New York Weddings

This is exactly the kind of wedding that gets us all sorts of excited here at SMP. It’s modern, it’s fresh, and it’s full of pretty, pretty details. And the gorgeous images by Michael Simon Weddings totally have us in a tizzy and we’ve been spending quite some time in the gallery with this one! Join us, won’t you?

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From the Bride…The vision of our wedding day unfolded in that we wanted it to reflect our sensibilities and style and yet be an amazing party. I’m from Memphis, TN  and have lived in NYC for 8 years. Wakim is originally from Haiti but moved to Morristown 20 years ago and then to Jersey City 6 years ago. We knew that to accurately reflect us we had to get married in New York City. And since I love the details of planning, it was the best option to allow me to be involved in all aspects of the wedding and amazingly for Wakim to be involved in all those details too. He was there at 9 pm meetings to screen photographers and he was there at 7 am in the flower district with the florist learning what hydrangeas, peonies and phaleonopsis orchids are and 98 percent of the time he had a huge smile on his face.

As soon as we walked into the lobby of Trump SoHo, my mother and Wakim both turned and looked at me and said “This is you” and they were right. The luxurious yet modern styling of the hotel captured everything we wanted our wedding to reflect. We’d both secretly wished to have an outdoor wedding but worried about the usual disappointment of the rain backup plan venue and thought that the SOHI room at Trump SoHo gave us that feeling of being at the top of NYC with its incredible walls of windows overlooking the city. From there, everything easily worked into our vision of quiet luxury. We knew there were small details that only we would notice but that would contribute to the overall experience of the evening.

Our biggest debate was likely whether to go with a band or a DJ. In the end, we settled on a DJ because who better to sing Michael than Michael himself at the end of the night. We, instead, brought in the live performance element for the ceremony with a jazz trio and the cocktail hour with a jazz duo.  We also wanted to make sure that the guests went home with a little something that wouldn’t simply hit the trash can or sit and collect dust and the idea of our gift boxes was born. We made sure it captured both of our hometowns along with our current city. At the end of the night, we’d had an amazing time and felt as if our guests had too. We loved that our photographer was able to capture the same spirit of the day that we’d experienced and every time we look at our pictures we end up saying “I want to get married again”.

Wedding Photography: Michael Simon Weddings / Flowers: Anthony Brownie Flowers and Events / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Ceremony + Reception Location: Trump SoHo / Invitations: Askew Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Lazaro / DJ: DJ Herbert Holler / Bridesmaid Dress: Watters / Wedding Cake: Nine Cakes / Earrings & Bangles: TEJANI

This beautiful bride didn’t let a little rain dampen her big day. The rain that originally made her cringe now makes her smile because she’s got some seriously super cool images from Ulysses Photography complete with pretty, pink umbrellas. How’s that for looking on the bright side? This wedding is packed to the brim with the prettiest of details and if you’re looking for even more, click here!

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From the Bride…The perfect wedding cocktail combines one part disciplined organization, one part creative intuition, and one part planning prowess. My family and friends would hardly select disciplined and organized while describing me. Fortunately, my mother (and wedding planning counterpart) seamlessly managed this ingredient.  As for creative intuition, I scoured countless magazines, books, websites, and blogs (Style Me Pretty included!) to help conceptualize our day.  The planning portion is a slow, continuous pour I savored. My husband, Jared, may characterize my planning as obsessive, as it began for him when the Ring Fairy delivered photographs of potential bling upon his pillow. I saw in the planning process an opportunity to fashion a day that would represent the fabric of who we were, are, and may become.

We chose to conduct our ceremony at St. Martin de Porres Church. Beautiful natural light shines in through the windows, and Jared made all of his sacraments there as a child. Sheer occupancy proved to be the most important factor in our search for a venue. We needed a space that could house my immense Irish Catholic family and Jared’s close-knit Italian side without sacrificing class and elegance. Our venue search included over 15 sites, culminating with the Tarrytown House Estate.  We were ecstatic to discover the TTH offered precisely what we were looking for, and incidentally, advantages we had not yet considered. The sprawling, manicured grounds provided a lovely backdrop for photographs and strolls. The professionalism and helpfulness of our event coordinator, Gail, and all the staff members made both planning and celebrating our wedding day an enjoyable experience. Having on-site luxury lodging accommodations allowed our guests much-appreciated comfort and convenience. The TTH exceeded our high expectations and gave our wedding a home.

The creme de la creme were our photographers Ulysses and Jenni of Ulysses Photography. Just as I knew Jared was “the one,” and I knew my (second) dress was “the one,” I knew Ulysses and Jenni were, too. We began our work (and play!) together before the wedding day, at our engagement shoot. Through Facebook and e-mail, we stayed in touch with the couple and built excitement for our day. Ulysses and Jenni brought professionalism and dedication to an uncommon level. Their approach is unobtrusive, leading to a natural capture of the day as the story unfolds. Back from our honeymoon, we now face the daunting and exhilarating task of canvassing through hundreds of choice photographs. Upon reading a great book, a natural inclination is to rave about it to friends and thrust a copy in their hands. I feel this way about all our vendors and offer my fervent recommendation.

