New York Weddings

It really doesn’t get any more timeless and elegant than this gorgeous black and white New York City soirée. This wedding is the perfect study in NYC, from the letterpress invites featuring the couple’s favorite skyline to the antique checker cab that whisked them away, to the votive candles that hung overhead as guests danced the night away. CLY Creation was on hand to capture all the classic elements that made this day the undeniable perfection that it is and lucky for us, there’s so much more in the gallery!

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From the Bride…Matthew and I are both somewhat old souls, so we wanted a wedding that would be timeless, classic, and elegant. We had met and played out our love story in New York, and thus it was the natural place to be married.  In planning our wedding, we wanted to bring a New York City feel without going overboard with it. We were thinking a sophisticated black and white color scheme, black tie, lots of Sinatra. Our letterpressed invitations featured an illustration of the New York City skyline that had been drawn for us by Matthew’s sister. We wanted to keep the main invitation simple so we chose black script on white paper and incorporated the skyline drawing by printing it faintly on a vellum overlay.  We used the same skyline illustration on our out-of-town bags, which were filled with some of our favorite NYC things (like black and white cookies), as well as some classics (I “heart” NY T-shirts).

Our wedding day transportation was an antique Checker Cab, which was fitting since a taxi had played an important part in the story of how we first met. We were introduced by a mutual friend at a New Year’s Eve party in 2006 and hit it off instantly. Our goodbyes were cut short though when I spied a taxi across the street, which I ran to catch since finding an empty taxi in New York City on New Year’s Eve is a bit like winning the lottery.  Luckily, our friend gave Matthew my phone number and he called the next day. The rest was history.

We feel very fortunate to have been married at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Chelsea, which holds a special place in our hearts since it is where we attended mass together weekly.  It is a wonderfully welcoming church with an impressive community service portfolio.  It also happens to be gorgeous, which was a big bonus!

Both Matthew and I love eating, so food played a big part in our wedding day. We took pictures at the Shake Shack, which is a NYC institution in Madison Square Park famous for its fantastic hamburgers and notorious for its long lines. Showing up in a wedding dress was a blast –everyone let us cut the line, and the employees gave us free food and a small bottle of Prosecco!  At the reception we went more upscale, with a sit down multi-course dinner and intermezzos butlered to guests on the dance floor. We lightened things up a bit at the end of the night with a gourmet chocolate bar with goodies for our guests to take home (the chocolate covered bacon was the biggest crowd pleaser!)

There were so many little details that went into the wedding – my grandmother’s rosary that I carried with my bouquet, the handkerchief wrapped around my bouquet that had been Matthew’s Christening bonnet as an infant, the DIY signs for our card table, the votive candles hung over the dance floor that twinkled over our heads all night.  We had a lot of fun with all of the planning and could not have asked for a more perfect day.

Wedding Photography: CLY Creation / Floral Design: Kiriba of Atlas Floral Decorators / Ceremony Location: The Church of St. Francis Xavier / Reception Location: The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers / Invitations: William Arthur + Lion in the Sun / Vintage Taxi: FilmCars / Bride’s Shoes: Calvin Klein / Wedding Dress: Amsale / Jewelry: Firenze Jewels / Hair: Daleesa Weary / Make-up: Ellen B. of Ellen B. Beauty / Bridesmaid Dresses: White House Black Market

Filled with loads of traditional touches yet with this couple’s own fabulous spin, this wedding held at the library of the New York Academy of Medicine captured by Karin VonVoigtlander is breath of fresh winter air. With Brilliant Event Planning at the helm, the entire evening went off without a hitch all while being perfectly pretty. What more can you ask for? There is more of this gorgeous library fête in the full gallery of images, so don’t forget to stop on by!

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From the Groom…Dina’s from California and I’m from Canada, so I had the bright ideato take her ice-skating on our first date.  She survived, time passed,and we decided to get married.  (She said yes even though my proposal was a touch underwhelming.  I had slaved in the kitchen all-day preparing a romantic dinner, but when she got home from work she was in a rush to get some errands done.  I told her to slow down, because we were going to have a lovely dinner.  She asked why, so I told her,”Because we’re getting engaged tonight!”)

In fact, my California girl turned out to like cold weather so much, we opted for a February wedding.  As it happens, the NYAM is the perfect winter-time venue -something about libraries and books seems both grand and cozy.  It wasalso the perfect venue for us because I’m an academic, and I’ve spent lots of time in libraries.  Our families are also both full of academics and doctors, so the library of the Academy of Medicine felt right. Maybe even more importantly, Dina is a very elegant lady, and there’s nothing more elegant than a huge, wood paneled, book lined,reading room with tapestries, chandeliers, and huge windows overlooking Central Park.  Dina had the stroke of genius to design ourescort cards as mock due-date slips like the ones in the backs oflibrary books (her mother generously printed and cut every last one ofthem herself!).  The cards were a real crowd favorite, and put a personal touch on our library theme.  I also loved the fact that the library checkout counter was our bar!

From Dina, the Bride:  With my family on the other coast and Jacob’s up north, I knew we couldn’t plan the wedding without help.  Our burden was lightened when we found Sarah Pease of Brilliant Event Planning.   She used her creativity to give us ideas when we needed them and to build on our own ideas; her design was flawless.  She worked within our budget and our 4.5 month timeframe.  And on the day of, every thing went off without a hitch; there were no crises, no panics, nothing. And even if there were, we never would have known about them, because Sarah and her team took care of everything from the very beginning to the very, very end.  Among other things, she helped us find a venue that appealed to us and could handle all of the elements of our wedding in one place – the tisches (both bride’s and groom’s), thebedeken (veiling), the ceremony and, of course, the party – the NewYork Academy of Medicine.  Once we found the venue, things started falling into place.

My favorite part of the wedding was the ceremony itself.  Jacob is athorough traditionalist and I’m a traditionalist who thinks tradition was meant to be played with. So we ended up with a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony with a few twists.

Wedding Photography: Karin VonVoigtlander / Floral Design: Blossom & Branch / Event Design + Planning: Brilliant Event Planning / Location: New York Academy of Medicine / Catering: Sterling Affair / Kosher Catering: Esprit Events / Hair: Stacy Pitt / Make-up: Sally Duvall / Band: Simcha All Stars

I am a lover of all things rustic chic, so when this charming Hudson Valley affair popped up on my computer screen, I could barely contain my glee.  Because not only is this lovely fête boasting some serious rustic goodness (along with darling DIY details and a cute as can be yellow and blue color scheme), but the oh-so-fabulous reception was all held in one uber-gorgeous barn.  Awesome.  And with Erik Maziarz of Carla Ten Eyck on hand to capture all of the lovely, it means and entire day of pretty for you and me.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

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From Erik Maziarz for Carla Ten Eyck… Grace and Ben’s New York wedding took place in the historic Hudson Valley hamlet of High Falls. Country charm was the predominant theme with a historic bed and breakfast, a quaint reformed church, a rustic barn, and even an old airfield all serving as backdrops for this gorgeous country wedding. A fun-loving couple, blue skies and tons of DIY details were the icing on the cake!

