New York Weddings

This little ode to wedding goodness captured my heart from the very moment I laid eyes on it. It’s a Brooklyn affair from the heart with a bundle of thoughtful details all lovingly crafted by family and friends. And the images by Emily Chidester? Wildly gorgeous doesn’t even begin to describe them. These two love birds are about the cutests things we’ve ever seen and their wedding fits them to a T. Sit back and cozy on up to a féte at Frankies 457 that will pump your heart full of warm fuzzies and don’t forget to  stop by the full gallery for a whole lot more.

Click here to see the FULL wedding gallery!

From the Bride… We’re all about good food, good memories, and sweet time spent with those closest to us. From the beginning, we wanted our day to reflect that. As we planned the wedding, we tried not to focus so much on theatrics, and opted instead to put energy into details that would make our guests feel loved and appreciated.

A huge part of our planning process was the decision to cut the guest list. My husband was born in New York, and I’ve always loved the city, so we invited an intimate group for a beautiful autumn weekend in NYC. Our wedding felt like a wonderful weekend spent with family, rather than a huge production. We tried not to take any of it too seriously and just enjoy the fleeting moments. Instead of a formal rehearsal dinner, we got to go bowling and eat pizza and cupcakes the night before the wedding. It was fun and super casual, and probably one of my favorite parts of the weekend.
I realize a small wedding doesn’t work for everyone, but I can’t recommend it enough. At times, I’d worried if we’d made the right decision, but when I looked around our wedding dinner that night to see a room filled with people who knew and cared for us deeply, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind. My husband reiterated this in telling me one of his favorite parts of the day. As I walked down the aisle towards him, everyone standing towards the back closed in behind me and encircled us. He teared up multiple times during the ceremony because he felt so much love. That night, the room was as full as it would have been if we’d invited 300 guests. One of my friends pulled me aside just before we left to tell me, “this entire day has felt just like a hug.” And I couldn’t agree more.

From the beginning, I wanted our wedding to feel romantic, nostalgic, and heartfelt. Because of the small group, I was able to devote more time to each person both during my planning and the weekend. I was in love with our venue, which made decorating easier, since we did everything ourselves. Instead of a theme or color scheme, I decided on several elements that I liked and incorporated them throughout the entire day: from invites to favors. Not only was this cost effective, but it made figuring out each element of the day a little easier, since I had a template to choose from. One of my inspirations was a line from one of our favorite songs, “I love you like the stars above, I love you til I die.” Drawing from this, I incorporated silver stars throughout the weekend. We never spelled this out for guests though, so it felt like a little private love song was woven throughout the day, just for us.

Frankies 457 was incredible to work with and totally captured the spirit of our day. The space was rustic, warm, and the perfect setting for a small dinner party. The seated dinner was served family style, which allowed for tons of delicious food and great conversation. I was really inspired by the space’s textures, so I kept it simple by decorating the tables with clusters of flowers my best friend and I arranged in assorted glass bottles the morning of. My husband and I scored all the bottles, soda crates, and the chalkboard frame for $16 at a local antique yard. One of my favorite details was that we got to hand write each guest a letter on the back of NYC postcards for their place settings, which we wrapped with baker’s twine. I painted an old window frame with chalkboard paint and wrote the menu in chalk, which was quite a feat to transport to Brooklyn un-smudged! I also designed all the paper products, favors and welcome bags myself.

In reflecting upon our day, far and away our favorite part was how much everyone invested in it (and us). Our guests didn’t just show up–they helped set up and break down, they cried and laughed with us, and showed us more love than we could even process. I vividly remember sitting at the table during dinner holding hands with Matt, and looking around the room at everyone; each glowing and truly enjoying their evening. As our favorite songs played in the background, I tried to freeze every single face and every wonderful thing about that moment in time. We walked off together once it was all done, barefoot and giddy, and positively overflowing with happiness. Our day didn’t feel like a quick burst of euphoria, but rather a slow, steady outpour of peace, joy, and love, and one that I’ll remember forever.

Photography: Emily Chidester / Flowers: Bunches Direct / Ceremony and Reception Site : Frankies 457 / After Party: Abilene’s / Food: Frankies 457
/ Officiant: Pastor Mark Muckler / Dress: Allure Bridal / Makeup: Cynthia Carrington / Tux: Belk / Flower Girl Dresses: J.Crew

There is just something so incredibly romantic about a New York City wedding – don’t you agree? And there is something even more timeless about having that wedding at The Central Park Boathouse. Classic and elegant, the Boathouse is the perfect host for lovelies like this one by Jillian Modern Photography. With stunning stationery by Ceci New York, the city skyline as the backdrop and a couple so radiant they shine brighter than the city lights – it all makes for a full gallery of so much lovely!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We wanted to get married in New York City so our family and friends could have a peek into our town and our lives, but the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple can be overwhelming. So we chose a wedding at the iconic Central Park Boathouse, the most serene and relaxing venue in all of Manhattan. This is our happy place. We were obsessed with the idea of being surrounded by the lake, the trees, the rowboats – nature at its finest – while also being in the center of skyscrapers, taxi cabs and the best city in the world. This romantic setting naturally inspired our wedding vision of casual elegance. We used a beautiful earth tone color palette with hues of blue and touches of green and brown that would enhance and complement Central Park in all of its glory.

Chris and I knew early on that we didn’t want a stuffy ballroom reception. We wanted a giant party, full of celebrating the best way we know how – with great music, delicious food, plentiful drinks, and all of our friends and family! We borrowed a key phrase from one of our happily wedded friends that stuck as our wedding theme: “casual elegance”. It spoke to everything we wanted to convey – the classic taste and traditional values we hold combined with a down-home, rustic vintage look that we adore.

Our gorgeous wedding invitation suite was designed by very talented Ceci New York but our wedding programs, escort cards, dinner menus and table signs were DIY labors of love. Our wine cork escort card holders were a favorite detail. Chris and I took a trip up the Pacific Coast Highway and through the Carmel wine country a year before we got engaged. We started saving corks from our favorite bottles of wine. Once the wedding planning began, Erin decided these would make cost effective and super cute escort card holders. But she quickly realized they’d have to call in favors from other wine lovers in the family to finish off 175 bottles before August. Luckily, we have a big and thirsty family! The whole gang began mailing their corks to New York and it was fun to later match favorite wines with favorite people.

The gorgeous flower arrangements by Lenox Hill combined hydrangeas, delphiniums, calla lilies, roses and celosia to create stunning centerpieces and timeless bouquets.

Guests were greeted at the gates of the Central Park Boathouse with sparkling wine and water. As they enjoyed the tranquil lakeside view and found their seats for the ceremony, a string trio added atmosphere with classic and contemporary music. The bride and her father walked down the aisle strewn with rose petals and floating candles to Canon in D. The bride and groom shared 3 kisses to seal their marriage and exited to All You Need Is Love by The Beatles, a favorite band and timeless song.

