: Ann Graham Floral and Event Design / Event Planning: Vanessa Valenti of Lake Placid Lodge / Ceremony & Reception Location: Lake Placid Lodge / Invitations: a’Paperie / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Dress: Oscar de la Renta / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Groom’s Jacket: Ptarmigan Gun, Made to Measure Jacket / Groom’s Pants & Shirt: Filson / Groom’s Tie: Vineyard Vines / Groom’s Shoes: Nike / Groomsmen Bow Ties: Rugby Ralph Lauren / Groomsmen Socks: The Sock Lady / Catering & Desserts: Lake Placid Lodge