Wedding Photography: Erik Maziarz for Carla Ten Eyck / Floral Design: Dennis of The Green Cottage / Wedding Ceremony Location: Clove Chapel / Wedding Reception Location: Shadow Lawn / Catering: Main Course Catering / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Officiant: Rev. Letitia Smith / DJ: Bud Maltin Metropolitan Music

Hello fabulous fête! This wedding by Fede Photography just looks like one good time wrapped up in a pretty package. From having the pups in the ceremony to the fabulous pops of color courtesy of the balloons and bridesmaid dresses to those right off the runway shoes (swoon!), it’s all enough to make you a bit giddy this morning. So skip on over to the full gallery for even more!

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From the Bride…We wanted our wedding to be a fun, colorful and casual affair where everyone would have a great time. We knew we wanted it to be outside, with a beautiful view and a rustic setting, so when we found Mount Gulian Historic Site, in Beacon, NY, we knew that was the place.

The invitations, programs and all other printed materials were created by my husband and I, who are both graphic designers and art teachers. We were inspired by the Dada art movement, which we both love.

I burst into tears when I saw the flower arrangements for the first time.  They were just what I wanted, and I realized then that the day was going to be perfect. The balloons really set the scene, with color and whimsy, just what we wanted. The little details really made the day for us.  Take the time to make sure and include special things that make you happy.

Wedding Photography: Fede Photography / Floral Design: Nicole Moral of Seed to Fruit / Hair + Make-up: Beauty by Nicole / Bridal Gown + Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Caterer: Bon Soir Caterers / Cupcakes: Yummee Cupcakes Cafe / Venue: Mount Gulian Historic Site

This is so the type of wedding that makes you feel super pretty and so grateful to be on the invite list when you arrive. And it just so happens that looking at these gorgeous images by Amy Newman Photography totally has the same effect on all of us here at SMP. The beyond beautiful blooms by Denise Fasanello Floral Design set the stage for this romantic, lavender filled fete. Click here for even more!

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From Denise Fasanello Floral Design…A picture perfect setting in New York’s Hudson Valley combined with sublime golden light made for a dream come true day. The objective was to create a relaxed yet elegant outdoor tent wedding for Alix and Ashley. They requested no real color scheme except to include lavender which is a nod to Alix’s French roots.  I grabbed my collection of vintage transferware, glass bottles and weathered wooden boxes and went to town. I remember this day so fondly – fussing over the still life on the escort table, Alix’s ethereal white dress, Ashley’s ease and charming manner throughout the set up and talking at length with the father of the bride about my beloved Brooklyn. I am a lucky lady to be able to contribute to such happy moments in people’s lives.

Venue: Private Residence / Caterer: Fresh Company / Floral Design: Denise Fasanello Floral Design / Wedding Photography: Amy Newman Photography

It doesn’t get more glamorous than this, and if it does, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. This NYC engagement shoot by Shira Weinberger is take your breath away gorgeous. With the juxtaposition of the bride-to-be’s (to die for) Oscar de la Renta dress and the industrial city feel – you can just feel the romance in each picture perfect image. Once you had a chance to catch your breath from all the pretty, head on over to the gallery of gorgeous for even more!

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From Shira Weinberger…Suzanne and James are a super elegant couple. For the shoot Suzanne decided to wear an Oscar de la Renta beautiful dress with matching shoes and a Jimmy Choo purse. She is a fashion editor for Above Magazine and a well published freelance writer. James is currently a very high end event planner who hails from Sydney, where I learned during the shoot he was a popular child star in a lot of Australian commercials. As such, they were both a delight for the camera and intuitively knew how to pose for pictures and embrace the moment and each other.

I pieced together only tidbits of their whirlwind romance, but it was one that found Suzanne racing off to Australia to be with James when he could no longer remain in the States, as well as one of James racing back to the States to build his new life with Suzanne here.

And the mesmerizing setting was perfect for their portrait session- an abandoned magical palace in Manhattan- that will very soon be converted to a luxury hotel. It is a building that I had walked past numerous times without ever venturing into or wondering what was inside amidst its construction, work permit signs, and padlocked door. It is a reminder that in life and love, some of the most beautiful things sit right in front of our noses, if only we care to open the door and explore.

Photography: Shira Weinberger / Dress: Oscar de la Renta / Purse: Jimmy Choo / Suit: Etro

When I first laid my eyes on the simple black and white invite and read the words “live jazz and burlesque,” I knew this was going to be one fabulous fete. And then I saw the gorgeous images from Lilian Haidar, and I was immediately in awe and totally jealous of every single person that was invited to this intimate, rooftop celebration. The dress, the flowers, and the jazz all add up to one stylish and romantic day. Click here for even more.

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From the Bride…Dominic and Anjanette attended grammar school together; Dominic was in 7th grade and Anjanette was in 8th! We lost touch for years after that until we ran into each other while attending Parsons School of Design in New York. We had no idea the other was there! We lost touch again after we graduated and ran into each other six years ago just walking on the street in NYC, exchanged numbers, made plans and had dinner…and of course lost touch again!! Note of course that all these times we were both in other relationships and just considered each other friends. And then we reconnected in February 2011 when “out of nowhere” Dominic e-mailed Anjanette an invite to attend his album release party – she wasn’t going to be in town, so we planned dinner to catch up! In our email exchange we found out that both of us were single this time (because funny enough, we ended up making plans on February 14th and we didn’t even realize it) and the rest is history – he proposed in March! The universe kept bringing us together and we believe it’s always been our destiny since 7th grade -and now just happened to be the perfect timing for us. We’ve waited 40 years for our love and we tell you it is worth the wait -when you find this you realize why all those poems were written and all those song have been sung – we truly wish the whole world this kind of love!!

Anjanette wore a custom gown designed by her friend, Carmen Marc Valvo. It was a silver micro-pleated silk ribbon gown from his couture collection featuring cascading pleated ribbons each individually embroidered onto the gown; not at all a traditional bridal gown. She paired it with sexy, silver strappy heels from Jimmy Choo and a purple ribbon sash.

Since Anjanette is the President & Creative Director of luxury jewelry brand Diamond in the Rough, jewelry was a very important part of her big day. Dominic designed her rough diamond engagement ring and “FPO” bracelet (“For Position Only” in the design world). As you can imagine, designing an engagement ring for a jewelry designer (who has an engagement ring collection herself) can be a daunting task which required time and proper planning. That being said, when Dominic (who is a designer and co-owner of the branding agency OFFICELAB) proposed, he had a henna tattoo with the letters “FPO” as a placeholder. Once the actual ring arrived, we had a commemorative bracelet made which Anjanette wore to the wedding. Since Anjanette’s dress was so intricate, she wanted to keep her other jewelry simple. She chose small champagne bubbles drop earrings from Diamond in the Rough to complete her look and not detract from her dress or glowing face.