Cocktail hour began in the adjacent lakeside room with butler passed hors d’oeuvres, a top shelf bar and acoustic music provided by Next Faze Band. The signature summertime drink was refreshing mojitos and personal touches were added with monogrammed stir stocks, blue and white vintage milk straws, and “Eat, Drink, Be Married” cocktail napkins. Guests snacked on ceviche of scallop in cucumber cups, seared beer carpaccio bruschetta, chilled yellow fin tuna tartar, crab cakes, lime marinated shrimp flautas, prosciutto wrapped figs, and eggplant parmesan.

As the reception doors opened and guests took their seats at tables labeled with favorite neighborhoods of New York, the wedding party showcased their dancing skills with Bust a Move by Young MC as their entrance song. The bride and groom were introduced with the biggest smiles, a standing ovation and Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones. Their first dance was to You Are The Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne.

Guests dined on a savory four course meal from the very talented chefs at The Central Park Boathouse. For dessert, guests were served cupcakes from the adorable Chikalicious bakery in the East Village. Erin had no problem doing cupcake research with a city-wide taste test and these cupcakes were hands-down winners. Not only are they the ideal size to carry onto the dance floor, they look picture perfect and taste even better. In addition to the classic vanilla, chocolate and red velvet, guests also sampled the phenomenal s’mores cupcake. Mmm!

Next Faze Band wowed the party and packed the dance floor all night with their musical talents. Wedding Coordinator, Stephanie, said she’d never seen a party dance this much in all her years at The Boathouse. Jillian Bisinger Modern Photography assembled a zany photobooth that was a clear crowd favorite with a steady line of guests modeling mustaches, lips, sunglasses, beards, fangs and pirate patches until 1am!

When the night concluded, the bride and groom sent guests home with a favorite snack – popcorn favors straight from world-famous Garrett’s Popcorn. It’s made in Illinois, just like the bride! The sweet and savory combo of their caramel and cheddar popcorn is to die for.

Wedding Photography: Jillian Modern Photography / Caterer + Event Coordinator: Stephanie Tighe of The Central Park Boathouse / Floral Design: Lenox Hill Florist / Cake Artist: Chikalicious Cupcakes / Wedding Gown: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair Stylist: Samantha Landis of StylesOnB / Make-up Artist: Marlena Sing of Sally Duvall Makeup / String Trio: Faze 4 Orchestras / DJ: Next Faze Band / Officiant: St. Paul The Apostle / Wedding Videography: Kiss The Bride Films / Invitations: Ceci New York / Favors: Garrett’s Popcorn / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung via The Wedding Library / Cufflinks: Tiffany & Co.

I am loving the eclectic elegant vibe that this New York City wedding, captured by Matthew Lee and Anne Kohl for CLY Creation Photography, is bringing to the table.  The Bowery Hotel is one of our favorite venues in the Big Apple and the mix of wildflowers, lace and mercury glass work so well in the rich, luxurious setting.  Don’t just take my word for it.  See the entire stunning collection of images in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Matthew Lee and Anne Kohl for CLY Creation Photography…Beautiful couple, Marissa and Chris got married at Bowery Hotel in NYC.  Their intimate ceremony and the reception took place in Bowery Hotel.   This humble couple wanted to have intimate wedding with small bridal party and guests of 85 to celebrate their big day.  Their story started at Green Papaya Hot Dog stand in NYC and rest of it was just history.  They have so much love stories all over the NYC and it was a perfect place to get married in East Village which provided a lot of good memories for them to share with their friends and families.  

 Photography: Matthew Lee and Annie Kohl for CLY Creation Photography / Bridal Gown: Jim Hjelm / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David Meister / Bridal Jewelry (excluding rings): Joan Boyce Ltd / Wedding Rings: Tiffany / Engagement Ring: McTeigue & McClelland / Groom’s and Groomsmen Attire: Ermenegildo Zegna / Hair & Makeup: Paul Labreque Salon / Reception Entertainment: Gary Hoffman (DJ Gaza) / Floral Designer: Adore Floral / Wedding Venue: Bowery Hotel / Wedding Cake: Baked / Wedding Invitation: Cheree Berry

I’ve been grinning since the moment I laid my eyes on this gorgeous Central park wedding by Sharon Bushman Photography… and there is just no way this smile is leaving my face anytime soon.  With a charming location, sweeter than sweet DIY details and an uber-fabulous bride and groom (I can just tell they are AWESOME), it would be impossible not to be completely smitten with this darling affair.  Plus, when you read the bride’s description of the day, you’ll be beyond inspired by the hard work and love that these two cuties put into crafting the wedding of their dreams.  Like I said… they are AWESOME.  So, join me in the gallery for every last amazing moment and then stay tuned for a sweet film by Storymix Media below!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

As promised, a cute as can be film of the day from Storymix Media!  Enjoy!

From the Bride… When Percy and I described our dream wedding day, words like home, welcome, delicious, meaningful, and joyous kept coming up in our conversations. We’re both big foodies, I baked my way into Percy’s heart in the early years of our relationship and I’m an actress in the Broadway community so a huge dinner, a dentist’s-nightmare of a dessert bar, and a fabulous dance party were musts. Add to this list the fact that we were on a strict budget and decided to host our party in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S., we definitely had our work cut out for us!

We found our reception venue though a friend of a friend on Facebook of all places. The Arsenal building is a huge historical site on Fifth Avenue just inside the walls of Central Park. It houses various parks departments during the week and hosts events in their art gallery and on their beautiful roof deck on the weekends. Because they’re not solely an event space, their rates were significantly lower than every other venue we visited. It was also just across the park from the tiny Christ and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church so we were in business.

Since the majority of the day would take place around Central Park, I wanted the entire event to have a very “outside-in” look but to also feel very classic and clean. I started with a color palette of taupe and white with touches of dark green, light pink, and pops of red. Since the church was so small and we were expecting about 95 guests, we decided against a formal wedding party. It was still important for me to honor my closest girlfriends so I asked them (as well as our moms) if they wouldn’t mind wearing a pastel dress in either a warm, earth-tone, or metallic color, no jewel-tones, blue or purple. They pulled it off beautifully and I got some lovely pics with my girlfriends and they got to enjoy just being guests.

The budget also meant a list of DIY as long as my arm so I taught myself Illustrator and designed every piece of paper from Save the Dates to Thank-You notes. I took a flower arranging class, then enlisted some helpers so we could handle all the flowers and decor. We draped the pews in Plumosa garland and built floral rings for the candles at the church. The roof was decorated with pink Juliette roses in mint julep cups, log slices from Percy’s parent’s land in Missouri, white luminaries and paper lanterns, and feet upon feet of white cafe lights. We used white roses, ranunculus, dahlias, peonies, and hydrangea for our centerpieces in recycled cans wrapped in wood veneer. I carried a bouquet of white peonies, seeded eucalyptus and rosemary wrapped in lace from my mother’s wedding veil and secured with a vintage broach my step-mother wore on her wedding day.

