New York Weddings

As if New York City weren’t chic enough, this Tribeca Rooftop wedding has crossed our path and now there is no going back. We are in full-on city mode and our sites are set on the photographs of Lauren Gabrielle. They are boasting an impeccable style mixed with views for days and enough chandeliers to melt our big city lovin hearts. It’s a rooftop soirée smack dab in the Big Apple and you all are invited. See more of this gorgeous affair here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Lauren of Lauren Gabrielle Photography… Jocelyn and Kevin met in training at their first jobs out of college in February 2004, which lasted for six weeks. They quickly became friends; however, Jocelyn was based in the New York office and Kevin in San Francisco so they went back to their respective offices once training was completed. Work projects allowed them to stay in touch, but ultimately Kevin was lured by the bright lights of NYC and accepted a new job there. He moved to NYC in May 2005 and the pair officially began dating a month later. Kevin’s version of their story is a bit different — he says he was always courting Jocelyn from across the country and after months of $300 cell phone bills, he picked up and moved to NYC for a girl, then a job — in that order.

From the bride… Our original wedding date was August 28, 2011, but we were in for the surprise of our lives when Hurricane Irene forced all of NYC to shut down. We had to decide immediately what to do about the wedding.  Our venue, the Tribeca Rooftop, was one block from the evacuation zone in lower Manhattan and offered us new dates to reschedule. All our vendors were incredible to work with and within hours, we had settled on a new date in October. However, we still went forward with a mini-ceremony that weekend because our family had traveled from China, London, and California to be with us. My uncle, a minister, officiated our impromptu ceremony during what was supposed to be our original rehearsal dinner. We invited everyone who could make it to NYC on short notice and had about 50 people witness our first round of vows. It was wet, windy, emotional weekend filled with love and memories!

For the new wedding date of October 9, 2011, we still had the same vision and hoped for anything except for a natural disaster. Fortunately, we had the most beautiful weather – sunny and temperatures in the low 80s! I had always envisioned my wedding to be modern but with traditional touches and we definitely accomplished both. The Tribeca Rooftop had a great NYC-loft vibe with amazing views and we always knew we had to make use of the outdoor rooftop where cocktail hour was held. Our flowers and color scheme changed a bit due to the availability of flowers, but our florist, Victoria Ahn, did a great job of recreating our vision with what was in season. We kept everything to navy blue, green, cream and added a touch of purple! In the end, our worries stopped being about the planning and minor details of the wedding – we both felt so happy to be finally walking down the aisle after waiting an extra six weeks to be pronounced husband and wife that we just wanted to start celebrating with all our friends and family!

Photographer: Lauren Gabrielle Photography, Assisted by Diana Lupu Photography / Venue: Tribeca Rooftop / Band: Creations Music / Florist: Designs by Ahn / Bride’s Dress: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti / Groom’s Suit: Zegna / Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor / Groomsmen Outfits: Topman / Hair + Makeup: Ayari’s Brides

If you’ve ever seen the movie Up then I’m sure you’ll remember exactly how you felt during the first few minutes of the film as you are taken on a journey throughout the main character’s life with his one true love, Ellie.  It is one of the most beautiful, lovely, heart-wrenching beginnings to a film I’ve ever seen and so poignantly describes a relationship from start to finish without so much as a word.  It is the perfect inspiration not only for an engagement shoot but for a marriage as well and it is just what this couple envisioned for both.  The photos taken by Lauren Gabrielle and the whimsical elements the couple incorporated into the session are filled with such joy and sweetness!  See them all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From the bride… James and I both loved the movie, “Up” — the deep love between the characters Carl and Ellie, the quiet joy they found in each other, and their simple yet beautiful life together embodies the kind of marriage that James and I (and our beloved puppy, Henry) hope to share. So when it came time for our engagement photos, we wanted to capture some of the whimsical elements of the film as well as the playful and humorous side of our personalities and of our relationship. Our photographer, Lauren, was amazing and braved the cold in Fort Tryon Park in New York for our shoot. We would not have achieved the look we were going for without her and we will forever treasure these images that she captured for us.

P.S. James wants me to add that we do not in fact transport ourselves by balloon or live in a handheld house.

Photography: Lauren Gabrielle / Location: Fort Tryon Park

Your Monday morning is about to get a whole lot prettier thanks to the talented eye of Turn Loose the Art and the planning geniuses at Exquisite Affairs Productions Inc. The simple ceremony decor and gorgeous natural light lend themselves to the prettiest of beginnings for this Battery Gardens fete. And the pretty continues straight through the reception with beautiful modern tablescapes and the most delicious looking cake ever. Click here for even more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Joe and Britney of Turn Loose the Art… Really cool people have great weddings even when everything goes wrong. After booking their original wedding venue in Brooklyn and later walking by and seeing it under construction, Rachel and Brian had to scramble to find a new place near their wedding date. They ended up at Battery Gardens Restaurant and both agree that it was a blessing and their wedding was so much better at venue #2. While finishing portraits in Battery Park, the skies opened up and rain began a torrential path down to the ground. Rachel took it in stride and exclaimed she never intended to run in her heels, but it’s good to know she could. Anything else was a cakewalk after that. They wed indoors and watched the clouds break into a beautiful sunny glow towards the end of their ceremony, then enjoyed a reception filled with dancing and great food.