After months of incessant planning, a bride and groom must ultimately let go on the wedding day and trust that the day will unravel as planned. It invariably does and it invariably does not. Oddly enough, it is often the unplanned happenings that give the day its signature. I will admit that the rain briefly dampened my spirits. It certainly had not been included in my wedding recipe! I was saddened to see cocktail hour moved indoors from the terrace. However, our guests loved the unique character and adornment of the rooms in the Biddle Mansion. I winced as droplets of rain landed on my dress as I demanded (a minor Bridezilla moment) an umbrella. Those umbrellas became iconic props in our photographs, and we adore them. Perhaps the most delectable wedding calls for a splash of the unknown.

Wedding Photography: Ulysses Photography / Flowers: Forever in Bloom / Ceremony Location: St. Martin de Porres Church / Reception Location: Tarrytown House Estate / Invitations: Graphic Nature / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Make-up: Bella Luci Salon / Wedding Cake: Artuso + Sons / Music: Jimmy Dee Productions

A spring wedding at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden with big, fluffy flowers around every corner just seems like a dream to me. A sensory overload of fabulous, so to speak. After feasting my eyes on the gorgeous group of photos by Joshua Zuckerman, it’s obvious that this wedding will most definitely appease your sense of sight. Then there are the shoes. Hand died and accessorized by the bride – which makes my sense of shoes heighten to great extremes. The entire affair is a smorgasbord of fabulous for the senses, and there is so much more to devour in the full gallery of images!

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From Joshua Zuckerman Photography…Laura and Mike were married on a perfect spring day in May. Their wedding was a joy to photograph, not only because the couple were awesome to work with, but also because their wedding was full of warmth and energy. The couple’s marriage took place on the bucolic grounds of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on the gorgeous cherry esplanade. They had wanted an outdoor wedding and the afternoon ceremony followed by cocktails on the lily pond plaza allowed them and their guests to enjoy the full beauty of the gardens in bloom.  The Palm room, decorated all in white with pops of color from the flowers, made a lush and elegant setting for the reception.

The flowers, a reflection of the diversity of the garden’s colors, were a rich array of pinks, purples, orange and yellow. The bride’s turquoise shoes, which she cleverly made herself with dye and a clip on pearl earring, carried through the colorful theme. The turquoise accent showed up in the details including the flowers on the cake (and the Tiffany ring boxes!). The couple, both musicians, enlisted a friend to DJ. The music was awesome and everyone had a blast, especially Laura and Mike. The photos captured the spirit of the party and the candid expressions of true love between the couple.

Wedding Photography: Joshua Zuckerman Photography / Hair: Nikki Flaming / Make-up: Kristen Thérèse / Floral Design: Opalia Flowers / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza / Groom’s Suit, Groomsmen + Bridesmaid Attire: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Rings: Tiffany & Co. / DJ: Mandy Graves of 74 Events / Caterer: Newman & Leventhal / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Chuppah: Four Branches / Custom Jacket + Alterations (including changing the wedding dress to a short cocktail dress after): Jean Kormos of Ghost Tailor / Veil: Sister of the Bride / Venue: Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Happy Labor Day SMPers! We’ve got the perfect wedding for you today. It’s a little bit country, a little bit city, and a whole lotta gorgeous! I’m loving the bushels of veggies, the warm richness of the long wooden linen-less farm tables, the hay bale ceremony seating, and the super sophisticated dress on the beautiful bride. Raquel Reis was there to capture all the beautifully crafted details and I won’t tell (or blame you!) if you spend your entire Labor Day in the full gallery.

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From the bride…We decided to have the wedding at the twilight lodge because we thought it would only make sense to use the magical space we are so in love with it.  It’s a family owned property that we have invested ourselves in and pretty much made our own. We have quite literally renovated the bed and breakfast ourselves, from concept to creation.  We wanted as many friends to be involved and we are lucky to have a great bunch there were talented and excited to be a part. The design was very important to me and again I wanted it to be US… I wanted the people that know me to say (this is so you- and they did!), I had tons of help from friends and family combined with my event experience.  I was looking to integrate the idea of food/Hudson valley/vintage/rustic warm feel.  I wanted it to be elegant and beautiful but mostly I wanted it to be FUN. Starting with the save the date – a recipe card – we started the design line that we continued on with the invites that where lots of fun – our friend/graphic designer came up with some of those brilliant ideas! They are so perfect for the region and our relationship. I wanted to use vintage food tins, to go along and tie the whole design together. As for the I wanted clusters of homogenous flowers in warm deep colors because I don’t like flower arrangements. Farm tables – with no linen – Turquoise/gold rim/lace plates to achieve a rich weddingy-tablescape. We wanted a ceremony that would be full of love and spirituality, religion and heritage and it was a bit tricky as we come from VERY different upbringing.  We have two great friends called Heather – we thought they would be the best choice – and they sure were!

Photography: Raquel Reis / Venue: Twilight Lodge / Catering: Hugh Piney & Terrapin / / Flower Design: Marjeth Cummings / Design: Jenny Harkins / Makeup: Courtney Harge / Cake: Amanda Leigh / Lighting Designer: Linda Baldwin

I have some serious dress envy going on right now. This bride’s gorgeous gown just screams “twirl the night away”. Oh to step in a gown and dance around again…but I digress, this entire affair by 4Eyes Photography is something to envy. There is just something about a New York City wedding that can’t be matched, and you can enjoy every bit of that in the full gallery of images!