Miss Elisabeth’s Catering Co. provided an outstanding meal that included passed ceviche (Percy is half Peruvian), mac ‘n cheese bites, Tabasco-spiked popcorn, among others, during cocktail hour. She created a beautiful three-course dinner menu with flavors from the south (I’m from Texas) that included a duo plate of braised short-ribs, corn pudding and a cheese course. Percy paired the dinner with 3 amazing wines as well as stocked the bar for the entire party. We also recreated a sangria we loved from a trip to Philly, white wine with peaches, mint and ginger liqueur for our signature drink. We created the dessert buffet with 4 different kinds of cupcakes from Robicelli’s, cotton candy from Landmarc and various doughnuts from the Doughnut Plant. We filled out the selections with cheesecake bites and whoopie pies from two dear friends (who happen to be pastry chefs in NYC) and my Mom’s go-to peach cobbler.

The amount of help and understanding we received to make all that happen in the days leading up to the wedding made us feel so lucky and loved. Our fab day-of coordinators, Christie and Steph of Sweet Bourbon Events (seen twirling my dress and blessing me with good marriage juju in one of the pics) were one of the best decisions we made. So creative and professional, they’ve become dear friends. DJ Max Salpetrier, who has hosted multiple Broadway opening night parties, kept people on the dance floor all night and people are still talking about him. Our photographer Sharon Bushman captured the day beautifully. Not only do we have breathtaking portraits that feature our dear city, but she captured the moment Percy started to cry, the way my father looked while we were dancing, my reactions to my best friends toasts. I think as brides we take those pictures for granted, I will always be grateful for the photographs of the way my husband looked at me on our wedding day. Also capturing moments were the adorable little flip-cams provided by Storymix Media.

Videography was not in our budget and Storymix provided the perfect solution. Seeing our friends take ownership of our day by filming the moments they thought we’d want to see was such a joy and the team at Storymix has been wonderful to work with. Our last bit of DIY was a surprise for our guests. Since Percy and I are performers, we decided to sing the songs for our first dance and parent dances. We met with a friend at his studio and spent two days singing and having a blast. The reaction from our parents and guests was priceless, you can hear a little on our teaser video below! Pair that with our favorite midnight snack (cheese and artisanal jams) as favors and a huge sparkler exit and we were all in heaven. I understand why we’re only given one wedding day, all that love and joy in one room has left us spoiled for years to come. We are so happy and blessed.

Wedding Photography: Sharon Bushman Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Storymix Media / Flowers: DIY with Fifty Flowers / Caterer: Miss Elisabeth’s Catering Company / DJ: Music by Max / Event Planning: Sweet Bourbon Events / Wedding Ceremony Location: Christ and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church / Wedding Reception Location: The Arsenal, Central Park / Wedding Invitations: DIY / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Custom Sash: The Bride and Friend / Jam Favors: Drake & Lou / Cupcakes: Robicelli’s / Cotton Candy: Landmarc / Doughnuts: Doughnut Plant

Allan Zepeda kicks MAJOR photography booty and the proof is in this gorgeous engagement shot at Skylight West  in New York. Light, airy, WILDY GORGEOUS – these are just a few descriptive words that come to mind but above all else, it’s a beautiful moment in time between a soon to be family. One that has us poring over every millisecond of its gorgeousness. Care to join in the pretty party? See it all here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride-To-Be…We met in Jurmala, Latvia at a music festival called New Wave. (Something similar to Eurovision maybe). We were not performing, we were guests. My best friend introduced us to each other. We spent 4 days in Jurmala, then we didn’t see each other for a year. Ilya says it was love at first sight for him. The following year we met there again and then started dating. Had a long distance relationship for a while (I lived in Moscow, Ilya in NY). Then we moved to London together. When I graduated from fashion school in London we decided to move to NY to work and move in together. That was 2 years ago.

On November 6th 2010 he proposed. This was the day of both of our parents anniversary. It was unexpected, very romantic and at  home…The hurricane in the Carribean ruined his plans to propose on Turks and Caicos so we had an amazing weekend after the proposal. It was like a mini honeymoon.

The wedding is in Venice, Italy. Venice was my idea. It’s a destination wedding. We don’t have relatives there or anything. We just spent a lot of vacations there since we were kids and know the country well and love it too. Italians have good taste for beautiful things, food and wine. And know how to party and enjoy life! It’s going to be totally crazy, 350 guests for 3 days. We are building a huge tent on the island of San Clemente. There will be fireworks, artists and our best friends from all over the world! And family of course. Our parents love us a lot and are very excited for us and helpful too.

As for the photo shoot, we hired Allan Zepeda from NYC and for our engagement and wedding photos. We love his style and knew it was a perfect fit for our love and passion. He was so easy to work with. We wanted a studio space so he proposed the idea to have our engagement photos at Skylight West.

Skylight West perfectly fuses the industrial with the glamorous to create a wedding venue that is quintessentially NYC. With views of sunset on the Hudson, the Empire State Building, and a finely finished loft interior, Skylight West customizes each wedding to reflect the inherent aspects of both the couple and the city.

Photography: Allan Zepeda / Event Space: Skylight West / Her Shoes: Christian Louboutin + YSL / HER ATTIRE: Dress: Victoria Beckham / Top: Zara / Jeans: Rag & Bone / HIS ATTIRE: Polo: Ralph Lauren / Vest: Loro Piana / Shirt: Gucci / Jeans: Dolce Gabbana

If I could crawl into a wedding and live there for the rest of the day today, this gorgeous floral-filled fête at the The New York Botanical Garden captured by Erin Hearts Court would be my first pick. Folks, I just don’t think it gets any lovelier than this. Overflowing with images of the gorgeous florals by Bowman Dahl that make my heart leap and a couple so cute I want to pinch their cheeks, the gallery is THE place to be this afternoon!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Kerry and I wanted our wedding to be timeless and romantic with a naturally beautiful backdrop. As a child, my family took frequent trips to the New York Botanical Garden. It is full of great memories, many of which include my grandparents who passed away some years ago. On almost every trip we made there we would have lunch at the Stone Mill, outside next to the rushing stream. As luck would have it, we discovered that the Stone Mill had just finished renovations and was now a private event venue. It was of course the perfect choice.

When I found my dress the theme of the wedding really fell into place. It was classic with vintage flare and the skirt was a lovely concoction of silk organza cut in strips reminiscent of feathers. I paired it with a feather headpiece by Erica Koesler. We placed sterling silver pheasant sculptures and birds nests on the tables and used feathered calligraphy to embellish our invitations, menus and programs. Kerry sported a pair of winged cuff links.