Photography: Turn Loose the Art / Flowers: Carmine of Flowers by Emil / Event Planning: Christine Viola of Exquisite Affairs Productions Inc. / Cake: Sweet Melissa’s Patisserie / Photo Booth: NYC Photobooth / Makeup: Niquay Fa of Makeup Niquay Fa (917-584-1562) / Venue: Battery Gardens

Jose Ortiz Films is serving up a double dose of wedding inspiration this morning with his worthy-of-the-big-screen trailer of this gorgeous couple and their across the globe weddings celebrations. With one set of nuptials in New York and the next in Taipei, the couple made each continent look oh so chic – and made sure Jose Ortiz was there for every moment. The result is a wedding film that can’t be missed, so don’t be afraid to block off some time for this beauty!

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From the Bride… We married on 09/10/11 in NYC and had another reception on 11/11/11 in Taipei, Taiwan for family and friends who weren’t be able to come to New York to celebrate with us. We wanted our wedding to be a blend of everyone and everything we love from New York and Taiwan, and of course, to ensure everyone would have a great time. We fell in love with The Foundry, a metal foundry in the 19th century, as soon as we saw it on their website because of its old brick walls and beautiful ivy. The space aligned perfectly with our vision: historic yet contemporary, industrial yet organic, urban yet romantic, simple yet glamorous. It was the ideal venue for what we had in mind. We selected our colors: purple, lilac, gray, gold and bronze. This color scheme was infused through everything used in the event. We wanted to put as much effort as we could to make this event special, so we designed all our invitations, programs, menus, photo booth logos and favors by ourselves with a drawing of Brooklyn Bridge as our wedding logo on them. I also made all the wreaths for the flower girls. We knew we wanted some special details in the space to make it unique, so we asked the florist to create a structural yet organic piece using drift wood and flowers to hang in the main space, and we used fresh leaves as escort carts. We also used drawings of landmarks in NYC instead of table numbers. We picked ghost chairs to give the space a modern vibe while incorporating drift wood into the centerpieces to give a soft and organic feel. Our favors in New York were candles with different traditional Chinese symbols to represent our roots.

For our second reception venue in Taiwan, we fell in love with the ballroom in the Palais de Chine Hotel. With the neo-classical design concept, the ballroom has copper draping ceiling with 18 chandeliers. For colors, we used royal purple as the main hue and mixed with the deep blue and red of Taiwan. Everything was very classic and glamorous.

The most amazing and fun experience was with our cinematographer, Mr. Jose Ortiz, who flew all the way to Asia to shoot our reception in Taiwan. We went to different places that represent Taiwan for shooting the day before the event. It was raining, but we all had a good time. Through the lenses, Jose can see the world differently in an artistic way. The best part was Jose not only edited all the images from our wedding day in New York and the shooting we did in Taiwan, but also did a same day edit video using images from our Taiwan reception to make a trailer! All of our guests were wowed by the trailer and asked for more! We were very glad to have this special experience working with Jose in two different countries. We had many people coming from all over the world in both events to celebrate with us. With the loving support of our family and friends, our wedding was a magical experience!

NYC Vendors — Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Xavier Munguia Photography / Floral Design: Petal Design Studio / Venue: The Foundry / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Dior / Groom’s Tuxedo: Gucci / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Wedding Cake: Black Hound New York / Caterer: Thomas Preti / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. + Taylor Creative Inc. / Photo Booth: IncrediBooths

Taiwan Vendors — Wedding Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Oscarshoots / Floral Design: CN Flower / Venue: Palais de Chine Hotel / Reception Dresses: Tadashi Shoji + LinLi / Wedding Favors: Baggu

One gorgeous couple, one film critic-worthy wedding trailer by Jose Ortiz Films and two breathtaking wedding celebrations will set up our Friday for wedding-obsessing success. Did I mention this film was epic? Because it is – it’s install a stereo system in your office good (if you know how to do handy things like that…). New York sets the scene for their first ceremony and then this worldly couple heads to Taipei (along with their trusty videographer, Jose Ortiz) to celebrate there as well. You are in for a treat this Friday morning – so sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

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From the Bride… We married on 09/10/11 in NYC and had another reception on 11/11/11 in Taipei, Taiwan for family and friends who weren’t be able to come to New York to celebrate with us. We wanted our wedding to be a blend of everyone and everything we love from New York and Taiwan, and of course, to ensure everyone would have a great time. We fell in love with The Foundry, a metal foundry in the 19th century, as soon as we saw it on their website because of its old brick walls and beautiful ivy. The space aligned perfectly with our vision: historic yet contemporary, industrial yet organic, urban yet romantic, simple yet glamorous. It was the ideal venue for what we had in mind. We selected our colors: purple, lilac, gray, gold and bronze. This color scheme was infused through everything used in the event. We wanted to put as much effort as we could to make this event special, so we designed all our invitations, programs, menus, photo booth logos and favors by ourselves with a drawing of Brooklyn Bridge as our wedding logo on them. I also made all the wreaths for the flower girls. We knew we wanted some special details in the space to make it unique, so we asked the florist to create a structural yet organic piece using drift wood and flowers to hang in the main space, and we used fresh leaves as escort carts. We also used drawings of landmarks in NYC instead of table numbers. We picked ghost chairs to give the space a modern vibe while incorporating drift wood into the centerpieces to give a soft and organic feel. Our favors in New York were candles with different traditional Chinese symbols to represent our roots.

For our second reception venue in Taiwan, we fell in love with the ballroom in the Palais de Chine Hotel. With the neo-classical design concept, the ballroom has copper draping ceiling with 18 chandeliers. For colors, we used royal purple as the main hue and mixed with the deep blue and red of Taiwan. Everything was very classic and glamorous.