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From the Bride…Bryan and I met during our senior year at Bucknell University.  There is a statistic out there that says that an extremely high percentage of Bucknell students will marry one another.  You can only imagine my father’s face as I told him this while my family was driving me to Bucknell for the first time my freshman year.  Sure enough, when Bryan and I met, we became inseparable.  After graduation, Bryan moved back home to Maryland to get his master’s degree and I began my first year of law school in New York City.  After two years of a long distance relationship (and thousands of miles on his car) Bryan moved up to New York City.   We got engaged on a beautiful fall day in Madison Square Park with our puppy and we knew rather quickly that we wanted our wedding to be in the city where we began our life together.  One of our favorite parts of planning was being able to picture all of our favorite people together in our favorite place.

We looked at a number of venues before we took a tour of The Glasshouses in the Chelsea Arts Tower.  We knew that we had found our venue as soon as we walked in — The Glasshouses had everything we were looking for, it was a modern and unique space near our apartment with an outdoor terrace and incredible views of Manhattan.  Next on our list was a location for our ceremony and we instantly fell in love with St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University. It was the kind of space I had always dreamed of for a wedding ceremony.  We loved the big doors, the ornate interior, the mosaic floor, and the contrast between the traditional ceremony space and the modern reception venue.  The contrast between the spaces was what ultimately inspired our wedding style, which we described as modern and romantic.  We chose big soft blooms such as peonies and garden roses to bring a romantic feel to the space and, with the help of our fantastic planner, added a modern touch with furniture and lighting.

We wrote our ceremony along with our officiant and we loved that it had our own personal touch.  It was very special during the ceremony to feel the love and support all of our friends and family, some of which had traveled very long distances to celebrate with us.  We are big Yankees fans and chose to enter the reception to Metallica’s  “Enter Sandman,” which is the song that plays at Yankees Stadium when Mariano Rivera takes the field.  One of my most vivid memories of the evening was during the last song that our band played — I was dancing with Bryan and felt such a true and overwhelming sense of joy and happiness.  After the band’s final song, we ended the night in a big circle of our friends and family dancing and singing to Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.”  It was the perfect ending to an absolutely perfect day.

Wedding Photography: 4Eyes Photography / Wedding Videography: Kiss The Bride Films / Floral Designer: Blossom and Branch / Event Planner: Brilliant Event Planning / Band: The Benjamins / Invitation Designer (Invitations, Menus, Placecards, Programs): Starshaped Press / Calligraphy: Written by Esther / Caterer + Wedding Cake: Thomas Preti Caterers / Wedding Gown: Christos / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Officiant: Reverend Dr. C. William Mercer / Wedding Favors: Sunshine Bakes / Hair: Face Time Beauty Concierge / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Make-up: Elisa DiBisceglie / Ceremony Location: St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University / Reception Venue: The Glasshouses

This beautiful bride didn’t let a a day of down pouring rain ruin her chic and modern wedding, not one bit. The spectacular setting of the Tribeca Rooftop set the dramatic stage for both the nighttime ceremony and reception. Hues of pink, purple, black and white filled the gorgeous space and Carmen Santorelli Photography was there to capture all the special moments and pretty, little details and if you’re like me and you just can’t get enough, click here for even more.

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From Carmen Santorelli Photography…Despite of the rain, Sunhi and David’s wedding was truly incredible. Both the ceremony and reception took place at the famous Tribeca Rooftop. Sunhi and David met in college, at University of Michigan, and soon their friendship turned to love. David proposed on the Brooklyn Bridge. Sunhi’s day started at the Andaz hotel, where she got ready, while David got ready at his place in Brooklyn. Just as Sunhi and her bridesmaids were ready to leave the Andaz, the rain started and didn’t stop for the rest of the day. Out the window went all my carefully planned ideas for the shoot…the secret little location in Tribeca that I’ve been saving for Sunhi and David, the cobblestone paved streets…

So once we all arrived at the Tribeca Rooftop, I had to put Plan B in motion. Lucky me, the bride and groom are such perfect models, and the location was very versatile, so their images tell the story of the day, rain and all. Around 7 PM their ceremony began. During the ceremony there was a candle lighting ritual between the bride, groom, and respective parents. During this time, a song was performed by bridesmaids. There wasn’t a eye dry in the entire room! I was amazed at how many fabulous friends showed their love for Sunhi and David at their wedding…The reception was a ton of fun, with all the joy of youth and happiness shining through. Sunhi and David went on a marvelous honeymoon in Paris and Barcelona after their wedding. May your life be filled with love, guys!

Wedding Photography: Carmen Santorelli Photography / Flowers: Pedestal Florist / Ceremony + Reception Location: Tribeca Rooftop / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier

SMP’ers – get ready to fall head over heals in succulent love with this bride’s bouquet by Blossom and Branch. Eek! It is just out of this world fabulous. Go ahead, take another look…it’s ah.maze.ing. Then when you keep scrolling, you’ll realize the rest of this wedding by Karen Wise Photography is just as breathtaking. Brooklyn at its best. Nude loubies at their best. Understated awesomeness at its best. It’s just the best. I am in love, and you can see all the evidence why that is the case in the full gallery of images!