Two of my bridesmaids were in their third trimester of pregnancy on the day of the wedding, so we went with Two Birds dresses for their flexibility and to avoid last minute tailoring.

We chose peonies as the dominant flower for their beauty, practicality, and symbolism. They embody romance and prosperity and are considered an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage. Their lush layered blooms seemed to compliment the delicate feather motif. Bowman Dahl did a beautiful job with the arrangements, using exotic varieties of peonies, berries, orchids, and sweetpeas in mercury glass footed bowls.

On that perfect June day with our nearest and dearest, we were married under a beautiful arbor (made by Kerry’s good friend Sebastian Vikkelsoe) draped with fruit laden passionflower vines. Our officiant Susanna Macomb conducted an incredibly personal and intimate ceremony, and as one of my friends said, “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Stone Mill at The New York Botanical Garden / Caterer: Abigail Kirsch / Wedding Photography: Erin Hearts Court / Floral Design: Bowman Dahl / Officiant: Susanna Macomb / Hair: StylesOnB / Hairpiece: Erica Koesler / Make-up: Sally Duvall / Wedding Dress: Lazaro / Bridesmaid Dresses: twobirds Bridesmaid / Groom’s Tux: Ralph Lauren / Groomsmen Attire: Ralph Lauren / Paper Goods: Gourmet Invitations

This adorable couple met in an elementary social studies class, and even though it wasn’t love at first site, they gave into the inevitable chemistry a few years later on a Staten Island ferry ride home. And we are so glad they did! They are cute as can be – and with the help of Exquisite Affairs Productions, they created a wedding so perfectly personal, I feel like I’ve known them forever. Joseph Lin Wedding Photography packed an entire gallery full with fantastic images – and Michael Justin Films sent over a highlight film from the day. How lucky are we?

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/31083138 601 338]

After dating for eight years, a proposal was expected in the near future, especially when we decided to take a trip out of town on the Fourth of July holiday.  However, Gordon always has awful luck in planning any event (a “Charlie Brown” factor), and he was true to form for the proposal.  We had taken a trip to Hershey Park, where we would be making customized chocolates.  It could have been very romantic, except for the fact that we were sandwiched in between screaming kids and large tourist groups.  I learned later on that Gordon thankfully passed on this window to propose.  We then set out for the park at night to catch the fireworks…only our timing was off, and the fireworks show was more like a dud.  We skulked back to the hotel, where Gordon ordered room service.  I thought this must be it!  I lifted up the metal tray eagerly, only to find chicken fingers.  I could feel myself getting woozy.  We settled in for bed, and I shut my eyes tight, ready to call it a day.  At the last possible moment, when I thought it was never going to happen, Gordon woke me up with an open ring box in my face.  He had pulled through after all!

We wanted to eschew the traditional wedding trappings: no draped chairs, hotel banquet halls, or over-styled floral arrangements.  When we saw the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, it just felt right – a modern setting situated on the New York City coastline.  This was something that spoke to all of the Staten Island ferry rides we had taken as a couple.

We wanted the wedding to look really clean and simple, hence gray and yellow seemed like a natural choice.  In terms of style, we wanted a touch of kitsch to personalize the event.  Vintage robots played off our color schemes and our personalities as a couple.  At the end of the day, we find ways to make each other laugh, remind ourselves to seek the playful side of life and have fun together, simply put.

We both come from different cultural backgrounds, and we wanted to incorporate those elements into our wedding.  As part of our ceremony, we included the Filipino tradition of a cord and veil, as a symbol of the union of marriage and sign of mutual support of each other, binding us in a lifelong commitment to be one in mind and heart.  To bring in Gordon’s Chinese background, we held a small tea ceremony during the reception, as a way to show respect and appreciation to our family.

Our most vivid memories from the wedding day were seeing all the people we love in one room, enjoying themselves and letting loose, getting really creative with props at the photobooth or wilding out to music on the dance floor.  We also enjoyed a quiet moment together while heading to the reception in a vintage cab, which took our breath away.

Our photographer, Joe Lin, videographer, Michael Porco, and our wonderful planner, Christine Viola and Exquisite Affairs Production, made every minute memorable, truly amazing, and unforgettable.  We were never a couple that visualized our exact wedding from detail to detail but all of our vendors painted our story exactly as we would never imagine it could have been portrayed.

Photographer: Joseph Lin Wedding Photography / Event Design & Planning: Exquisite Affairs Productions / Ceremony: Our Lady of the Rosary / Reception Venue: Abigail Kirsch, The Lighthouse / Makeup: Sally Duvall / Hair: Styles on B, Stacy Pitt / Cinematography: Michael Justin Films / DJ: High Voltage Sounds DJ / Floral Design: Flowers by Emil / Stationery: Exquisite Affairs Productions / Vintage Checkered Cab: Film Cars

Rise and shine LBBers! This Manhattan couple is so chic, they seriously could have just walked out of a glossy magazine. In fact, these gorgeous images from Captured Photography by Jenny exude such a glamour that we all feel like we should be putting on our fancy pants just to spend a little time with this gorgeous couple in the city that never sleeps. So when you’ve put on your sparkly stilettos, you can meet me and my fancy pants in the full image gallery for even more of this stunning engagement sesh!

Click here for more in the full image gallery!

Jonathan and I chose to have some of our engagement photographs done in Central Park, as it is a tranquil spot but you still see the sweeping skylines of New York City in the background. It is romantic and features some of the most amazing scenery in New York City with its natural woods, lakes and walking tracks. It is one of our favorite spots to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Times Square is a quintessential New York City location. We also chose this site as Times Square represents the energetic lifestyle we live on a day to day basis. Bright lights, tall buildings and tons of people encompass the world we live in.

My first look was a white silk Diane von Furstenberg dress. I wore a black Balenciaga dress in her second look with Christian Louboutin shoes. Jonathan wore a Charles Tyrwhitt button down with a charcoal Theory blazer and jeans.

The session was extremely fun! We really connected with Jenny, our photographer.  As the shoot progressed, we just became more and more comfortable with her. It was great to be able to relax and just have fun.

Photography: Captured Photography by Jenny / Bride’s Dresses: Diane von Furstenberg (white) & Balenciaga (black) / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Welcome back to another gorgeous week here at SMP New York! We’re totally loving the organic luxe vibe that this pretty fete is putting out there. The burlap, mercury glass, lush florals, and dried lavender are all working together to create the most casually elegant day ever. Tory Williams Photography captured the day to perfection and trust me when I say that you have to check out the rest of the pretty in our new, fancy gallery!

Click here to see entire image gallery!

From the bride…Our inspiration for our wedding was “organic luxe.” We wanted to incorporate as many natural elements as possible; from burlap runners, gnarly branches, river rocks, sprigs of dried lavender as favors, potted orchid plants wrapped in moss, to the many cascading floral arrangements. Our venue captured the perfect amount of relaxed elegance – we wanted our guests to feel like they were at a really fun party, like a much grander version of the parties we love having in our home with family and friends!! People left asking if we could do it again the following weekend!