The most amazing and fun experience was with our cinematographer, Mr. Jose Ortiz, who flew all the way to Asia to shoot our reception in Taiwan. We went to different places that represent Taiwan for shooting the day before the event. It was raining, but we all had a good time. Through the lenses, Jose can see the world differently in an artistic way. The best part was Jose not only edited all the images from our wedding day in New York and the shooting we did in Taiwan, but also did a same day edit video using images from our Taiwan reception to make a trailer! All of our guests were wowed by the trailer and asked for more! We were very glad to have this special experience working with Jose in two different countries. We had many people coming from all over the world in both events to celebrate with us. With the loving support of our family and friends, our wedding was a magical experience!

NYC Vendors — Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Xavier Munguia Photography / Floral Design: Petal Design Studio / Venue: The Foundry / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Dior / Groom’s Tuxedo: Gucci / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Wedding Cake: Black Hound New York / Caterer: Thomas Preti / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. + Taylor Creative Inc. / Photo Booth: IncrediBooths

Taiwan Vendors — Wedding Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Oscarshoots / Floral Design: CN Flower / Venue: Palais de Chine Hotel / Reception Dresses: Tadashi Shoji + LinLi / Wedding Favors: Baggu

It took about five seconds for me to fall MADLY in love with this Metropolitan Building affair captured by CLY Creation.  Actually, make that one second, because these stunning images had me at hello… and then I read the gorgeous bride’s darling description of the day and, well, I was done for.  Because, not only did these two sweethearts theme their wedding “11:11 Make A Wish” and celebrate with a New Year’s Eve-esque countdown at 11:11 pm (LOVE), but they also incorporated a plethora of special touches and fabulous details that were so perfectly them.  Trust me, it just doesn’t get any better than this.  Click here for more, more, more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Our theme was “11:11 Make A Wish.” We wanted our wedding to feel like our guests arrived in an enchanted space. The Metropolitan Building was the perfect space to make this happen. The ceremony on the second floor was our “Secret Garden” and going upstairs for the reception on the fourth floor, we transformed it into a “Backyard Party.”

Our guests picked up their namecards, which were hotel key cards, that brought them to their next destination. Guests went to their tables, which were numbered with the name of a city we want to travel to. The major decoration was the string lights with lanterns along the ceiling, which gave the place a magical glow. We also had a wishing tree and dream fountain for our guests to make wishes throughout the night. They even walked out of the wedding with something glowing — our wedding favor was a mason jar with a “firefly” inside (really a fairy berry LED light).

Our guests loved our photobooth on a park bench (we got engaged on a park bench) with fun props to pose with. We were excited for our first dance, which we performed to a song called “Into Eternity” by Jens Lekman. We danced the night away and even had an 11:11 countdown, which a friend suggested that made it feel like New Year’s!

Wedding Photography: Matthew Lee and Chung of CLY Creation / Wedding Venue: The Metropolitan Building / Catering: Sasha Odnoralov of Maia Pearl Catering / Wedding Cake: Jessica Binder, Groom’s Cousin / Makeup: Sunny Jun / DJ + MC: Scuba Steve + Charlie Kwon (stephen.hong@gmail.com) / Day-Of Coordinator: Jonna Hale (631-953-1520) / Photobooth Photographer: Joseph McKee (joseph.rwp@gmail.com) / Decorations: Mary Chung Design / Floral Design: Leo of Jenny’s Flowers / Bride’s Dress: The Bridal Garden / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bridesmaid Dresses: ML Monique Lhuillier / First Dance: Choreographed by Leslie at NY Wedding Dance / Wedding Band Designs: Sophia Kuo (s.kuo86@gmail.com)

Brooklyn is well-known for its creative inhabitants and offbeat style so it comes as no surprise that every wedding we’ve seen from this hip borough is full of unique ideas and loads of flair.  This adorable affair from Clean Plate Pictures is no exception and we are just crazy over its wildly chic decor and simple elegance.  A non-traditional venue creates the perfect, cozy space for such a cute and creative celebration!  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… When we were thinking about our wedding day, the most important thing to us was that everyone have fun and enjoy themselves, including us. We decided that the best way to accomplish that was to have a small event in a comfortable space, close to home. We tried to treat it as more of a cocktail party than our wedding. We chose a wonderful place in Brooklyn called Tuffet that was so perfect we felt we barely had to dress it up. One thing that we really love about the space is the huge chalkboard behind the bar. Our friend Yuri offered to do a chalkboard version of a program for us, and it was absolutely amazing. Sprout Home did an amazing job with the flowers – basically wild flowers in mason jars that my sister found in my grandmother’s barn.  The backyard at Tuffet already had beautiful vines growing around the walls and it provided the perfect outdoor space to have a small ceremony and dancing.

For food, we decided that to keep with the cocktail party theme, it would be best to have passed hors d’oeuvres to eat throughout the entire night rather than a sit down meal.  We hired Cocktail Caterers, who were fantastic about working with us for a mostly vegetarian menu. They provided more than enough food and it worked out great to be able to snack on something anytime. My husband and I are not too fond of wedding cake so we decided it would be fun to make a bunch of different cakes and put them on cake stands. We made a small carrot cake, our favorite, just for us and put my parent’s wedding cake topper on top. Our friends and family loved the idea so much that many of them made cakes for us too!

The best part of the night was the feeling that everyone was involved and having a great time. My brother married us, my aunt serenaded us, and we got to spend time with everyone we love. It was perfect. The only thing better is looking back at all of the fabulous photos that we now have thanks to Erica. 