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From Karen Wise Photography…Lindsey and Brian were married at Smack Mellon Gallery in DUMBO, Brooklyn on June 11, 2011. Lindsey got ready at the Gaansevoort Hotel in downtown Manhattan. Since Lindsey and Brian run their own business together in Rockland County, a greenhouse/greenery, the flowers were very important to them. They didn’t want anything “generic” or “common” to NY. (Apparently Hydrangeas and Peonies fall in that category!) Lindsey requested more tropical arrangements. There were succulents and many other wild blooms in tropical colors in her bouquet and around the rustic venue. She was thrilled when she saw Blossom and Branch’s work.

Brooklyn was also very important to them, as they both lived here for a while. They fell in love with their venue as soon as they saw it, the rustic nature of the building, and the proximity to the cobblestone streets and bridges in the background. As Lindsey was particular about the flowers, Brian’s main request was to have burgers at the wedding, and so their caterer, specializing in BBQ, made mini burgers for them and their guests. One of our main focuses was the food so finding caterers who understood what we were about – no-frills, good food that our Italian families would be happy eating.  CaraLeo were exactly that!

Floral Design: Blossom and Branch / Wedding Cake: Nine Cakes / Wedding Dress: Marchesa / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Wedding Photography: Karen Wise Photography / Venue: Smack Mellon / DJ: Andy Anderson, Gotham DJ / Caterer: CaraLeo Catering / Planner: Elizabeth, Just About Married / Suit: Polo Ralph Lauren / Clutch: Moyna / Earrings: Vintage from Gabriella New York / Hair Accessories: Sara Gabriel /Makeup: Luis Rodriguez, Chanel (Saks 5th Ave. NYC) / Hair: Brittany, Bumble and Bumble (Downtown)

OK, super cute engagement session alert!  You know the kind that just make you go AW!  Well, this fun lovefest shot by Judy Pak Photography is definitely a double, if not, triple AW-inducing session.  With hot air balloons, a darling picnic in the park and a steamy, sunset spin it is sure to cure your mid-week blues!  Check it all out in the full gallery!

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From Judy Pak Photography…Faye and Steve love to travel and wanted to do an engagement shoot that symbolized the new journey they will embark together. These two really know how to have fun and go all out. The hot air balloon prop was quite a vision and swept me off my feet. Since it was too hot that day, we decided to wait until dusk which created an even more magical feel to the shoot. Faye and Steve will be getting married at the Gedney Farm in MA.

Photography: Judy Pak Photography / Second Photographer: Caroline Frost Photography / Styling: Robin Choi / Nude Dress: Chloe / Blue Dress: Banana Republic / Hot Air Balloon Cookies: Big City Little Sweets

I love, love, love this wedding.  I love it times one thousand and then one thousand times that.  Oh, yes.  Me plus this wedding definitely equals true love.  And can you blame me?  Each and every detail created by Daughter of Design is over the moon fabulous, the florals by Fleurs are absolute perfection, the invitations by Mr. Boddington’s Studio are beyond gorgeous and the The Bowery Hotel is the closest thing to a wedding dreamland that I have ever seen.  Add to all of that fabulousness each breathtaking image by Roey Yohai and I think we’ve got ourselves a perfect New York City soiree on our hands.  I’ll definitely be in the gallery soaking up all of the pretty and I suggest you do the same.  Join me there!

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From Daughter of Design… This couple loved Bowery Hotel and really used the existing decor as a spring board for their design inspiration. The dark wood bars and ceiling inspired them to use the color brown and they mimicked the metallics like those found in the lighting fixtures in their cooper/bronze urns, silver vases, and mercury votive holders. We paired the slightly industrial look of the space with the softness of ivory, blush and dusty pink seasonal blooming blossoms, peonies and garden roses.

The bride already had this cartoon drawing of the couple made and so we took that and made the Save The Date out of it! Instead of a guest book, each guest wrote on custom made prescription papers since both the bride and groom are doctors (though only Beth is a medical one). Place cards and menus, why waste paper? I like having a calligrapher write each guest’s name at the top of the menu.

Wedding Photography: Roey Yohai / Floral Design: Fleurs / Event Planning: Daughter of Design / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: The Bowery Hotel / Wedding Invitations: Mr. Boddington’s Studio / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Wedding Cake: Mark Joseph / Cookies: Momofuku Milk Bar / Hair: Jeff Chastain / Make-up: Nam Vo / Band: Hudson Project / Custom Linens: Designing Linens / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

I’m not sure if there are even words to express how much I adore this wedding by mel barlow & co. It is barn bash goodness at its very, very best.  A little DIY, a little vintage, a little modern and, of course, a whole lot of amazingness.  Including the awesomely adorable couple who have the cutest style EVER.  Bow ties and birdcage veils are a combination that can never, ever be wrong.  See the rest of the sweet deets in the full gallery!