We were married by a friend (who was recently ordained especially for this event) at 620 Loft & Garden on a beautiful Saturday afternoon amongst our closest friends and family. The space was so beautiful in its own right so we wanted to only add simply touches like a circle of chairs joined by a garland made of white orchids. St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Saks Fifth Avenue both acted as amazing backdrops for our ceremony.  We also incorporated fabric parasols which we laced with special purple ribbon of varying shades from M&J trimming matching Anjanette’s sash.

Our intimate reception was held at Duane Park, a burlesque jazz club and restaurant in Tribeca with a 1920’s vibe. We had visited the restaurant on a date prior to getting engaged so it had special significance. When we thought about an interesting New York restaurant to have our reception at, which was really an intimate dinner party, this felt just right. Dominic being a musician, we had a Jazz trio play during both our cocktail hour and during our celebration. Fabulous burlesque dancers entertained guests, keeping to our theme of “Sexy Beautiful.”

In between the two, we took a respite and had lunch at Beauty & Essex where we recently returned to celebrate my birthday. The venue is unassuming; it appears to onlookers to merely be a pawn shop, but as you enter, you are swept away through a secret door and into a magnificent multi-level restaurant with a real old-world feel….the perfect mid-day escape! Long story short…it was a perfect day and the perfect way to start our lives together!

Wedding Photography: Lilian Haidar / Floral Design: Jodie Zimmerman Designs, Inc. / Ceremony Location: 620 Loft & Garden / Reception Location: Duane Park / Invitations: Paperless Post / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Carmen Marc Valvo / Bride’s Jewelry (engagement ring, wedding band, bracelet + earrings): Diamond in the Rough / Groom’s Wedding Band: Anne Sportun / Hair: Patrick Melville / Make-up: DEX New York

Happy Thanksgiving, SMP New York! While all of you are busy whipping together mashed potatoes and pumpkin pies, I am drooling over this gorgeous vineyard wedding and totally slacking on my turkey day obligations of olive trays and green bean casserole…but I think everyone will thank me because this, my friends, is one fabulous fete! With Quatre Coeur on floral design and Bright Bird Photography behind the lens, you really have so much to be thankful for. Click here for even more!

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From Quatre Coeur…Ashley and Jordan were married in June at a family owned vineyard in Mattituck, Long Island. Every detail of their wedding day was perfect for an outdoor summer wedding– from the simple and elegant chuppah Ashley’s father built in a near by field with the vineyard as the backdrop, to the stunning Sperry tent where guest enjoyed dinner and dancing.

Ashley wanted an inviting, casual and elegant feel for her wedding with a mix of modern and vintage elements. For the flowers, we arranged bunches of garden roses and peony in bright coral, fuchsia and peach shades with fun accents like poppy pods and lambs ear. The arrangements were styled down long tables with mercury glass votives for a touch of vintage romance. Antique lanterns and beach glass from Ashley’s father were incorporated with the seating card floral decor to make a beautiful display.

Bright Bird Photography captured the mood of the day and all of the unique details with sweet images that feel timeless and contemporary.

Wedding Photography: Bright Bird Photography / Floral Design: Quatre Coeur / Caterer: Sydney’s / Ceremony Location: Private Residence / Reception Location: The Barns at Vineyard’s Edge / Wedding Dress: Michelle NY / Calligraphy: Kendall Rose Calligraphy / Music: AE / Pies: Briermere Farms / Hair + Make-up: Special Effects Salon & Spa / Tent: Sperry Tent

This is one cool-headed, quick-thinking couple.  Instead of letting the threat of Hurrican Irene put a damper on their New York City wedding day plans they made some speedy decisions, an impressive turn around and transformed what was supposed to be their rehearsal dinner into a magical, memorable wedding.  I am thoroughly impressed with how much they managed to pull of in a matter of a few hours but mostly with their totally awesome love for each other that is evident throughout this film by Ryan & Heidi Photo + Cinema.

From Ryan & Heidi Photo + Cinema…We recently filmed a wedding in New York City. It was supposed to be on the day Hurricane Irene was going to hit us. So, they were forced to have the ceremony a day early at the rehearsal dinner! They had family coming from Texas and India!!

Wedding Cinematography: Ryan & Heidi Photo + Cinema / Location: The Chinese Brasserie

This Long Island wedding was so perfect, it’s hard to believe this couple ever could have had something not so wonderful happen along the way (more on that below). I mean, the vineyard setting, with grapes hanging from the trees, the delish and I mean DELISH looking menu – courtesy of Marcey Brownstein Catering & Events, the beautiful photos from Doug McGoldrick (which they won due to their interesting back story – again more below), it’s all amazing. Amazing, amazing. Click here to check out the gallery of images, and then make sure to read what Doug had to say about these two special people and their big day!

And now for a little more of this fabulous affair from Love In Progress…

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From Doug McGoldrick … This was, the wedding to end all weddings. Friday night, a welcome party at a gallery, in Green Point, Long Island, Saturday a beach cook out party, and then Sunday an amazing wedding at the Bedel vineyard. Tons of fantastic details, lots of great light, and wonderful people. Some amazing vendors put together an amazing event. Lisa and Sam (the bride and groom) where the big winners in my destination wedding photography contest, they have a wonderful back story.

Definitely, definitely read their back story. It’s completely unbelievable.

Day of Coordination: Cloud Nove Events / Hair & Makeup: Amanda, Heather’s Salon / Ladies’ Lunch Catering: The Market / Limo: Rose Limo / Photography: Doug McGoldrick & Ariane Hunter / Videography: Love In Progress / Floral and Event Designer: Zhana Marcelin / Caterer: Leslie Russell of Marcey Brownstein Catering & Event / Cake & Desserts: mali b sweets / Transportation: North Fork Trolley & Sunrise Minivan / Officiant: Rabbi Darcie Crystal / Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Musicians: Carte Blanche / Tent: American Tent Company / Reception Entertainment: Cafe Wha band leader Adam Mason / Security and Valet: Platinum Executive Security / Venue: Bedell

I often forget just how much I adore the color blue… that is, until I see it all wrapped up in a fabulous soiree such as this one by the always amazing Turn Loose The Art.  Boasting the prettiest of blue hues (plus hints of gorgeous purple for good measure) and a stunning location overlooking the Long Island Sound, these Bayville nuptials are nothing short of spectacular.  Plus, when I tell you this entire affair was planned in just three short months, you’ll be picking your jaws right up off the floor.  Yep, I suggest you prepare yourselves for a whole lot of pretty and join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… I wasn’t one of those women who had their perfect wedding already planned in her head so, needless to say, I was at a loss after Rob proposed.  When Rob and I started planning our wedding, we knew we didn’t want to spend endless months obsessing over it.  We agreed to move forward with things that felt like “us.”  After looking into different venues and locations we decided that The Crescent Beach Club was the best fit.  Although we were originally dead set against a catering hall, The Crescent Beach Club had a relaxed yet elegant vibe that we were immediately drawn to.  We especially loved the idea that our cocktail hour would be on the beach overlooking the Long Island Sound. The beach has significance to us as a couple so it made sense that it be a part of the wedding.