Photography: Clean Plate Pictures / Venue: Tuffet / Florals: Sprout Home / Catering: Cocktail Caterers / Hair: Eileen Sheppard at Adelaide Salon / Wedding Dress: BHLDN / Tuxedo: J.Crew / Vintage Rings: Doyle & Doyle

It’s my favorite time of the year, and I am crossing my fingers that we’re going to get a big influx of snowy and fabulous winter weddings, despite the crazy weather we have been having this season. In fact, I’m really hoping some of you are getting married this weekend and embracing the cold weather trends. As it is almost quitting time, we’ve got one last treat for you LBBers in the form of a fantastic farm engagement session á la Ulysses Photography. Enjoy, and we’ll see you Monday morning! xoxo

Photography by Ulysses Photography.

The week of wedded bliss, just in case you missed anything:

an adorable Texas bride & groom absolutely in love in this highlight film
a Santa Barbara affair with the perfect mix of romance, vintage, and chic
a bride and groom from Canada with the sweetest sentiments
a modern (and vintage), chic (and clean) soiree in Austin
a gorgeous, organic affair straight from the California wine country
a beautiful New Orleans wedding dripping in southern charm
a very touching story accompanied by a stunning fête in New Jersey
an American wedding in Paris, the epitome of romance
a piece of perfectly nautical nuptials straight from a Maine island
a lakeside Pennsylvania wedding with the perfect combination of pink & blue
a few of our favorite cinematographers, chatting about the biz in a vendor spotlight

A few pieces of inspiration we’re digging from around the web:

a bit of classic romance inspiration we’re totally loving via The Sweetest Occasion
a great star cake topper DIY, perfect for any affair via Project Wedding
our Best Weddings of 2011 digital magazine, in case you missed it last week via Style Me Pretty

Is there a detail from this Hudson Valley wedding that I don’t absolutely love and adore?  That would be a big, fat negative!  Each and every one fills my heart with delight.  Yellow, green and white is a color palette that will always be fresh, cheerful and charming especially when paired together with so many cute, personalized details from the drink straw pennants to the sweet thank yous tucked inside each napkin.  Weddings by Two always brings a magical quality to the celebrations that they shoot and this one is no different!  See all their images in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… When my husband and I were searching for a wedding location in the Hudson Valley, Shadow Lawn quickly stood out to us. We were able to rent the property for the entire weekend, so we could host our rehearsal dinner, wedding, and Sunday brunch there. The owners of the property went an extra mile to make everything perfect for us after Hurricane Irene, and I think that the beauty of the property was partly what made all of the pictures so gorgeous!  The Sheeley House Bed & Breakfast next door was the perfect location for our wedding party to stay, and my husband and I had a great time being so close to everyone all weekend long.  

We worked closely with our officiant, Barbara Ann Michaels, to create a ceremony that was both deeply personal and non-traditional. Two couples from each side of our family spoke and provided us with marriage wisdom. Instead of a traditional favor, we rented a photobooth from Weddings by Two/We Love Photobooths—it was packed all night long! Everyone from the grandparents to our youngest cousins loved snapping their pictures. Another highlight was my last-minute decision to purchase the cakes from our favorite bakery in New York City—Momofuku Milk Bar.  Ryan and I had to drive to Brooklyn the Friday before to pick up the cakes and bring them to the wedding ourselves. They were the hit of the night. Everyone raved about them!

It was daunting to choose a location that was not all-inclusive, and my husband and I both did a lot of work the entire year leading up to the wedding (much more than we had expected)! In the end, all of our vendors came together to make it an unforgettable day!

Photography and Photobooth: Weddings by Two + We Love Photobooths / DJ: Lutz Entertainment / Day-of Coordinator: Hudson Valley Events / Officiant: Barbara Ann Michaels / Floral Design: Steven Bruce Design / Caterer: Main Course / Wine: Stone Ridge Wine & Spirits / Venue: Shadow Lawn / Cakes: Momofuku Milk Bar / Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher / Dress: Elizabeth Dye via Lovely Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Makeup: Face Stockholm

Shawn Connell of Christian Oth Studios is one of those photographers that just gets it. He gets the beauty in the mundane. He sees the perfection in the simple. He knows that the art of “getting ready” is as important as the vows themselves. The moment the bride first sees herself in the mirror, the look on her mother’s face as she sees her little girl. Shawn is genius when it comes to documenting the wedding in all of its moments and this particular celebration, is one of his best. From the stunning style by Hatch Creative Studio, to the tiny pauses in between where you can literally feel the joy, every last bit of it is simply beautiful. Click here to see so much more.

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Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… It was magical. Every single moment. We’ve lived in New York for 10 years, so it was only fitting to celebrate our wedding day in our amazing city. Modern, chic and totally glam. The ceremony took place at the Tribeca Rooftop. We rented steel grey chairs, had an all white piece of fabric suspended from the ceiling as our chuppa, and plexiglass columns surrounded us, all topped with vibrant fucshia centerpieces. It was a modern and romantic as I could’ve ever imagined. For the cocktail hour up on the roof, I wanted an outdoor but still modern feel. Grasses held each guests table card, and decor consisted of simple yet exotic plants and flowers. The reception was a vision — deep eggplant linens, steel grey chairs, vibrant fushcia centerpieces in vintage mercury glass, with candlelight everywhere. It was simply the best. And the dress — of course it had some bling, we are in NYC!! Delicate strips of organza mixed with tiny sequins and sea pearls. Glamorous and truly a show stopper. And of course the blue stilettos from Pierre Hardy. The groom and all groomsman wore John Varvatos leather converse along with their tuxes — an amazing look I must say!! The night was a total dance party, from start to finish — complete with the bride and groom crowd surfing! The band was completely off the hook. Eddie’s Pizza Truck was there late night with 2 slices for each guest as they left the reception.