Photography: Tory Williams Photography / Flowers: Arena’s Florist / Ceremony & Reception Location: Genesee Valley Club / Letter Press Invitations: GreenGirlPress (Amy Rau) / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Groom’s Shoes: Addidas SuperStars / Dress: Melissa Sweet / Hairpiece: Juliana’s / Clutch: Chanel / Jewelry: Mother of the Bride / Band: Nik and the Nice Guys / Place Cards, Bookmarks, and Programs: Bride

It’s a ballroom kind of day on the LBB Blog! This bride is so stunning. Her face is so beautifully expressive, we all couldn’t help but catch her excitement. She was so happy to marry her love in a very glamorous, very chic, classic New York wedding, and that in and of itself is the most special part of the day. The beautiful ballroom was filled with gorgeous and heartfelt details, the style was grandeur and stunning, but the love that was palpable through Ulysses Photography‘s rendition of the day – that’s something special. Click here for more!

We wanted the day to be a celebration of family and friends. We were getting married for the first time in our 40’s and have both lost many dear people along the way. We wanted to remember and include them in the day in some way. We had the names of those who had passed that were important to us and our guests included in the wedding programs. Photographs were a priority for us, since they are truly a lasting record of the day. We took the recommendation of a good friend who used Ulysses Photography for their wedding. Jenni and Ulysses were nothing short of amazing with their artist eye for detail, and we are absolutely delighted with the results.

We wanted understated elegance with a vintage feel for the day and achieved this with various details. The tuxes from Men’s Warehouse, Sophia Tolli Phyllis gown from the Bridal Gallery in Salem, Oregon, the long hand-beaded veil, ceremony shoes by Grace, fun blue Caparros Ulysses reception shoes, and amazing hair and makeup done by Rosemarie Pomilla owner of N.Y. Prostyle and her team, helped provide the timeless feel of the day. We had the ceremony in the late afternoon at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception located on campus of my alma mater, The College of Mount Saint Vincent, because we love that when you enter the Chapel and the campus it feels like you are stepping back in time. We choose the Old Tappan Manor for our reception because it was like going to a ball in the ballroom of a private mansion in days gone by. They only have one event at a time, the renovated space is gorgeous, and the food was wonderful.

We wanted things we love as part of our day. The groom loves music and wanted the ceremony to be the most special part of the day. We had Pipe Major Jonathan Henken play bagpipes before and after the ceremony outside of the Chapel. For the ceremony we had singer Stephanie Budelman and The Devonshire Players string quartet. I love dragonflies, bubbles, fall leaves and various shades of blue. We worked these things into the programs, party favors, wedding party flowers, seating charts, napkins, table linens, invitations, wedding bands, and ribbons woven into baskets for the programs, directions and bubbles.

Photography: Ulysses Photography / Flowers: The Flower Shoppe, New City, NY / Ceremony Location: Mount St. Vincent College / Reception Location: Old Tappan Manor / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Shoes: Grace / Dress: Sophia Tolli / Veil: Glamgal Designs / Hair & Makeup: NY Prostyle / Limo: Top Class Limosine / Cake: Homestyle Desserts Bakery

With today’s affair, you won’t find a big reception or loads of bridesmaids; no church in sight. Simply put, it’s a beautiful bride and her smitten groom in an intimate ceremony in Central Park that is bring-you-to-your-knees breathtaking. Carolina Wahnish Rivera Photography captured the magic and every photograph, every ruffle of that lovely gown, every moment between newly crowned Husband and Wife is pure Wedding art. Carve out some time for a stunning collection of images in the full wedding gallery.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Carolina Wahnish Rivera Photography…This wedding was a very small and intimate ceremony at the beautiful Conservatory Gardens in Central Park NYC, a closed off section and very well kept part of the park, containing 3 different gardens (French, Italian, and English). Sandy and Jill were married under a quiet wisteria tree in the English gardens (Jill’s favorite part of the park because it’s less “trimmed”) by their friend who became licensed and officiated the ceremony (to keep it intimate and close!)… we started with Jill getting ready at her Chelsea apartment overlooking Manhattan, along with gorgeous details including a fluffy pink Watters wedding dress, Valentino shoes, and a very unique Alexander McQueen clutch purse.

And although we had a bit of a challenge going through the Manhattan traffic (on the same day as the UN meeting), and as it started to slowly rain and then downpour on our ceremony in the middle of the park, it was still a great time with their closest family and friends! Jill and Sandy also opted for a “day after” (a few days after) bridal session, since the rain caught us off-guard during the portraits, in order to truly capture the beauty of the park. During a bit more of a “dry” day we were lucky to have had beautiful weather, and Jill brought her 2nd wedding dress, a simple BCBG dress paired with an ode to her previous wedding dress, some fluffy pink Isaac Mizrahi shoes, and Sandy a lighter blue, more casual colored suit.

I loved this wedding for it’s “quaintness” and intimate setting, perfect for both of their personalities. 

Wedding Photography: Carolina Wahnish Rivera Photography / Ceremony Location: Central Park Conservatory Gardens / Wedding Dress: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino / Clutch: Alexander McQueen / Bouquets: Alice Stillman Inc. / Rings: Raffi Fine Jewelry / Earrings: Grandmother’s (vintage) / Veil: Custom Handmade / Bridal Session Wedding Dress: BCBG / Bridal Session Shoes: Isaac Mizrahi

Any wedding held at the Foundry in New York is a gorgeous wedding in our book. It’s one of those venues that marries the girly beauty of a pretty wedding with the industrial beauty of the space and the result is always a little bit of magic. So when you add a crazy beautiful red haired bride, a dream boat of a groom and a whole slew of terrariums, well…you have SMP gold. Photographed to utter perfection by Jen Huang Photography , we’re completely smitten with this next little number. Click here to see the whole shebang.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Jen Huang Photography…Allison & Chris wanted a modern and romantic wedding, that played off the feel of fall. Poppies & Posies executed their vision beautifully with gorgeous fall inspired terrariums mixed with mushrooms, succulents and moss. Their wedding was held at the Foundry in Long Island City NY, an industrial setting juxtaposed against green ivy growing on the walls, with a view of the Queensboro Bridge off Manhattan. Allison & Chris were laid back and wanted their wedding to reflect an intimate style and subtle beauty. The large string lights set the mood for a fun dance party separate from the tented reception. The whole night glowed brightly despite the rain drops!

From the Bride…It was important to us to find a space that was raw enough to make our own, yet also stand beautifully on its own. We found beautiful places with a locked wedding aesthetic, and loft spaces that gave us the freedom to create our own wedding, but the Foundry offered the best of both worlds. The space is meticulously preserved, the staff always accommodating our sudden desire to show up, and we loved the way the light came through the skylight and large glass doors at the rear.