When a Saturday night in June opened up at Crescent Beach we couldn’t pass it up.  We decided to dive right in to wedding planning craziness.  We booked in March which meant we had three months to do everything. We didn’t choose colors or have a particular theme or motif in mind when we started planning.  Not knowing where to begin, we tried to narrow our focus to the necessities of any great party: good food, good music and a beautiful setting.  We made a second visit to the Crescent Beach for a tasting and the food was outstanding! We appreciated the setting even more this time so we were ready to think about music.

Rob and I are passionate about music and listen to everything from indie rock to old school hip hop.  We were getting discouraged after meeting with a couple of DJ’s that were not at all what we had in mind. Rob and I wanted to create a cocktail party type atmosphere for our guests so that everyone could mingle and talk without having to shout over the music.  When we met Drew Burrows of Beat Train Productions, we knew we had our DJ.  We shared similar tastes in music and Drew’s understated style was exactly what we were looking for.

Hiring an amazing photographer was also very important to me.  I wanted to see timeless, natural images when I looked at my wedding album.  I knew we had to be totally comfortable with whoever was with us that day.  Joe and Britney from Turn Loose the Art were the first photographers we met and we immediately felt a genuine connection with them.  From the start they were incredibly warm, responsive and professional.  They showed us samples of their work and we were amazed… we had our photographer.

Our day started at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church in Massapequa Park.  We had a traditional Catholic ceremony to honor our parents.  I can’t describe the feeling of looking at Rob and my family and friends in this magnificent church and to know our union is fully supported by everyone.  I was overwhelmed with joy. A wonderful addition to our day was to have Father Thomas Ahern marry us.  Father Tom married Rob’s brother and cousin and has performed other ceremonies for my husband’s family in the past. His presence made the ceremony so touching and personal.

After our ceremony, we went to the Massapequa Park Preserve to take pictures.  Our photographers, Joe and Britney, not only kept the day moving smoothly but they kept us laughing, relaxed and in the moment. It was a calming time during a crazy, hectic day.  It gave us time alone to enjoy our newly married status. We were so comfortable with Joe and Britney that it did not feel like a “photo shoot.”  I think they got some of the most amazing, natural shots of the day while we were in the preserve.

The reception turned out to be all we had hoped for and more.  Everything (including the amazing weather) came together exactly the way we envisioned.  Our vendors helped make the day so memorable and we truly had a blast!  Throughout our planning, whenever we were getting stressed out, I reminded myself that we would be surrounded by people who loved and that is what would make the day perfect…and it was!  It was the happiest day of my life.

Wedding Photography: Turn Loose The Art / Wedding Venue: Crescent Beach Club / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren / Entertainment: Drew Burrows of Beat Train Productions / Floral Design: Flowers by Burton

A wedding like this is so easy to love. It’s chic and glamorous in the most perfect of New York ways and a venue like the Essex House adds a dash of grander that kind of leaves a blogger breathless. James Abel Events whipped up about a million beautiful details and 4Eyes Photography snapped about a million beautiful images. That’s a whole lot of beautiful and we haven’t even mentioned the crazy gorgeous that is the Bride’s Pnina Tornai dress. Bellissima! See it all here.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From 4Eyes Photography…Phil has always made an effort to make Valentines Day a very special day.  Starting in 2008, Phil took Kelly out to a fantastic dinner in NYC and reserved a hotel suite full of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries for after dinner.  In 2009, the couple went to Paris, and had the most wonderful and romantic mini vacation.  Then in 2010, the Friday before Valentine’s Day, Phil told Kelly they were going to dinner, but first they would grab drinks at a bar near the restaurant.  When they walked in, Kelly was both annoyed and surprised.  This was not the intimate lounge Phil described, but rather a dive bar near Union Square—one that she realized she had been to before.  This was indeed the spot that Phil had first asked Kelly to “go steady” on a random Wednesday night in New York City.  Phil acted totally surprised, but equally annoyed by the alleged poor recommendation of  a co-worker.  He had Kelly completely fooled that he did not remember this unexpectedly significant place.  When Phil insisted they try the upstairs bar for a better scene, Kelly was skeptical.  As they climbed the stairs however, Kelly was greeted with a  beautiful display of roses and champagne.  Kelly gasped as she realized Phil did remember this place!  Before she could say a word, Phil was down on one knee, and Kelly could barely make out the word yes through her excitement and tears.  What followed was a whirlwind of limos, dinner, and celebrating with family.  The evening could not have been more special!

Choosing the venue is often  the first and arguably the biggest decision in wedding planning, but they were lucky  because as soon as they walked into the Essex House, with its magnificent painted murals, sky high ceilings, and glamorous chandeliers, the decision was an easy one!  They had lived near the Essex House for nearly 3 years after graduating from Cornell, and so the area, including Central Park. Columbus Circle and Fifth Avenue, had a special significance for the couple. Upon meeting with Jason Kwintner at the Essex House, Kelly easily pictured herself strolling down Central Park South in a fabulous wedding gown, elegantly posing with her new hubby while leaning on a statue in Columbus Circle, and then parading into the magnificent ballroom at the Essex House to celebrate their marriage with all of their family and friends.  And one year later they did just that!

From the Bride…I don’t pretend to know the first thing about flowers, decorating or wedding styles.  And here is where we were lucky enough to work with James Abel of James Abel Events.  All I did was give James adjectives – “formal”  ” elegant”  “glamorous ” “dramatic” – to name a few.  And boy did James deliver!  He understood exactly what I was looking for, guiding me where I needed to make decisions and taking the reigns when I confessed ignorance.  I’m not sure how someone in the industry might describe my wedding style, but I think the pictures speak for themselves…this was one fabulous event!

My husband is Jewish and I am Catholic, and it was a big deal to us to equally incorporate and feature both religions in our ceremony.  We had both a Priest and a Rabbi marry us, and incorporated elements of both traditions, as well as adding some practices of our own, including the reading of notes written to each other months before the wedding.  The ceremony then became a celebration of both of our religious traditions, as well as the personal commitment and love we share with each other.  It was so special, and had all 200 of our family and friends both laughing and crying throughout the ceremony .

I have many favorite moments! The entire day was amazing and  every moment was more special and unforgettable than the next!  I can think of some outstanding moments — the arrival of my bridesmaids to my hotel suite at the Essex House in the morning filling the room with excitement (and nervousness!), painstakingly tying the strings to my amazing Pnina Tornai corset dress, strutting down Central Park South with my sister carrying my train (very Pippa Middleton!), and that doesn’t even get us to the ceremony or reception!  My favorite pictures are those of me and my new hubby in Central Park and Columbus Circle. Other amazing moments include doing the Horah — a first for me and my family but a wonderful and fun tradition! — tearing up during my Dad’s speech, Phil getting a cold, scented towel to cool down after dancing  too much, a dear friend whispering in my ear that the wedding was so “us.”  And likely a hundred others that still occasionally pop in my head in the middle of a work day or while running on a treadmill, and that always make me smile.