Wedding Planner: Annie Lee of Daughter of Design / Flowers + Event Design: Barb Salzman, Hatch Creative Studio / Photographer: Shawn Connell of Christian Oth Studios / Venue: Tribeca Rooftop / Dress:  Monique Lhuillier via Mark Ingram / Shoes: Pierre Hardy / Makeup: Nam Vo / Hair: Jeff Chastain / Jewelry + Rings: Kwiat / Groom’s Tux: John Varvatos / Groom’s Shoes: John Varvatos for Converse / Pizza: Eddie’s Pizza Truck / Stationery, Invitations, Programs + Menu Cards: Cheree Berry / Cinematography: Tweed Weddings

You’ve just said I do, and you are officially married to your one and only – can you imagine a better time to take pictures than when you are THAT blissfully happy? Oh the feelings of being a fresh-off-the-aisle Newlywed – and Studio Uma captured that moment for this seriously stylish duo in the MOST perfect way. Can we talk about this couple for a moment? Have you seen a more style savvy pair? Are you dyyyy-inng over her fascinator, her gorgeous lace gown and the stunning backdrops of The Palace at 5 Beekman Street and the Brooklyn Bridge Park? Because I most certainly am. So you can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be spending some serious time in the gallery this Thursday morning to soak it all in! Come join me!

Click here for the full photo session!

From the bride… I was looking for a dress with vintage and bohemian elements and silhouette that was different than most wedding dresses I came across. As a fashion stylist, I try to find designs that are unique and something that has a “wow factor.” This dress did exactly that. It was the first dress I tried on—I knew right away—at Adrienne’s boutique on Orchard St in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It was designed by the owner’s daughter, Gina DeSilva, and I love that it was not only an indie designer, but she also used vintage lace! The sample fit right off the rack and I had a few things tailored to what I wanted. The best part was that everyone thought I looked beautiful when I walked down the aisle, but then the surprise of the cut out on the back made it even more show stopping. I don’t think Josh noticed the back until after the ceremony, and he said, Wow! I’m glad I married you.

I relate my photoshoot at 5 Beekman to be like my real life Sex & The City moment, complete with the dramatic head piece! It was magical and I imagine it to be something Carrie Bradshaw would have wanted to do if she were more of a downtown girl. The rustic palace was the perfect setting for pictures with my vintage-inspired wedding!

It was serendipitous that Uma suggested to go take pictures in Brooklyn Bridge Park! Josh and I talked about getting elements of Brooklyn into our wedding day, but sadly it was too much of a hassle to trek everyone over to that park or any other landscape that read specifically “Brooklyn.” I get the chills when I see the images of us together with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. It’s so romantic! So us! I still can’t believe that was all captured so perfectly and it looks like it was a scene from a film!

Photography: Studio Uma / Locations: The Palace at 5 Beekman Street + Brooklyn Bridge Park / Dress: Custom from vintage lace by Gina Desilva for Adrienne’s Bridal / Headpiece 1 (5 Beekman Street):  Leah C. Couture Millinery /  Headpiece 2 (Brooklyn Bridge Park): Rachel Sax for Nona E. Rose /  Custom Bracelet: etc… Modern-Vintage Jewelry / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Groom’s Suit, Socks + Shoes: Paul Smith / Groom’s Shirt: Armani / Groom’s Boutonniere: Leah C. Couture Millinery / Groom’s tie: Dior / Hair and makeup: Emily Rodrigues

There is something about a man in uniform – this we all know. But there is something oh so fabulous about the wedding of that man in uniform to his gorgeous and stylish Bride. That we ADORE. It’s hard not to be smitten when you see a wedding like this by Alice G Patterson Photography! To top it all off, Posh Paperie was the genius behind the nautical-inspired stationery making this a wedding we can all salute to! Click here for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Last December, shortly after coming home from a long, seven month tour to Afghanistan, Travis proposed to me in Rochester, NY. I had been expecting it soon after he returned home, but when he picked me up from work that evening, he took me by complete surprise when he got down on his knee and asked me to be his wife in the middle of my snow-covered, candle-lit porch! It could not have been more perfect. At the time, we were originally planning for a year and a half engagement with a summer wedding in 2012. Plans changed (as they often do in the Marine Corps) and it looked like Travis would be deployed during that time frame. We made an quick decision and moved the wedding up an entire year leaving us only five months to plan a New York wedding from California!

I had always imagined our reception to be right along the St. Lawrence river, watching the incredible sunset as we danced the night away. To capture that image, the water and my east coast spirit, we decided on a simple yet classic nautical-themed wedding. Our favorite color palette was navy blue and white with touches of coral. In our hunt for the perfect wedding vendors, we discovered the amazing duo, Elizabeth and Karrie, from Posh Paperie in San Diego. These two innovative artists custom-created our wedding invitation helping to set our theme in motion. They became our ultimate inspiration. We filled our guest tables with white and blue hydrangeas and our head table with pillar candles in hurricane glasses, rustic lanterns and a beautiful handmade nautical-inspired runner.