After our initial choice in the space choosing our caterer, flowers, photographer and DJ came from heavy research from numerous blogs trying to perfect our aesthetic. Their work and their attitudes about the work they did, heavily influenced our decisions to choose them. We really wanted something that reflected the time of year without being a fall themed wedding. We identified with the aesthetic that we saw in all our vendors, and thought in the end it really reflected our own personal taste.

In the end we were so happy to have worked with all these wonderful people and everything went so perfectly. We really couldn’t have asked for a better day.

 

Wedding Photography: Jen Huang Photography / Venue: The Foundry / Floral Design: Poppies & Posies / Wedding Dress: Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Music: Les Loups DJ / Wedding Cake: A Simple Cake / Catering: Sage Events / Film Work: Richard Photo

Tory Williams Photography knocked this next little number so far out of the gorgeous wedding ball park my seaside soiree loving heart can’t handle it!  From the bride’s one shoulder stunner gown to her to die for Jimmy Choo’s, the lovely images of this picture perfect party just has my heart all a flutter. I do believe I will be staring at these images all day thanks to the full gallery, because I just can’t get enough of this beach chic celebration!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

For more lovely, check out this gorgeous couple fabulous film by Shooting Stars Weddings!

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From the Bride…Planning a wedding is an overwhelming endeavor, and I have to say I was a bit lost in the beginning. This may be ironic given that I work for an interior design firm and truly love what details can do, but I admittedly have a difficult time making decisions, especially for myself. Luckily, I think we were fortunate to quickly learn that an enormous amount of time and effort can be spent on the minute, when in reality, focusing on the big stuff first is probably your best use of time. The rest will fall into place.

Naturally, my husband and I wanted our wedding to primarily be about our love for each other, and if you work things out together, this will happen. But the day is also about bringing together the special people in each of your lives. There are not many times when you can look around and see the familiar faces from each part of your life, in one place at one time. Soak it up!

Obviously, the wedding starts with location. We knew that we were going to be married in a church, so a site for the reception was our focus. We both grew up on the water and love spending as much time as possible at the beach. The natural beauty and simple elegance of the ocean were elements which we appreciate and wanted to incorporate into our wedding. Thus we were excited to find the Allegria Hotel, located right on the ocean in Long Beach, NY. The hotel is modern in design, with clean and simple lines matching greatly with our own taste. Throw in a roof deck and pool area perfect for taking in the sunset at cocktail hour and enough rooms to host all of our guests from both near and far, and we knew had a great fit. From there, we began booking vendor by vendor, some of them very close friends, each helping us plan a day we will never forget.

We were truly blessed to have had so many amazing family members and friends get involved to help the day come together. From invitations and flowers, to gift bags and place cards, we had help every step of the way. In the end I think we were able to incorporate the advice from others, while ultimately showcasing our own style and taste. We used soft and subdued natural colors to create an inviting environment, keeping it simple, clean, and refined, yet elegant.

From sunrise to sunset, our wedding day could not have been more perfect. Someone once told me that everyone’s wedding is a unique representation of the couple’s personality. I could not agree more.

Wedding Photography: Tory Williams Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Shooting Stars Weddings / Floral Design: Nadine Partridge / Ceremony Location: St. Patrick’s Church / Reception Location: Allegria Hotel / Invitations: Michael & Jillian Sullivan / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna / Band: Scott Yanney, Faze 4 Orchestras

This fabulous engagement session shot by esther sun photography looks straight out of a romance movie and I’m coining it Stylish Love in the Big City. With the premise of a typical date in New York, Alex and Katherine hit up some of their favorite spots in the Big Apple. From their apartment to the park and right on into Billy’s Bakery, this shoot is full of sweet moments between a couple who look totally and completely natural and full of so much love. See it all here.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From esther sun photography…Alex and Katherine are two stylish New Yorkers. We were brainstorming for a big idea that will tie in with all their favorite spots in New York. On the morning of an engagement session we were having a breakfast together and thought it will be awesome to just shoot them having a “date” in New York. We started from their home in Tribeca to big spots in NY such as Central Park, Lincoln Center, Cobble Street in Tribeca, and their favorite bakery (Billy’s). 

Photography: esther sun photography / Alex’s Shoes: Ferragamo / Alex’s Attire: Emenegildo Zegna / Alex’s Watch: Rolex / Katherine’s Shoes: Chanel (flats) + Christian Louboutin (pumps)/ Katherine’s Attire: J Brand (jeans) + Helmut Lang (dress) / Katherine’s Blazer: Zara (blue) + Philip Lim (white) / Ring: DeBeers / Katherine’s Watch: Cartier / Necklace: SOKO

New York City, white peonies, Vera Wang gown.  Are you drooling yet?  Well, you will be after you see this Manhattan wedding by Karen Hill Photography.  It is urban elegance at its very best with the perfect blend of tradition, culture and modern merriment.  This fun-loving couple certainly knows how to throw a party complete with a reception flash mob, singing groom and photo booth!  See all the excitement and exquisite details in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Karen Hill Photography…Hajin and Michael were married on June 18, 2011 in NYC. They dressed at the Mark Hotel and met for their first look in the hotel penthouse! Afterwards we all walked over to Central Park for photos before heading to the First Presbyterian Church. A chorus of friends sang to them while family and friends looked on. The couple are Korean and towards the end of the ceremony incorporating a Korean tradition, they bowed to their parents. At the end of the ceremony, everyone, all 120 guests, gathered for a group shot on the alter.

The reception was held at the Harold Pratt House, a historic town house, (which is an amazing venue for a city wedding!). The couple danced their first dance before they and their guests headed up stairs for dinner. The bride changed into a party dress and all the guests moved into the library for a flash dance performance by the bride, groom and bridal party who danced to Summer Love from the movie soundtrack Grease, and cake cutting. The groom sang a song to the bride by Depeche Mode called, Somebody. Then the bride and groom sang together while the brides’ mother played piano. The celebration continued downstairs where guests were treated to a dessert bar (and a photobooth!), while the couple changed into their Korean ceremony costumes. This was an amazing day to share and photograph! 