Wedding Photography: 4Eyes Photography / Wedding Videography: Bryan Sarkinen / Planning, Event + Floral Design: James Abel Events / Invitation Design: James Abel Events / Venue, Cake + Desserts: Essex House / Wedding Gown: Pnina Tornai / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jim Hjelm / Lighting: Stortz Lighting

What do you get when you have a beautiful east coast bride inspired by cool, California style? Well after spending a lot of QT with this lovely wedding by Kate Connolly Photography, it appears you get beachy chic perfection. From the cool mint hues to the all the DIY details the bride tackled on her own (all the paper goods were handcrafted with love by the pretty lady in white!), I must say it all feels like a refreshing breath of sweet salt air. Click here for even more seaside pretty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

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From the Bride…After a Christmas morning engagement in 2009 (with a diamond passed down through four generations), I fully embraced bride-to-be status.  Planning our wedding became my favorite hobby, and I eagerly checked blogs such as Style Me Pretty everyday.  (Favorite SMP wedding still being this Santa Monica Wedding).  While I would have loved a California wedding, I am a Jersey girl, and thus we began the wedding process by searching our home state for the perfect venue.

After visiting about thirty different not-quite-right venues, we fell for The Stateroom in Long Beach Island.  Finally we found a place that we both loved and could truly envision ourselves celebrating the night away with our closest friends and family!  We pictured a beach style wedding, and LBI fit the bill.  An 18-mile long island along the Atlantic Ocean, LBI is a truly charming Jersey Shore community.  The Stateroom has a Tommy Bahama style area reserved for cocktail hour, while upstairs the elegant ballroom has large windows that offer spectacular views of the bay.  Both Matt and I are Roman Catholic, so we chose to have the ceremony in the nearby church, where Matt’s mom actually worked when she was a newlywed living in Long Beach Island. With parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other couples we admire all with June anniversaries, we chose June 25th as our wedding date.

The inspiration for our wedding was casual seaside elegance, and the fresh mint color of the J.Crew bridesmaids dresses guided the rest of the wedding selection process.  I pictured aqua mason jars and mercury glass vases filled with an assortment of peonies, garden roses, astilbe, lavender, dahlias, and scabiosa.  During our engagement I collected lanterns for the reception tables.  Etsy was amazing for finding many items!  Perfect ties for Matt and the groomsmen, striped straws for our signature cocktails, a personalized wooden sign to greet guests, shells to hold our table numbers, and so much more.  And, whatever I couldn’t find, I made on my own (programs, table numbers, menu, candy bags, etc.)

In the end it was just a beautiful day that really was over too fast.  I spent the morning getting ready with my best friends and was so glad to be with them, chatting, laughing and anticipating all that was to follow.  The ceremony was emotional and meaningful, followed by a fun trolley ride and happy moments taking pictures on the beach with my husband and our bridal party!  We found a perfect blue wall behind Ron Jon Surf Shop on our way to cocktail hour, and some of my favorite shots from the day happened there.  At the reception, toasts from our siblings and college roommates were wonderfully kind and funny.  We danced our first dance as husband and wife to Van Morrison’s “Steal My Heart Away.”

Overall, I think what stands out most is the love Matt and I felt from every single person there celebrating with us.  For months prior, I had considered every detail, but on our wedding day those same details were overshadowed by a tremendous sense of joy.  How lucky I was to be marrying Matt, and to do so surrounded by the most important people in our lives!  We left that night on cloud nine.  I am still filled with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for our family, friends and wedding vendors who together made it the most amazing day we could have ever asked for.

Wedding Photography: Kate Connolly Photography / Music + Cinematography: Off Beet Productions / Floral Design: Michele Tallent & Co. / Hair + Make-up: Aqua Bleu Salon / Ceremony Location: Saint Francis of Assisi Church / Reception Location: The Stateroom / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet / Bridesmaid Dress: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Necklace: Anthropologie / Groom + Groomsmen Attire: J.Crew / Groom’s Tie: Hand Made by Emy / Groomsmen Tie: Tux & Tulle / Trolley: Trolley Tours / Bridesmaid Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar Loungerie / Wooden Wedding Sign: Craft Mart Texas / Chair Signs: Lil Missy / Seashell Table Number Holders: Gallery360 / Lanterns: Pottery Barn, Target, Ikea + More / Mercury Glass: Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, Target + More / Mason Jars: Etsy + eBay / Programs, Table Numbers, Menu, Candy Bags, Straw tags, Banner, etc.: The Bride

This gorgeous North Fork wedding by Adam Piorkowski might have fallen on one unusually chilly June day, but a little rain and cold wasn’t about to stop this adorable bride and groom from having the time of their lives.  Nope, they made sure to make the most of it by grabbing some cute as can be umbrellas and heading out into the drizzle for some very fabulous photos ops.  Yep, how awesome are they?!?  And with a wedding filled to the brim with gorgeous DIY details, an all-white color palette and the sweetest of nautical touches, you won’t be able to help but love them even more.  Click here for all of the pretty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… I knew in planning our wedding that we really wanted to capture the essence of the North Fork since that is where we grew up and spend most of our weekends now.  We chose a venue located on the Peconic Bay so people could enjoy the water view and the natural beauty of Southold. Founders Landing, the venue, is a very simple gray building that only fits about 125 people but we loved everything about it!  The building is basically a blank canvas so with the help of my mom, Gerard’s mom and especially his aunt Kathleen, we created a masterpiece!

I wanted everything to be really simple and all white.  For the tables we decided to cover them with different size mason jars filled with votives and hydrgangeas.  I also took a page out of the SMP book and had a man in Mystic, Conneticut create the nautical rope table card holders I had seen at a previous wedding.  I had discussed all of the flower details with our awesome florist Becky Jens but didn’t see the finished product until after the ceremony when I walked into the reception.  I was IN LOVE!  Becky chose the most beautiful full ivory hydrangeas, they looked absolutely gorgeous.  Between the hydrangeas and the candles, the room had a very romantic cozy feel.

Gerard’s Aunt Kathleen handled many of the details around the room.  She covered the walls with one of our favorite poems, “I carry your heart with me” by e.e. cummings.  Each frame had a different verse of the poem.  I also wanted to make sure our parents’ and grandparents’ wedding photos were included in our day so Kath made this beautiful frame out of beachwood, painted it gold and placed black and white photos of all the weddings before us.  The best part was it sat atop a mantle on a fireplace that said, “Gift of the Southold Players,  XMAS 1923” which I thought was really neat.  Instead of a guest book we found these penguin postcards with vintage book covers of all the books they published and had everyone write us a special note.  Kath situated them in a glass bowl filled with sand.