For the big day, I wore a beautiful pearl-colored dress by Mikaella. I wanted something simple, classic and “me”. The first time I wore this dress, it just felt perfect. Since it was important for me to include my family in my wedding day as well, my veil was borrowed from my mother-in-law and I carried a gold and pearl brooch from my grandmother in my bouquet. Travis and I wanted to incorporate as much of our personality and style into the day. Due to Travis’ service in the Marine Corps, we felt a strong desire to weave the military traditions into both our ceremony and reception. One of my favorite parts of our day was walking through the sword arch with Travis and officially becoming part of the Marine Corps family. The sword arch included five of Travis’ best friends as well as his own father, a retired Sergeant Major. After the ceremony, Travis and I were escorted to our reception in a vintage car. We were able to steal a sweet moment alone to toast one another and relax in each other’s company before the party began. When we arrived at the reception, I wanted to “change” into a more relaxed and fun mood. My dear friend, Dana Greechan, helped by fitting me with a headpiece she designed herself. It was absolutely gorgeous and definitely one-of-a-kind with an old-fashioned, classic feel.

From Alice of Alice G Patterson Photography: A couple of fun details Moe forgot to mention. With the nautical themed wedding, both Moe and Travis unknowingly bought each other the same card that reads  “my anchor” for their wedding gifts. So we took some portraits with the card. Also, after dinner Travis changed from his Military Uniform into a wonderful black tuxedo — I thought was kind of unique for the groom to change.

Photography: Alice G Patterson Photography / Invitations: Posh Paperie / Dress: Mikaella / Shoes + Jewelry: Kate Spade / Church: St. Mary’s Cathedral / Reception Venue: Gran-View on the River / Florist: Waddington Blooms / Cake: Kathy’s Cakes / Band: The Bob Cooper Band / Garter: Etsy

For a study in all things romantic, look no further than this Long Island fête. It’s country club meets whimsy with pom-pom inspired details crafted by the Bride herself and a sea of pink, garden fresh florals by Fleur-Di-Re. Captured by Wayne Yuan Photography along with the perfect little film to finish off the festivities by one of our favorites, Moetic Films, this is a sure fire package to get your wedding motors running on this lovely Monday morning. Grab a comfy seat and check out the full day here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Rachel Di-Re of Fleur-Di-Re… When Sissi first contacted us for her Long Island country club wedding, she knew exactly the look she was going for… “cute, quirky and country vintage”.  Nothing luxurious or over the top, she wanted to bring a casual cottage feel to the country club setting.  The color palette of all shades of pink with accents of ivory and grey added a dreaminess to the concept.  

We chose florals like Hydrangea, Ranunculus, Stock, Queen Anne’s Lace and Bupluerum that would lend an organic, just-picked-from-the-garden feeling.  The pom pom shape was a recurring theme that played out in the form of layered tissue pom poms, Dahlias, craft pom poms and even a hot little tutu party dress (one of three ensembles Sissi wore for her special day). Sissi even made hundreds of handmade pom poms for her guests to throw during the recessional!

A master of DIY, Sissi proved you don’t need to be an expert at sewing to create Etsy-worthy details.  Scissors and glue were her secret weapon.  Look out for handmade details like the banner-style aisle block, custom table numbers with utilitarian metal house numbers and floral fabric backing, as well as mason jar votives wrapped in lace-like paper.

Photography: Wayne Yuan Photography / Cinematography: Moetic Films / Flowers: Fleur-Di-Re / Event Planning: My Bridal Budget / DJ: Pop Shop! DJs / Makeup + Hair: Sissi Chan Hair & Makeup / Photo Booth Rental: Classic Photo Booth  / Ceremony + Reception Venue: Woodbury Country Club / Invitations: Izzy and the Bean / Wedding Gown: San Patrick / Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Remember this darling Hudson Valley soiree captured by Micah & Megan Photographers?  Yep, we do, too.  In fact, we fell SO in love with this charming barn affair when we featured it back in October, we’ve barely been able to contain our excitement for today.  You guessed it… we have the ah.ma.zing video by McKenzie Miller Films to share with you this morning (YAY!) and that means one more day spent with the sweet rustic details, breathtaking setting and uber-adorable bride and groom!  So, sit back, relax and take that much needed coffee break… you’ll need some time to hit “replay.”  Enjoy!

From McKenzie of McKenzie Miller Films… Becky and Brian’s wedding was filled to the brim with the most precious details. They left no creative aspect undone. From the custom soda bottles to the adorable silhouette, their wedding was perfect! Becky and Brian were married near Hudson, New York at the Apple Barn Farm. It was so beautiful! It’s always nice to escape the city every once in a while and this was no exception. Becky and Brian wrote the ceremony themselves and it was so sweet and heartfelt. I especially loved their vows. After their ceremony underneath a canopy of trees, everyone moved inside the barn for an evening of dancing, toasting and celebrating the love of Becky and Brian. The two are absolutely perfect for one another and it was evident through every piece of their wedding day.

Film: McKenzie Miller Films / Song: “Always” by Holley Maher via The Music Bed

It always knocks my wedding-loving socks off when I hear of couples planning completely flawless fêtes from thousands of miles away. Well that was just the case with this rustic barn beauty in Hudson Valley planned all the way from Germany! The end result was beyond beautiful and beIMAGED Photography captured memory after memory for this amazing pair. So grab another cop of coffee, cozy up, and spend a little time in the full gallery of images – I couldn’t think of a better way to spend this chilly January morning!

Click here for the full gallery of images!

From beIMAGED Photography…Meredith and Bill did the unthinkable: they planned their Hudson Valley wedding all the way from Germany! Yes, from Germany. And it was absolutely amazing with a rustic yet elegant and classic feel to it with DIY elements infused throughout along with the natural wonder of the Hudson Valley.

The day started with Meredith getting ready at the historic Hudson House in Cold Spring, NY which is surrounded by rolling hills and is right near the Hudson River. The ceremony was then held at the St. John The Evangelist church in Beacon, NY with the mass including Filipino wedding traditions which was incredibly beautiful and emotional.