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From mel barlow & co.…Christie and Kevin met at an advertising agency. Kevin had been working there for 2 1/2 years when Christie was hired by his boss. Christie was very professional at the workplace and Kevin thought she was beautiful. Christie and Kevin had their first date after working together for one year. On their first date, they watched old movies and Kevin told Christie he loved her. Two weeks later Christie told Kevin she loved him. They were married three years later.

Christie and Kevin collaborated throughout the wedding planning process. They wanted their wedding day to be their own – creative and unique. Every detail was carefully thought out – they even went dress shopping together and picked out an edgy wedding dress for Christie by Morgan Le Fray. Christie and Kevin wanted their wedding to feel like a close knit dinner party in the woods. They wanted guests to experience their unbelievable intimacy and wanted the day to be simple, romantic, and quiet.

Kevin designed the play list and it was an awesome mixture of new and old, rare cover songs, romantic, and upbeat. Christie walked down the aisle to an acoustic guitar playing Nina Simone’s “Here Comes the Sun.”

Wedding Photography: mel barlow & co. / Flowers: Green Cottage / Event Planning: Laura Wright Events / Ceremony + Reception Location: Shadow Lawn / Make-up: Andrea Martin / Wedding Dress: Morgan Le Fay / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Catering: The Artist’s Palate

Oh my goodness, how adorable is this bride and groom?  High school sweethearts, together 20 years and marrying in the seaside wedding of their dreams?  Yep, seriously adorable.  So, it’s no wonder that each and every one of these stunning images by Photo by Basia has me grinning from ear to ear.  And it’s not just the gorgeous couple that has me smiling.  Every single detail of their charming Oyster Bay nuptials is beyond grin-inducing and from the breathtaking location to the soft blue and white blooms by Petals, this is one wedding that I’ll be revisiting time and time again.  See it all here!

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From Photo by Basia… Jeff and Cathy met in local YMCA while working as a swimming instructors.  They were 16 years old. Their puppy love became deeper with time,  and in 20 years together, they bought a coastal cottage, renovated it and then finally decided to make the last of the dream come true: a coastal, beach wedding.  To save the money, the ceremony was at their long time friends’ private beach and Jeff designed the invites himself.  With a beautiful views of the bay, boathouse, steel drum band, it was a charming and beautiful yet easy affair.  Just like their coastal lifestyle.

Wedding Photography: Photo by Basia / Flowers: Petals / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero via Bridal Suite of Centereach / Groom’s Attire: Kenneth Cole / Groom’s Shoes: Ralph Lauren via Macy’s / Hair + Makeup: L’immagine / Officiant: Rev. Beverly Bell Winslow / Wedding Ceremony Location: Private Residence / Wedding Reception Location: Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club / Music: After Hours Entertainment / Save the Dates, Invitations, Programs, Etc.: The Groom

Brookelyn Photography sent the sweetest little engagement session our way. And with a gorgeous couple, loads of spunk and the Brooklyn Bridge making a guest appearance, this is just about the prettiest ode to New York we ever did see. Plus, balloons are always a welcome addition in our book. Head over to the gallery for loads more New York scenery and engagement session loveliness!

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From Brookelyn Photography…Jenny + Ben + I had a blast hitting up some of my very favorite Brooklyn locations for their engagement shoot. I love love love when couples get creative about their sessions, + are down for anything. These two were so game to do it up, have fun, + make their shoot uniquely theirs. I especially loved how they incorporated “the law” into their photos. Ben works at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn + Jenny’s finishing up law school this very moment. I also adored the gigantic scrabble pieces they brought to their shoot + the amazing balloons that added so much fun color to our day.

Photography: Brookelyn Photography

I have a colossal crush on these Catskills nuptials by the fabulous Ulysses Photography, so prepare yourselves for some serious gushing.  For starters, I seriously adore a rainy day wedding.  There’s nothing quite like a little drizzle and some overcast skies to kick up the romance quotient by a thousand.  Add to that the charming sunflower centerpieces and beautiful bouquets by Flowers On The Porch, the rustic table numbers and a campfire with s’mores and you’ve got yourself one smitten blogger.  All designed by the amazing AME Event Planning, this is one wedding you don’t want to miss.  See every last detail here!

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From the Bride… Alen and I were set on getting married in the Catskills, where we both spend our summers with our families. The Eagle’s Nest was the perfect venue … it reminded me of summer camp! Amanda Espie, our event planner, designed all of the details to complete the camp feel. Our guests stayed in rustic cabins right on the property and the owner, Michael, happily helped us set up a campfire complete with s’mores for the after party. It poured on our wedding day, so my dream of an outdoor wedding did not exactly happen as planned. That said, Ulysses and Jenni, our photographers, captured some priceless pictures of us outside during our special day. I could not have been happier!