For the food we wanted to make sure it had a very local, seaside feel.  We chose a raw bar as part of the appetizers and a lobster-bake for our main entree.  Matt Kar, our chef, was amazing!  He knew the exact menu we were going for and everything was delicious.  Our cake was done by Miche Bacher of Sacred Sweets.  Gerard and I had met with her to choose a cake and went through all of her beautiful examples.  We thought we had chosen one and then I spotted a magazine cut out from a Martha Stewart Living article she had just been in and I said – THAT ONE!  It was so beautiful and romantic.  It was three tiers with the top tier sitting upon a delicate little cake stand and this glorious fluffy buttercream icing.  Finally she added a beautiful peony on top, which was the very same flower as my and my bridesmaids bouquet.

Of course, we wouldn’t have been able to capture any of this without our amazing photographer and friend, Adam. We really wanted a photographer that knew us and could translate our essence into photographs.  Adam did exactly that!  The day was a very cold, cloudy, blustery, rainy day in June – hence the umbrellas.  But it made for awesome photographs!  My dreams of everyone roaming the grass down near the beach were squashed but the energy inside that little gray building was palpable.  Adam was with us from start to finish and he put his heart and soul into this project.  Our pictures aren’t traditional, but they represent perfectly what an amazing day we had!

Wedding Photography: Adam Piorkowski / Floral Design: Becky Jens of Moments in Time Floral Design / Wedding Cake: Miche Bacher of Sacred Sweets / Catering: Christopher Michael Catering / Wedding Ceremony Location: Sacred Heart Church / Wedding Reception Location: Founders Landing / Cellist: Jody Redhage / Wedding Wand Streamers: Craftupyourlife / Save the Dates: Architette Studios / Table Card Holders: Matt Beaudoin of Mystic Knotwork / Wedding Invitations: Simply Put, by Ashley Woodman / DJ: PopShop! DJs, DJ Colleen Crumbcake / Hair: Michael Lopez / Wedding Dress + Veil: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groomsman Ties: J.Crew

The Metropolitan Building is one of our favorite little spots in New York. It’s full of curiosities and fabulous old treasures that play ever so nicely with beautiful weddings like this. Exquisite Affairs Productions crafted the perfect details to accompany such a striking venue – soft and romantic nestled into the old patina of the building. It’s making our hearts beat a little faster after ogling all the fabulous images by Heather Waraksa and with over 175 photographs to get cozy with, the gallery is where you need to be spending your afternoon. See it all here.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When Craig and I began planning our wedding, we envisioned an event that had the warmth of our annual New Year’s Day open house, where people linger all day at our Brooklyn apartment. It’s become an institution, but an easy one: There’s no start time or end time, no dress code; the food is always good enough to disappear, but unfussy enough that the conversation is the main event. As we began searching for venues, we soon realized that the words “easy” and “wedding” didn’t typically fit into the same sentence. A country wedding seemed too complicated; a big-city wedding too flashy. Then I walked through the Metropolitan Building, an events space in Long Island City, Queens, owned by an antiques dealer. The former electrical parts factory is literally a storehouse of treasures; the nooks and crannies are decorated to the hilt, and as you look around, you can’t help but see the remnants of a thousand other celebrations. The space was big enough for a crowd, but intimate and comfortable enough to make people feel like they were in their own worlds. We were sold.

The rest of the party sprouted up from there, sown from a few simple ideas: For a mix of old and new—inspired by our venue and our taste in music—we hired Lapis Luna, which plays a mixture of jazz and swing, but covers everything from Billie Holiday to Billy Idol. For our May Day wedding date, Jeff at Pennington Flowers wove cherry blossoms and candles into the most spectacular chuppah, accenting the rest of the eclectic space with soft spring echoes. And the hard work of Chef Rossi at the Raging Skillet and Christine Viola at Exquisite Affairs Productions created an evening so seamless that both Craig and I were able to focus the most beautiful moments of all—the ones that could have happened in our living room, but that we wanted to share with 200 people: The warm voice of my family’s rabbi, who also married my parents, who flew in from my Ohio hometown for the occasion. The original song that my father played on his guitar—the one he wrote for me when I was twelve. Speeches and toasts by a few, partner dancing for many, and, most of all, our vows, which we each wrote in our apartment, when the other wasn’t looking.

It was exactly right: A feeling as new as our marriage and as familiar as the faces surrounding us. And thanks to Heather Waraksa’s genius, we can re-live it any time we want.

Venue: The Metropolitan Building / Event Planning: Exquisite Affairs Productions / Floral Design: Pennington Flowers / Wedding Photography: Heather Waraksa / Second Photographer: Mike Gross Photography / Catering: The Raging Skillet / Band: Lapis Luna / Guitarist: Elan Artists / Lighting: After Hours Entertainment / Cake + Cupcakes: City Sweets & Confections / Hair + Make-up: Monica McAlpin / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Via Spiga / Groom’s Suit: Duchess, Clothier / Valet: Parking Systems / Shuttles: Express Bus Services / Linen Rental: Cloth Connection / Chair Rental: Atlas Party Rentals / Officiant: Rabbi Alan Sokobin / Hair + Make-up:  Monica, Friend / DJ: Brad Lee, Friend

4Eyes Photography is giving us the gift of gorgeous this morning with this stylish soiree at Capitale. Inspired by the couple’s love of music and the ballroom scene from the whimsical film The Labyrinth, the evening was filled with masquerade masks and dramatic ballroom design. Mile high candelabras? Yes please. And how much do you love those bridesmaids and their seriously fabulous stockings (and shoes!). It’s safe to say that this handsome couple left their mark on each and every element of their wedding design, and you can see even more in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

And you can see even more of this stylish soiree thanks to the fabulous wedding film by Honor Code Visual!

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From the Bride…Mat and I met at a rock show in NYC. It was to see a performance by the UK band, Razorlight. I happened to have a spare ticket and my friend wanted to bring her friend, so Mat ended up being my plus one. Music has definitely played a big role in our relationship. Most of our courtship revolved around seeing bands play. Mat is originally from Leeds and moved to NYC with his band, The Chevin. I’m originally from Atlanta and moved to NYC to work in the music business and I also host a radio show. When it came time to plan our wedding, the music was really a key element and served as a soundtrack to the entire evening.

After about 8 months of dating and falling in love, Mat whisked me off to the English countryside to meet his family. He took me to visit his 91 year old great Aunt Joyce, who lives in a beautiful home built in the 15th century. We had tea and hot crossed buns by the fireplace, played with the 2 week old baby lambs on her property, and enjoyed a lovely meal his mother prepared. After lunch, he took me to explore her home and as I was admiring a pretty vase, I noticed a ring box hidden inside it. Upon opening the box, I found the most beautiful antique diamond ring I have ever seen. I presumed it was his Aunt’s and immediately thoughts raced through my head. I wondered if I could ask Mat to ask his Aunt if he can have the ring one day. Which was promptly followed with the thought: No that’s silly, of course I can’t ask him to ask that. I wasn’t until he dropped to one knee that I realized the ring was for me! I started to cry with happiness and said yes. The best part is that his family knew he was planning to propose, so they were there to celebrate the moment with us.