Floral Design: Matthew Robbins / Location: The Pratt House / Hotel: The Mark Hotel / Wedding Photography: Karen Hill Photography / Wedding Planning: The Wedding Library / Caterer: Olivier Cheng Catering and Events / Wedding Videography: Better Productions LLC / Wedding Cake: Cheryl Kleinman Cakes / Photobooth: NYC Photobooth / Lighting + AV: Oxygen / Ceremony + Reception Music: Curtis Music and Entertainment / Piano Rental: Pro Piano / Hair + Make-up: Kakaboka / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Wedding Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Groom’s Attire: Prada / Bridesmaid Dresses: Dessy / Groomsmen Attire: Ralph Lauren

You’re pretty much guaranteed a fabulous Monday when you start the day off with a stunning soiree such as this one captured by Ulysses Photography.  In fact, with its breathtaking setting and darling DIY details, I predict an entire week of lovely thanks to this charming mountain affair.  Plus, when you read the gorgeous bride’s description of the day, I guarantee you’ll fall head over heels for this adorable duo.  (They are awesome.)  So, sit back, relax and spend some time in the gallery.  There is so much more pretty to be seen!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… What is it that makes a wedding truly epic? By end of our magical day, I can comfortably answer that question: focusing your energy on making your friends and family a part of what makes your love and lives together unique. For Greg and I that meant we needed to envelop our guests in crazy delicious food, potent, lip-smacking drinks, music that rips you out of your seat, and personal touches that evoke the true friendship and love we have for each other. Together we have traveled far and wide for amazing, farm-to-table cuisine, so for our wedding, Blue Mountain Bistro in Kingston, NY was an easy choice. They focus on local, seasonal ingredients and they even sourced a grass fed cow for us to offer as our beef option. Awesome. Our cake was an ice cream cake made by Jane’s Ice Cream in the Hudson Valley; it was the best cake anyone had tasted.  As many couples choose to do, we offered a signature drink at cocktail hour, which was a mint julep – highlighting our love for bourbon (you naughty, delicious beast you).

We sprinkled personal touches throughout the day. Greg and I each wrote our own vows and during the ceremony we passed our wedding bands through the crowd in a small, white satchel, so each loved one could silently bless our rings. Our rings were handmade by a young, Brooklynite jewelry designer, Salt and Stone. We designed our programs (Greg is a graphic designer – super helpful) and offered bubble soap to each guest at the ceremony. Our seating card table was spattered with family wedding pictures as far back as grandparents. Our tables were named after streets in Brooklyn that are important to us; we simply took pictures of the street signs and mounted them on cardstock. I’m a singer in a cover rock band named The Subscribers. My band played a set in the middle of the evening – I sang Walkin’ on Sunshine and there was confetti and oversized beach balls being tossed about everywhere.

To jog all my wonderful memories as I write this, I’m looking at the photography done by Ulysses Photography – a husband and wife team of titanic magnitude. Not only did Jenni and Ulysses capture every smile, every tear, every laugh and every rock and roll hand sign, they inexplicably captured the emotions and feelings of the day in artful candids that portray the life within each moment. I actually found the beautiful venue at which we were married, Onteora Mountain House, looking through wedding photography sites in the weeks after Greg and I were engaged and finding Ulysses’ beautiful photos of another wedding at this location – they were the first vendor I had to have and the rest easily fell into place shortly thereafter.

It’s relatively simple – your wedding is just one, enormous party and the more you’re able to inject facets of what make your relationship special, the more your guests will find themselves sinking deeply into a magical world of wedded bliss. My only complaint is that we couldn’t do it all over again the following weekend!

Wedding Photography: Ulysses Photography / Floral Design: Green Cottage / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Onteora Mountain House / Catering: Blue Mountain Bistro / Wedding Cake: Jane’s Ice Cream / Bride’s Shoes: Diane B / Wedding Dress: Christos / Bridesmaid Dresses: Watters & Watters / Hair + Make-up: Dorothy of Pretty Bird Bridal / Earrings: Ellie Rose Designs / Rings: Salt & Stone / Band: The Subscribers Foundation / DJ: 74 Events

Levi Stolove Photography is serving up a whole lotta lovely this Friday morning in the form of this contemporary, chic and style-filled soiree. With a glowing bride (who just happens to be an interior designer) and a dashing groom (who always is as sweet as can be – please read his proposal below, adorbs), every inch of this post is full of those sweet, meaningful details that turn us all here at SMP into complete wedding mush. We are loving the modern feel of this fête, so thank goodness there is more to see in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Levi Stolove Photography…Stephanie Ebeyer and Michael Verdirame wanted a wedding where most every detail of their day had a personal connection. They appreciate modern design and wanted that to be an underlying theme to their wedding.

The ceremony was very personal, the groom’s uncle officiated who is a Unitarian Universalist Minister. They had their 4 ½ year old miniature dachshund named Oscar, as their “ring bearer”. Both their wedding and groom’s cakes were gifts from friends. The wedding cake was a gift from a friend whose learned from John Barricelli the owner of the SoNo Baking Company and is also affiliated with Martha Stewart. They ceremony and reception where held at Steelcase in New York City at Columbus Circle on July 16th 2011. Stephanie is an interior designer in New York City and always admired Steelcase’s New York showroom. Steelcase’s branding colors are orange and charcoal gray so the couple added yellow and pink since it would be a summer time wedding, and worked every detail around these colors. The bridesmaids wore charcoal gray dresses, the bride wore gray shoes, orange/pink/yellow were incorporated into the save the dates and invitation design, favor bows and candies for favor boxes as well as labels for cookie bags, floral designs, pillows, groom/groomsmen’s/Dad’s ties and handkerchiefs, dog collar and wedding cake.

Another theme became modern dots, which developed from the save the date and invitation design. In addition to the stationery the modern dot theme appeared on the dog collar studs, aisle runner for ceremony made from circular off white carpet tiles by Flor, use of craspedia (aka “Billy Balls”) for floral designs, and accent pillow design.

The couple met 8 ½ years ago in New York City while Michael was conducting his medical internship. The couple has sustained a long distance relationship, medical school, residency and two moves. When Michael proposed to Stephanie, he adorned Oscar, their miniature dachshund in a custom collar with a tag that read “Will You Marry Us? Love, Mike & Oscar” and attached the engagement ring.

Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik (grey) + (white) Kate Spade / Suits: Charles Tyrwhitt / Ties + Handkerchiefs: Nicole Miller / Bridesmaid Dresses: Monique Lhuillier for Nordstrom / Dog Collar: Hot Dogs All Dressed / Jeweler: IBN New York / Wedding Dress Hanger: Wisconmon / Hair + Make-up: Karen Roy / Hair Flower: Tessa Kim / Day of Wedding Coordinator: Katie Berger of Sara Kate Events / Flowers: LeeAnne Rickey / Music: David Anthony Cruz + David Llewellyn / Wedding Photography: Levi Stolove Photography / Catering: Neuman’s Catering / Wedding Cake: SoNo Baking Company & Cafe / Groom’s Cake: Nina + Christian Giordano of Cake It Etc. (friends of Bride & Groom) / Invitations: Shine Wedding Invitations / Pillows: Design by Maid of Honor, printed by Spoonflower / Venue: Steelcase

Good morning, lovelies!  We’ve reached the end to yet another week of pretty here on SMP New York and we couldn’t think of a better way to kick off your weekend than with this uber-charming engagement session by Alison Mayfield Photography Studio.  Believe me, you won’t be able to stop smiling once you lay your eyes on this adorable duo, who decided to celebrate their impending nuptials with a photo shoot in their favorite city… and flew all of the way over from Indonesia for a three day e-session in NYC!  How absolutely fabulous is that?!?  Yes, these two lovebirds are just too cute for words and you can see every last fun-filled moment in the full gallery! 