Wedding Photography: Ulysses Photography / Event Design: AME Event Planning / Floral Design: Flowers On The Porch / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: The Eagle’s Nest / Bride’s Dress: Enzoani / Bride’s Shoes: Orchabelle / Bridesmaid Dresses: Donna Morgan / Make-up: Sue at Villa Roma / Hair: Jenn at Hair Expression / Wedding Invitations: Checkerboards

Oh my. Prepare to pick your jaw up off your desk. This New York City wedding, captured by the brilliant Meredith Davenport of Christian Oth Studio, is the epitome of Manhattan romance. It’s gorgeous, it’s soft, and it’s what can happen when the best of the best in the Big Apple get together to work on one very special affair. I’m talking Sylvia Weinstock, Monique Lhuillier, Ceci New York, Karen Bussen Simple Stunning, the aforementioned Christian Oth, and so many more phenomenally talented wedding pros. No wonder I’ve been swooning for months (literally) over this killer wedding. Click here for more from Christian Oth Studio!

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Growing up in New York, I always knew I wanted to be married in New York City – plus Jared and I met in NYC so it seemed perfect!  It was really important to us to create a fun and memorable evening for our guests that included various special touches representing our relationship and sense of humor.   We really wanted our ceremony to be simple but meaningful and for the reception to be elegant but an all out party!

Our wedding design inspiration was the history, grandeur and romanticism of New York City –  and we were drawn to The Roosevelt Hotel because of the Grand Ballroom’s gold-gilded 27-foot-tall ceilings, amazing Tiffany chandeliers, huge arched windows and overall classic New York experience.

Design elements included: the glow of candlelight, lush florals in large urns, heirloom-inspired flatware, gold-rimmed water goblets, “feast-like” tables, bleached peacock feathers, heirloom-style compotes and mint julep cups packed with lush roses, large candelabra flowing with lush white florals, candlelight hanging from floral designs and crystal strewn throughout.  Each reception table was designed to be bespoke, special and romantic.

Welcome bags featured “I Love NY” t-shirts, cocktail napkins included funny quotes about marriage (“Marriage lets you annoy one special person for the rest of your life”, “The woman cries before the wedding, the man afterward”), the string quartet played hip-hop songs, baskets of silver & gold flip-flops were placed on the dance floor with signs that said “Kick off Your Heels”, a hot dog and pretzel cart sat next to the valet stand so that people could snack on authentic NYC snacks while they waited for their cars.

In the end, our wedding night was everything we had dreamed of and we will remember every moment for the rest of our lives.

Photography: Meredith Davenport, Christian Oth Studio / Invitation & Printed Materials: Ceci New York / Cake: Sylvia Weinstock / Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Wedding Planning & Design: Karen Bussen Simple Stunning / Band: The Soul All-Stars featuring Roy Bennett / DJ: Jason Fioto / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Lighting: Circa Pro / Videographer: Milk & Honey / Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel/ Hair: Courtney Benedetti of Brides By Benedetti /  Makeup by: Jacqueline Phillips of Jacqueline Pasquale Spa

It’s fair to say that everyday here at Style Me Pretty New York is exciting and filled with lots-o-pretty.  However, today we are over the moon to be a part of the unveiling of Loeffler Randall’s Fall Bridal Collection. Yep, it’s here and you’re invited to get a first look.  What’s not too love about this collection?  Fabulous details, lovely, elegant colors  and total wear them again (and again) style.  Luckily for us our very own, Abby Larson was inspired by the new collection and put together a few inspiration boards based on a couple of her favs via the Loeffler Randall blog….

 

And because we couldn’t resist showing you some of these swoon worthy shoes right this very moment…

 

I know, I know, you are saying – I WANT THOSE!  Well, you’re in luck yet again.  Our good friends at Loeffler Randall are giving away a pair of the Zuri Rosette’s in the color of your choice (White or Blush).  All you have to do is head over to our Facebook page, thumb through the album of to-die-for shoes, come back to this post and tell us which shoe you would choose for your big day.  The winner will be announced in our Wrap It Up Pretty post this Friday August 26th.  The giveaway is open to anyone 18 years or older and your favorite shoe doesn’t have to be a Zuri Rosette (it’s okay we love them all too).  Happy Tuesday Shoesday!

For full details on our Terms and Conditions click here.

If you are looking for some breathtaking beauty this lovely Monday morning, then you came to the right place.  These Washingtonville nuptials are overflowing with so many gorgeous moments, they will literally take your breath away.  From the warm tones of the color palette to the cozy and inviting ceremony space of Round Hill to the cute-as-can-be peach tea favors (I adore peach tea), this is one soiree that I can’t seem to get enough of.  And can we talk for a moment about those amazing bouquets and centerpieces by Jessica’s Country Flowers?  I die.  Captured in stunning photos by Yun Gen Yang Photography, you don’t want to miss a single beautiful detail.  See all of the pretty here!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

Oh, and we’re not done.  We have even more lovely coming your way courtesy of GT Modern Creations.  Enjoy!

From the Bride… For inspiration and ideas, I looked to the internet, browsing wedding blogs and making use of tools like the inspiration board builder on SMP’s Style Circle. To keep with Round Hill’s elegantly quaint charm, I made all sorts of things with lace/doily accents: paper bag luminaries spelling out our names, hand-stenciled monogrammed doily tote bags for my bridesmaids, and our LOVE banner (which i made the day before the wedding — i originally wanted to make a THANK YOU banner but ran out of steam and chose a shorter word!). I loved picking out fonts for our paper goods. Some wonderful friends (along with several bottles of wine) were enlisted to help with the more intensive DIY projects: decorative labels and packaging for our tea favors, dinner menus, various signs, accordion-style ceremony programs, and stamped ribbon drink stirrers in pastel rainbow colors. Doing arts & crafts together while having wine and cocktails was also definitely memorable and I’m thankful I had such fun company during stressful times. My husband got into it as well and made all of our table number signs himself, choosing to pick stops along the NYC subway that represented neighborhoods in the city where we fell in love and grew as a couple.