Then the party took off at the breathtaking and amazing Mount Gulian Historic Site. To first walk through a historic building filled with antiques and old wooden floors, then out to an absolutely spell-bounding Hudson Valley view and then down wooden steps to the Dutch barn — this venue was an absolute jaw-dropper. All of the hard work that Meredith and Bill, along with their friends and family, had put into planning their big day shined through every location, every detail, and every single moment.

Photography: beIMAGED Photography / Decor: DIY friends + family / Caterer: Parties by Tomas / Venue: Mount Gulian Historical Society / Wedding Cake: Dulce & Petit / Stationery: Paper City Design

I’m pretty convinced that if I actually knew this couple…we would be best friends. And I mean that sincerely. They gifted their guests a wedding brunch at a local restaurant complete with hot sauce and buttered chicken biscuit sandwiches. See what I mean? Besties for sure. Okay, so aside from their great taste in food, this couple happened to throw what I consider to be a SO very SMP fête. A wedding filled with touches that were meaningful to their lives, allowing their own unqiue loves and passions to guide their wedding day style. And the result, captured by Dove + Sparrow was total perfection. Click here to see even more.

From Dove + Sparrow…Gabe and Danielle met while working in finance in New York City, and recently made the move to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The pair wanted a wedding that really represented their Brooklyn loves and artistic taste, and decided the perfect setting was the Thompson Hotel in Soho, New York City.

They had custom caramels engraved with their initials from Pappabubble, a cake topper from BHLDN, and they booked their favorite band they had discovered playing in the subway. They used balloons for the formal photos. Their dog, Oliver, was their ringbearer, and he carried their Cartier and Tiffany’s wedding bands. They ended their wedding weekend by having brunch the next morning at a neighborhood spot, Pies ‘n’ Thighs, which featured hot sauce and buttered chicken biscuit sandwiches, fresh orange juice, and handmade donuts.

Venue: 60 Thompson / Food: Kittichai / Photographer: Dove + Sparrow Photography / Officiant: Jeffery Longmuir, friend / Bride’s dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s shoes: Christian Louboutin, Pom pom’s from BHLDN / Bride’s Earrings: BHLDN / Bride’s Hair & makeup: Facetime Beauty Concierge / Groom’s Tux & accompaniments: Astor&Black / Dog’s accompaniments: Bow tie from Astor&Black, Leather leash and collar set from Wagwear / Band: Moon Hooch / Cake made by: Ana Sarmiento, friend / Cake stand: Bountiful / Cake topper: BHLDN / Paper: Rosebrook Meyer / Calligrapher: Paperfinger / Guest present: Papabubble / Flowers: Sprout Home / Bride’s dress cleaning & preservation: Madame Paulette

Rise and shine lovelies! After a weekend of celebrating, it’s time to give yourself a little chance to ease into the new year by indulging in this sweet as can be backyard beauty by Exquisite Affairs Productions. Completely calorie free yet full of eye candy – if I do say so myself, 2012 is looking pretty darn pretty already thanks to this darling fête! With a bride that looks flawless and a dashing groom who just looks heads over heels in love, the gallery is full of so many lovely images by Courtney Davidson I can’t think of a better way to welcome 2012! Happy Monday!

Click here for the full gallery of images!

From Exquisite Affairs Productions…Lauren & Jones were married at Lauren’s parents private residence in Oyster Bay (Long Island.) The ceremony was on the lawn, the cocktail hour on the pool deck, and the reception on the tented tennis court. This wedding was all about their family and friends. A friend officiated and another friend played the keyboard for the ceremony, keying Liszt’s Consolation No. 3 and Liebenstraum.

The cocktail hour food reflected the groom’s heritage – a mix of Lebanese and Jewish treats like: watermelon cups w/feta + zaatar, figs stuffed with tabouleh, delicious lamb kebobs with mint, lemon, and parsley, and chilled Morrocan tomato soup shots. The reception food reflected the bride’s heritage – Chinese & Korean. Guests feasted on Korean Beef Bar-B-Que, Chinese Noodles, and the show-stopper, a suckling pig.

Guests dined in a beautifully candle-lit tent with hanging bistro lights. They then danced the night away with laptop tunes from two of the couples’ friends. From beginning to end, it was all about feeling like “home” and it did help that hey were right at home!

We can almost hear those champagne bottles popping, but before we start the New Years celebrations (and hopefully a few weddings – as I did officially put “Attend a fab NYE Wedding” on my bucket list this year) we have a little advice from Tracy Taylor Ward Design on how to throw the ULTIMATE New Years Eve bash. And judging by these photos, shot by the talented Scott Andrew Studio – Tracy definitely knows what she’s talking about, and we are listening to every single word she has to say. Make sure to read up on the ins and outs of the Ball-Drop bash, and then click here to see more of this fantastic fête!

From Tracy Taylor Ward Design … How to throw a New Years Eve Party

When it comes to hosting a party, planning can often become overwhelming, especially around holiday time. From ambiance to table settings, one of the most common questions we hear, particularly when it comes to throwing a festive dinner party, is, “How can I come up with a fresh design concept?”

Whether you are looking to host a classic New Year’s Eve party or “mix it up” with something that creates a particular mood (as we did), this step-by-step guide promises to not only help you plan that perfect night to ring in the New Year but to also help you resolve to never be overwhelmed by another dinner party again.