This may seem out there, but our inspiration was the ballroom scene from the film The Labyrinth starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. That scene is so rich and lush with the big silver ballgown, the candelabras, all the gothic masks, and the music. I vividly remember as a child running around my backyard pretending I was the main character Sarah and wanting to marry David Bowie. Mat is also a big fan of the movie and visually, the look is exactly what we wanted. Plus, the theme of the movie, (a young woman who goes on a long journey and through the friendships she makes, comes out a better person in the end), also fit with us. In a way, Mat and I both had to make a long journey to find each other and now we’re both better for it as well.

We have so many amazing memories from our wedding. The best moment for me was walking down the aisle. I know every bride says that, but now I completely understand why. Weeks before the wedding, I was nervous about being nervous standing in front of our 200 guests. I’m not used to having all eyes on me, that’s Mat!  What surprised me is how calm I felt the whole day. Just before walking down the aisle, I did get a little nervous, but as soon as I looked at everyone, I noticed 3 of my friends from London who had flown over an ocean to celebrate our wedding, and that’s when it really hit me. Everyone here is someone we know and love and they’re so happy for us. It’s the most amazing and blessed feeling I’ve ever experienced. I highly recommend it!

Mat’s favorite moment is during the ceremony, when our officiant asked Mat to place the ring on the tip of my finger, he was a little confused as to where that meant. You see, our wedding was Mat’s first wedding ever! He had no clue about weddings! So he thought he was supposed to literally balance the ring on the tip of my finger. Naturally it fell and after that, he got the giggles and it became contagious. It was such an endearing and real moment. There is a lot of power when everyone can laugh together that hard to create a lasting memory.

Wedding Photography: 4Eyes Photography / Wedding Gown: Lazaro via Kleinfeld Bridal / Groom’s Suit, Accessories + Wedding Band: Against Nature / Groom’s Shoes: Paul Smith / Bride’s Engagement Ring + Wedding Band: Doyle & Doyle / Venue, Catering + Cake: Capitale / Floral Design: Roshy of In Bloom / Wedding Videography: Honor Code Visual / Venetian Masks: House of Masquerades / DJ: Cat Hartwell / Rentals: Ruth Fischl / Invitations: Custom Illustration by Pretty as a Picture / Calligraphy: Joanne Day of Night Owl Creativity / Make-up: Lilly Rivera of Bridal Gal

Doesn’t this cheery Long Island wedding just make you smile?  The casual yet elegant vibe, the freshly picked flowers (From a nearby construction site!), the insanely gorgeous setting, the oh-so-stunning bride and groom…  Yes, this is most definitely an affair of the grin-inducing kind.  Plus, add to all of this wedding goodness some beyond beautiful images by Christina Szczupak Photography and I just remembered why I love, love, LOVE a gorgeous backyard affair.  Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Christina Szczupak Photography… This adorable trendy couple from Brooklyn held their wedding at the brides father’s home which was right on the beach and overlooking the bay. With the help of great friends and family that picked wildflowers from a local construction site and collected jars for the decorations, they managed to keep their wedding beautiful while staying on budget. The day also included a BBQ which included a full hog roast, having a friend’s band play (with the groom playing on the keyboard for some of the songs), and a short casual ceremony overlooking the bay.

From the Bride… My father and stepmother were so generous to let us use their beautiful house in East Marion, NY. We decided to let the location be a statement in itself and kept the decorations to a minimum. That being said, my stepmother and good friend went to work like crazy picking flowers from a nearby construction site, collecting containers, and making really amazing arrangements for the tables, etc.

We were married by our friend, Ben, who recorded some of the first songs we ever wrote together. Cy got his entire ensemble from eBay. My dress came from Morgane Le Fay. The staff there was amazing: although my dress was the first one I tried on when I started my search, they let me come back like 8 times before I actually bought it. We asked our friend, the Love Loves, to be our wedding band. They delivered a processional that will never be forgotten. For a first dance (which we weren’t planning on), they played Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” and we were then joined by all of our friends.

Wedding Photography: Christina Szczupak Photography / Wedding Dress: Morgane Le Fay / Bride’s Shoes: K. Jacques for Opening Ceremony / Hair + Make-up: Alex of Heather’s Salon / Right Hand Ring: Borrowed from Friend / Bride’s Bouquet: Sprout Home / Groom’s Suit: Versace via eBay / Groom’s Shirt + Socks: Charles Tyrwhitt via eBay / Tie: Ocean Pacific via eBay / Groom’s Shoes: Allen Edmonds via eBay / Catering + Hog Roast: Stuarts Seafood / Flowers + Decorations: Stepmother + Friend / Music: The Love Loves

We are floating into the afternoon with a luxuriously romantic garden wedding with a tropical flair.  This botanical garden beauty by KasalNY is one part fairytale, one part exotic island dream and all parts gorgeous.  Let’s start with the stunning bride who rivals any storybook princess in her Lazaro gown.  I love her non-traditional bouquet of protea, orchids and larger than life greenery.  The fun, tropical vibe continues throughout the decor and only enhances the beauty of the romantic surroundings. The full gallery is your go to place to check out the rest of this elegant, urban celebration!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

And for an extra special treat we have the amazing wedding film by Tweed Weddings to share as well!

From the Bride…I grew up in the south (Memphis, Tennessee) and my family currently lives in Akron, Ohio.  I went to art school in Cincinnati, Ohio where I majored in painting and then moved to New York City in 2005 where I attended Columbia University and received my Masters degree in Art Education. This is when I met Karl. Karl was born in Malaysia, spent time in Singapore as a child and grew up in Sydney, Australia. He went to college in Australia where he majored in Law and Finance and began working as an investment banker for an Australian bank. His job then moved him to New York City in 2006.When Karl first moved to New York he connected with a friend of a friend who happened to be one of my friends. As I lived in the graduate dorms, I hosted a traditional Thanksgiving dinner as family visited in town. We invited many international students to this dinner, as they had never before experienced this American holiday. Among these was my friend who had brought Karl. We hit it off and became friends for a year. We then started dating and did so for four years before our wedding.

I continued to receive a second, advanced Masters degree from Columbia in Museum Education. I currently work as a freelance museum educator in modern and contemporary art museums throughout New York City. When the world financial crisis hit Wall Street, Karl decided to give up investment banking and started his own business. He took the concept of Groupon to his native Southeast Asia and developed it into his own company, Beeconomic. Groupon then bought this company so Karl is now the CEO of Groupon Singapore. He runs the business from our Brooklyn apartment but must make frequent visits to his constantly growing team of staff in Singapore.