The wedding day itself went by in a blissful blur. Our families are large and spread out and although many people could not attend, we still had guests from all over the US, Toronto, London, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Malaysia. One of the uncles was on his iPad for practically the entire event, skyping to Omar’s cousins in Pakistan so that they could take part in the celebration oceans away. It was amazing to be surrounded by so much love and generosity leading up to that day and to be able to celebrate with so many special people. We were thrilled by our photographer and videographers who captured on camera many memories that we will cherish for years to come — worth every penny if not more! And we were excited recently to open up the first set of anniversary cards that guests had written for us at the wedding — another guaranteed way to relive the hopeful joy of the day again and again!

Wedding Photography: Yun Gen Yang Photography / Wedding Cinematography: GT Modern Creations / Wedding Ceremony Location: F.E.A.S.T. at Round Hill / Floral Design: Jessica’s Country Flowers / DJ: David Nazario of APB Entertainment / Invitations: Sarah Drake Design / Wedding Cake: Kelly’s Sweet Rewards / Wedding Dress: White One / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo + Belsoie + Bill Levkoff / Make-up + Hair: JAC Beauty, Sissi Chan / Hair Flower: Handle & Spout

Hosting a bridal shower anytime soon and stuck on how to make it a little more stylish? Well if you adore all things vintage, Clemens Designs is serving up some serious tea party inspiration on this Friday morning. I’ve never seen coffee filters look so pretty, and I think I know a DIY project I will be attempting in the near future. Coffee filter chandelier? Yes please. Pam Rodrigues Photography is showering us with even more goodness thank to all her pretty images in the full gallery so the pretty party doesn’t have to end!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Clemens Designs…The bride to be, Gabriela, is a fashion designer so my approach as I designed her bridal shower was to incorporate her passion into a vintage theme. I wanted the event to have a vintage/romantic feeling and to incorporate texture and fabrics. Once we had the date I worked with her sister-in-law, who was hosting the event, and came up with the design for the whole party. The florist came from Boston and did an amazing job! We used a lot of flowers in vintage tea sets.We used a lot of vintage elements like wooden thread spools, lace,fabrics, crochet tableclothes and even a sewing machine. To add more texture to the decor I created a Chandelier with coffee filter flowers.I actually used them on cages hanging from the ceiling. The invitation was sent with a recipe card that the guests were asked to bring it back to the shower to share it with the bride-to-be. We sent guests home with a cake in a jar – strawberry shortcake made by the hostess herself. A sweet touch to end an amazing afternoon.

Photography: Pam Rodrigues Photography / Flowers: GIF Floral and Events Design / Event Design, Planning + Invitations: Clemens Designs / Location: Clearview Golf Club / Cake: Teaspoon Bake Shop

The moment I opened up this wedding from Ulysses Photography, I fell hard. I fell for the gorgeous and lush flowers. I fell for the beautiful New York, Catskill Mountains view. I fell for the unbelievable oodles of green. But most of all, I head-over-heels, utterly, and completely fell for the paper. Those invites! Momental Designs really, really, really created some amazing artwork and passed it off as wedding invitations. And I think it’s time for me to officially admit that I am in love with a piece of paper. Lucky for me (and you), the rest of this affair is just as wonderful and swoon-worthy as the invites, so you’ll definitely be wanting the link to the full image gallery!

Harry and I knew we wanted an outdoor wedding in the Catskill Mountains, where we met at his parents’ house.  From the moment Harry and I saw the view from Onteora Mountain House, we knew there was no more perfect a place for us to get married.  Being an avid outdoorsman, Harry was looking for something more rustic that would show his personality, and I was hoping for something romantic and ethereal to represent me. Every aspect of our wedding was a perfect union of what we like to call “Rustic Romance.”

The very first selection we made was choosing our photographers, and boy did we luck out with Ulysses and Jenni of Ulysses Photography! We had seen one of their books at Onteora and starting with the initial phone call, I had a great feeling about these two.  Our engagement picture session in Central Park was the perfect beginning to our relationship, and Ulysses and Jenni made us feel so comfortable and also captured both the look and feel we were going for. Our wedding day was no different, and I cannot praise our photographers enough for capturing the best moments of our night, often without us even realizing they were there!

Heather at A Night in Bloom Event Florist listened to our vision of rustic romance and executed our flower selection with perfection. Her recommendation of Sahara roses and green gladiolas mixed with our selection of hens-and-chicks, white sweet peas, vines and river rocks made the most amazing flower centerpieces. Our ceremony decoration of a field mix of flowers in mason jars, accented with sage green ribbon, was the perfect touch to bring our rustic romance vision into all aspects of our wedding.