Step 1: Get inspired. Determining what excites you. Whether it’s art, an object you saw in a store window display, or a passage from a book that described a world you felt transfixed by, inspiration is all around you and can help you establish a theme for your party. For our “Glam Noir” dinner party we found our muses in the sophisticated and edgy image of the black lace-masked Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen on the cover of Vogue’s Guide To Ultimate Style.

Step 2: Choose a color scheme. Taking cues from the time of year your event will be held and then adding touches of your favorite colors is another easy way to create a color scheme that will feel personalized. For our New Years Eve party, we selected silver, gold, and red, colors that would be appropriate and obvious staples of the holiday season. Then, drawing inspiration from Tom Ford’s gorgeous new cosmetic colors and packaging, we opted to give our event a little edginess by adding black and eggplant tones to the mix.

Step 3: Build your tablescape. Here are the basics you will need for your dinner table: a tablecloth, napkins, plates (dinner and dessert plates are a must, charger plates and salad plates are optional but nice additions, based on your menu and the formality of the party), glassware (water, wine, and/or cocktail), flatware, and centerpieces. For our tablescape we took a fieldtrip to Mood to find the perfect black lace to use as a tablecloth (we were thrilled when we found one with gold shimmer!). We then opted for simple black linen napkins and sparkly gold charger plates from Gracious Home, paired with the Black Murano Glass dinner plates, Confetti Dessert Plates and Aero Flatware from Crate and Barrel. In lieu of traditional vases for our centerpieces, we used the clear glass Whirly Hanging Candle Holders from CB2. These festive pieces provided a unique alternative: we were able to place gold and silver tinsel within each candleholder and then encircle vibrant red orchids around every one.

Step 4: Select lighting. How you choose to illuminate your space will greatly affect the ambiance of your party. Although dinner will require subtle overhead lighting – since you’ll want everyone to be able to see what you are serving – there’s no question that some accent lighting will also help set the tone of the evening and establish a more intimate effect. In the case of our dinner party, we choose to make candles a focal point by lining our table with a group of hand blown glass candlesticks from CB2, in assorted shapes. (Note: Glass candlesticks are unobtrusive and enable you to chat with the person across the table, especially since they are usually at eye level.)

Step 5: Don’t forget the embellishments. Love is in the details and your guests will surely notice the thought you put into all the finishing touches. From custom designed invitations hinting at your color scheme (we also made “Resolution Reminder Cards,” the size of a credit card, that guests could keep in their wallets to help them follow through with their New Year’s resolutions!), to a special table runner (we created the look of a runner simply by overlapping Chilewich Gold Dahlia Placemats running down the length of the table), to specialty cocktails, oversize balloons and pretty homemade desserts, the smallest details will let your guests know that they are in for a special evening and, also, that you are excited to be ringing in the New Year with them!

Venue: Renaissance Hotel 57 / Event Design and Planning: Tracy Taylor Ward Design / Photography: Scott Andrew Studio / Invitations and Graphic Design: Paper With Benefits / Balloons: Geronimo Balloons / Tableware: Crate and Barrel, CB2, Mood, and Gracious Home / Hair: Stacy Pitt / Makeup: Sally Duvall

When you go traditional, old school New York for your sophisticated soiree – you really can’t go wrong. That classic feel has defined elegance and has made people gush for decades. Well Shira Weinberger sent over another timeless beauty for us all to swoon over as this year comes to an end. If this isn’t a pretty way to end 2011, I don’t know what is! Don’t forget, there is even more timeless perfection in the full gallery of images! 

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Geoffrey and I decided to get married in New York at the historic Union League Club, the very location where we first met. Despite our less conventional fantasy of tying the knot atop a mountain in Idaho, a classic New York wedding was most appropriate with Geoff’s family hailing from Bedford and mine from Manhattan. The style of our wedding channeled the fabled elements of the Union League Club together with our high regard for tradition.

Once we decided to go traditional, it was old time New York all the way. A mostly navy and white color scheme began with the stunning engagement ring that Geoff proposed with: a round diamond surrounded by rich sapphires on both sides. The theme was carried out through our elegant navy and gold monogrammed invitations, the graceful long dresses that my nine bridesmaids donned, the white, cream, yellow, green and powder blue flower arrangements that filled the room and our simple and delicate cake design. During our outside photography sessions, I was kept warm by my mother’s vintage mink shawl, a gift from her father for her 16th birthday. An elegant array of deco jewels provided by my father and a pair of charming off-white leather gloves provided by Geoff’s mother helped me achieve a classic look. My dapper husband was my perfect style counterpart, with his neatly parted hair, well-tailored Ralph Lauren suit and handsome velvet loafers. He’s also my perfect counterpart in life and I’m so happy to have Shira Weinberger’s beautiful photographs to help me remember the day that we cemented our union.

Floral Design: Damselfly Designs / Invitations: East Six / Wedding Videography: eMotion Pictures / Band: Hank Lane / Wedding Cake: Kakes NYC / Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai / Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Wedding Planner: Vivia Costalas & Lydia Taplett of Floris Special Events / Wedding Photography: Shira Weinberger / Venue: Union League Club / Jeweler: Arme Gems & Jewels Ltd

If ever there was a wedding to completely liven up your work week, this stunning Manhattan affair captured by the ah.mazing Justin & Mary is IT.  Yes, from the breathtaking venue to the sweet, sweet couple to the fabulous vintage meets organic vibe, every last ounce of this darling Chelsea Piers fete is almost too wonderful to comprehend.  And don’t even get me started on those straight-from-the-garden centerpieces by Diana Gould… I die.  Trust me, there’s not a moment of this pretty, pretty soiree that you’ll want to miss.  Join me in the gallery for even more!