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Alison Mayfield Photography Studio… Here is a “fab” pre-wedding/engagement shoot for you to see! I am currently based in Thailand and I had a cute couple from Indonesia who wanted to fly over to the USA and re-live some good times in their favorite city! Here in Asia, pre-wedding shoots are huge, they shoot for either one or two days (This one was 3!!) and I had never experienced this before.  (Coming from New York where our engagement shoots would last up to 3 hours, at the most!)  It was a very exciting experience for me!

Photography: Alison Mayfield Photography Studio

Oh my goodness, I am loving every last ounce of this pretty, pretty Glen Ridge affair captured by Brad Ross Photography.  From the stunning yellow and black color palette to the chic contemporary vibe to the succulent and billy ball-filled blooms, this is one VERY fabulous soiree.  Not to mention that ah.mazing sweets table.  Swoon.  Plus, with every moment designed to absolute perfection by Parker’s Petals, there are so many more lovely details to be seen.  Sounds like a great way to spend a Thursday to me!  Join me in the gallery for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… The wedding took place in the Women’s Club of Glen Ridge, built in 1925 by Henry S. Chapman as a memorial for his wife.  We thought the building and the romantic story behind it suited us perfectly!  The building is a beautiful weathered brick on the outside and furnished in antiques from the era in which it was built.  The look of the venue connected instantly with our dream wedding.

From the very beginning of our engagement we knew the type of wedding we wanted.  There were three things that had to be perfect- the food, the music, and the decor- and it was!  We decided on a sharp black and yellow palette, incorporating succulents where possible to add a little softness into the room. The focal point of the main room is a display of towering desserts.  Following in suit, we selected treats in the color scheme, adding some of our favorites like lemon heads in mini mason jars and black and white cookies- YUM!  To add a whimsical affect, many of the desserts were encased in glass domes.

As a gift for our guests, our event designer set up a little sweets buffet at the exit filled with cookies and candies. It was the perfect way to thank our friends and family for sharing one of the most special days of our lives with us.

Wedding Photography: Brad Ross Photography / Event + Floral Design: Parker’s Petals / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Women’s Club of Glen Ridge / Wedding Invitations: Bitty Invitations & Cards / Bride’s Shoes: Joan & David / Shoe Clips: Powder Blue Bijoux / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Groom’s Shoes: Frye / Band: NYC Swing / Desserts: Natale’s Bakery

We see so much incredible inspiration on a daily basis and I am always blown away by the talent and imagination that every vendor brings to the table.  The creative juices were definitely flowing for Ang Weddings and Events and Blush Designs during their urban photo shoot with a southwestern edge.  I love the structural succulent centerpieces and bouquets against an edgy, industrial backdrop.  Geometric paper goods brings a fresh and modern shimmer to the look and I especially love the bold bling for each guest to don for the event.  There are so many steal-worthy and unique details that you won’t want to miss.  See them all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Ang Weddings and Events…Fortune Favors the Brave’s jewelry collection is inspired by a rugged Americana and Western sensibility mixed with a touch of 1970s-era glamour.  The jewelry represents a bold and modern reinterpretation of these classic themes, amped up with contemporary proportions for a wearable take on storied, ethereal metalworking techniques.  We found this modern tribute to the southwest as the inspiration for our bridal shoot.  We came across Agave Restaurant in NYC’s West Village- smooth adobe walls, cow skulls, with a bar beneath a wooden beam ceiling – and knew we had found the perfect urban southwestern venue.

In celebration of same-sex marriage becoming legal in the state of New York this year, we decided to use a bride and a bride for our shoot.  Abbey (an artist) and Perkins (a writer) are a real couple, which is so evident in the chemistry they had on camera.  Fortune Favors the Brave provided the jewelry and styled the two brides. Perkins wore an Equipment blouse, vintage blazer and skinny pants from Isabel Marant. Gabriella New York Bridal Salon provided two dresses for Abbey.  For the wedding, Abbey wore Amy Kuschel’s Valencia – a gorgeous dress with architectural layering, rose garden lace, and pleated netting.  A sheer V neckline provided a delicate frame to the bold jewelry she wore. For the after party, Abbey slipped into a short sexy beaded fringe dress by Allison Parris with snakeskin booties by Loeffler Randall.

Make Merry used the jewelry as inspiration for the paper goods, incorporating many of the geometric designs into the invitation, escort cards, place cards and menus.  A deep gold liner was used for the invitation envelope and a silver liner for the response envelope.  A bronze cord tied the escort cards to a tall cactus at the restaurant entrance.  The tables were named for succulents – Blue Aloe and Dessert Rose. Blush Designs created a modern southwestern centerpiece in Agave’s private dining room. Succulents and various cactus plants with pops of red nested in black sand created a low runner down the table. Blush Designs custom draped the table with a light grey chevron fabric with coordinating napkins. A dark brown leather cord tied the menu and napkin together.

Abbey held a modern and romantic bouquet of Chocolate Cosmos, black Calla Lilies, and Succulents. The delicate petals of the Chocolate Cosmos softened the hard geometry of the Succulents and Callas. Perkins wore a boutonniere of a mini black Calla Lily and Succulent.

The cake was simple and elegant, again using the jewelry design as inspiration for the geometric patterns on both tiers, with green sugar succulents as a bright accent. The signature drink was a Smokin’ Hot Margarita – Jalapeno infused tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice and jalapenos.

The jewelry bar was set at Agave’s bar area, near the entrance of the restaurant. Guests were welcome to enjoy their drinks while adorning themselves with pieces from Fortune Favors the Brave’s collection. The jewelry was showcased on top of black sand in glass vessels, incorporating the jewelry into a landscape of succulents and cactus.

Photography: Ronnie Andren Photography + A. Park Photography / Event Design + Florals: Blush Designs / Event Planning: Ang Weddings and Events / Jewelry + Fashion Styling: Fortune Favors the Brave / Abbey’s Gowns: Amy Kuschel + Allison Parris via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Perkin’s Attire: Equipment (blouse), Isabel Marant (pants) + Vintage (blazer) / Abbey’s Shoes: Loeffler Randall / Perkin’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Paper Goods: Make Merry! / Cord + Leather Braid: M&J Trimmings / Fabric for Linen + Napkins: Mood Fabrics / Cake: Sun Jung for Blush Designs / Cake Stand + Server: Wedgewood / Venue: Agave / Hair: The Beauty Collective / Make-up: CLM Makeup / Couple: Abbey Golden + Kate Perkins