Kristy Rice at Momental Designs created our invitations with a one-of-a-kind drawing of the view from the ceremony site at Onteora, with each invitation hand painted with watercolors to bring out the beauty of our venue.

Chelsea Harris from Salon 52 Hair Studio created the stunning side-swept look that exuded romance, and I could not have been more in love with my hair! Woodstock String Quartet provided our ceremony music and did a phenomenal job taking our unconventional musical selections (my bridal entrance was to “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica) and bringing them to life in strings.  DJ Mike Alevras from Hudson Valley Entertainment kept the party lively and the dance floor was packed throughout the night. Jeanne Stark, our day-of wedding coordinator, kept everything in order and made it easy for Harry and I to enjoy our wedding and know that everything was being taken care of behind the scenes.

We could not have hoped for a more beautiful wedding experience that truly represented who we are as a couple and what we wanted our guests to experience during our wedding ceremony and reception. Each and every person we worked with helped to bring our dream and vision of rustic romance to life and create the magical night we will remember forever.

Photography: Ulysses Photography / Event Location: Onteora Mountain House / Flowers: A Night in Bloom / Invitations: Momental Designs / Bride’s Dress: Demetrios / Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Hair: Chelsea Harris, Salon 52 Hair Studio / Day-of Event Coordinator: Jeanne Stark / Music: Hudson Valley Entertainment / Catering: Blue Mountain Bistro / Ceremony Music: Woodstock String Quartet

I imagine there will be a day here at Style Me Pretty that I am not completely obsessed with a pair of fabulous shoes, but, fortunately for me, today is not that day.  No, today I am head over heels for a pair of I-must-have-them-now teal Manolos, as worn by the super stylish bride from this NYC soiree by City Chic Weddings.  In fact, I happen to be quite smitten with everything about this lovely wedding, from the gorgeous eggplant bridesmaid dresses to that stunning bouquet by Ariston Flowers to the bride’s fabulous birdcage veil, this is one traditional meets vintage chic fête that I can’t get enough of.  Ayenia Nour Photography was there to capture every brilliant detail, so join me in the gallery for all of the pretty!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From City Chic Weddings… The bride, a native New Yorker, and the groom, hailing from North Carolina really tried to make a fusion of cultural and personal aspects that embodied them both.  The wedding was planned in a matter of six months since the bride always dreamed of a May wedding.

The ceremony took place at St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church.  The couple chose this location because they loved the detail and gothic style of the old and traditional architecture, and found it matched their vision for the perfect ceremony. For the reception, the venue of choice was The Water’s Edge, where the bride and groom envisioned something on the water overlooking the New York City skyline.  It was the perfect venue that was able to cater to over 130 attendees (up from 50—which the bride owes to her fun and ever-growing big Greek family) Its high ceilings and huge dance floor were exactly what the couple was looking for, and as the sun set, the city lights made a beautiful backdrop as you looked out from the floor to ceiling windows. The floral arrangements were from Ariston Flowers, with each table of the reception featuring an elegant round centerpiece made of a mix of white in-season flowers with hints of deep purple to complement the color scheme of the bridesmaid’s dresses.

To follow with the Greek tradition, an important aspect of the reception was the traditional Greek music and folk dancing. Here, every guest took part in the well-known Greek circle dance, a fundamental Greek wedding custom.  The groom surprised the bride by performing the solo Greek dance known as “Zeibekiko.” He did this by taking dance lessons with her father a few months before the wedding. The bride and other family members took turns taking part in this customary dance.   By infusing a number of cultural elements along with classic inspiration and modern city flair, City Chic Weddings was happy to put together this first-class affair.

Ceremony Location: St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church / Event Planning + Styling: City Chic Weddings / Wedding Photography: Ayenia Nour Photography / Floral Design: Ariston Flowers / Reception Location + Wedding Cake: The Water’s Edge / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bride’s Hair: She Goes To Your Head / Bride’s Veil: Bride’s Head Revisited / Bride’s Jewelry: Mother of the Bride / Hair Comb: Andrea’s Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff

Love is in the air and swirling all around these two love birds and their Governor’s Island Engagement Session. They make it look so easy…posing for one gorgeous image after another as they frolic, bike, picnic and stare lovingly in to each other’s eyes. Kind of sounds like the perfect afternoon, don’t you think? You Go, I Go, We Go Photography was there to shoot all the prettiness you see before you. Whether it be color or black and white, each image is insanely stunning and waiting in the full gallery for you to take a gander!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From You Go, I Go, We Go Photography…This sweet tandem bike engagement session was shot on Governor’s Island in NY. (A tiny island often missed between Liberty Island & Ellis Island) We thought it would be perfect because the island is only open during the summer, and the ferry ride over from Manhattan or Brooklyn is 5 minutes tops! So close and yet you feel like you are being transported to the European Countryside. A much needed escape from the go go go of NYC.

Manuella & Alan plan to marry in France next year so we wanted to create a shoot that mirrored this feeling, complete with a picnic appropriate for a grassy French field. We thought an old tandem Schwinn bike would be the perfect addition to such a feeling. With the help of an old stone fort, cobblestone paths, and empty fields, we really felt like we were in another world!

Photography + Propping: You Go, I Go, We Go Photography / Venue: Governor’s Island, NY