We selected the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens as it represented Brooklyn but also supplied us with that healthy dose of nature we were looking for in our event. We had been to a wedding there before and knew they do a wonderful job.  This is also when our idea of the classic meets modern/exotic theme began. We hoped that the classic feel of the botanical garden would blend well with the fun, tropical feel we would bring to it.

Karl wore a custom made suit that was also a cool gray. His name and our wedding date are embroidered on the inside. He wore a sage green tie and some of the buttonholes were made using bright orange thread to match one of our minor wedding colors. The tropical theme was carried throughout as his cufflinks were shaped as surfers on surfboards. Even with my own gown, I again chose the theme of classic meets modern. I selected a classic ball gown dress but I also loved the modern look of a birdcage veil. Numerous dress experts told me that a birdcage veil works best with short, informal and more A-line dresses. But I disregarded this advice and was very happy with the result. I had the veil custom made with the single flower to be worn on the side of my hair to add to the tropical look.

We selected all tropical flowers for the event which included green orchids, lush greenery and of course, birds of paradise.  This matched our color theme which consisted of sage green, a variety of shades of bright green and a hint of orange here and there (including the inside of our invitation envelope). We chose to have the ceremony in the Cherry Esplanade area of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden where guests were surrounded by cherry trees in a green field. A serene fountain was in the background where we stood. Our pastors from our non-denominational Christian church served as our officiants and included our families in the beautiful service. The sun began to set behind us dipped beneath the lush trees of the gardens during the ceremony. In order to add to the Hawaiian feel, a ukulele player played our only music for the ceremony. We selected a number of our favorite contemporary songs with a tropical feel, such as the Israel Kamakawiwo’ole version of “Over the Rainbow” and Beach Boy love songs.

We decided that we did not want a wedding where guests were passive. We wanted everyone to be active participants having fun throughout the whole night. Rather than leaving out traditional favors for guests at the tables, we surprised everyone at the end of the night by lowering down a very large piñata from the ceiling. This piñata was in the shape of a palm tree and we stuffed it with hard candy I made myself. I used an old fashioned recipe but natural flavors. These were all tropical flavors such as coconut, mango and lime. These candies were created using our wedding colors and we created wrappers to match the text of our invitations and other stationary.  Guests took turns being blindfolded and hitting the piñata. Finally, it burst open with confetti as guests gathered their favors at the end of the night.

Ceremony + Reception Location: The Brooklyn Botanic Garden / Rings: Rachel Beck / Wedding Gown: Lazaro via Kleinfeld Bridal / Veil: Bride’s Head Revisited / Bride’s Shoes: David’s Bridal / Florist: Seaport Flowers / Wedding Photography: Kirby Calvario of KasalNY / Wedding Videography: Louis Sparre of Tweed Weddings / DJ: Harold Johnson of Finer Touch Entertainment / Photo Booth: Magbooth / Wedding Cake: Ana Parzych Cakes / Groom’s Suit: Louis Purple / Groomsmen’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse / Bridesmaid Dresses: Bari Jay via Pat Catan’s Bridal / Invitations: Umi of Kate’s Paperie / Tea Ceremony Dress: Wedding Garden / Cake Cutter + Champagne Glasses: Memories and Mirrors / Cake Topper: Lladro of Sanrio / Garter: Handmade / Mother of the Bride Dress: Jessica McClintock / Ukulele: Michael Leviton / Piñata: Pinatas.com

Not only is this wedding by Robin Roemer Photography picture perfect, it also has so much heart. Full of thoughtful details and elegant DIY touches, it makes for a wedding we are all completely smitten over. And I must say, those cupcake-in-a-jar favors look absolutely divine! But that is just the start of the lovely, don’t forget there is more to devour in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…I fell in love with my now-husband at the tender age of 14, but it was not until after college that we reconnected and started dating. Five years later, he proposed on the water, under the stars while vacationing in Mexico. From the moment the ring was slipped on my finger I began to plot a location and theme. Since my ring was an estate piece I wanted to carry the vintage romantic theme throughout our wedding, but I also wanted to incorporate the stars and water from our engagement. Luckily, we live in the Hudson Valley, a magical location. I settled on the outdoor ballroom at the Grandview on the Hudson River for its spectacular scenery. After collecting ideas on Style Me pretty for two years (having over 1400 visits to your site), and finding, and falling in love with Etsy it all came together. We wanted our wedding to be elegant, but for our guests to feel warm and comfortable. So we incorporated lots of cream, peaches, greens and pops of navy colors for a romantic mid-summer theme. From the 250 mercury candle holders, to the khaki suits and peach roses, and my grandmother’s 60 year old garter everything flowed with a simple romantic grace.

I also received so much gratification from doing many of my own DIY projects. All of my paper-goods; table numbers, programs, invitations, and seating chart,  I created with some collaboration from Etsy. But the most tedious task was the home-made candy bar and cupcake jars favors. Little did I know the full extent of labor it would involve, it took months to collect all of the jars and several days for my mother, mother-in-law, and myself to bake and assemble over 200 “cup cakes in a jar.” But I never felt so much pride as I did the day they unveiled it to our guests and everyone asked where we bought them.

A special thank you to our photographer, Robin Roemer, who captured the day in all its vividness. The love and encouragement from our family and friends was overwhelming, and we could not have asked for a better day with better people.

Wedding Photography: Robin Roemer Photography / Flowers: The Green House at Rhinebeck / Ceremony Location: St. Martins De Porres Church / Reception Location: The Grandview / Programs + Seating Chart: EM & N Designs + The Bride / Table Numbers: The Bride / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Sash: Kirsten Kuehn Designs / Hand Bag: Judith Leiber / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jim Hjelm / Candy Bar + Labels: The Bride / Cupcake Jars Favors: The Bride, Mother + Mother In-Law

This lovely New York City shoot has me thoroughly convinced that a five year anniversary session just might be the greatest idea of all time… and, believe you me, once you take in these sweet as can be images by Allan Summers Photography, you’ll most definitely see why.  It just doesn’t get any more charming than this adorable husband and wife duo and the obvious love they share for one another.  Plus, New York City as your backdrop is never a bad thing!  Luckily, the cuteness doesn’t stop here… there’s an entire gallery of heartwarming images just waiting to make your Friday a little lovelier.  Join me there for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

My husband and I have been married for 5 wonderful years.  We had a beautiful wedding in South Jersey surrounded by family and friends but unfortunately, I was never truly satisfied with the work of our photographer.  (They were nice, just not perfect…you know how brides can be.)  Fast forward 5 years later, I met Allan who was trying to build his portfolio for his budding photography business.  My husband and I decided that it might be nice to have a second chance at wedding pictures (at least “engagement pictures”) for our 5th anniversary.  So on a beautiful day over the summer, Allan met us in Battery Park in NYC for a fun photo session.  Allan’s beautiful photos that made my husband and I feel like we had just gotten engaged all over again.

Photography: Allan Summers Photography / Location: Battery Park, Financial District, New York City