New York Weddings

Ok lovelies, did you have serious ants in your pants waiting for the big reveal over the weekend? Because I most definitely did, and as much as I love a little extra suspense, I was ready to start the drumroll. Well the wait is over my pretty friends. The first ever Inspire Me Pretty winner is the very lovely Alicia of Charity Wedding! Her seriously glam board oozes elegance and made me feel oh so fancy on this Monday morning. Pretty fab, don’t you agree?

Congrats Alicia! Thanks for making this day that much prettier! I can’t even wait to do the next Inspire Me Pretty! Maybe Hudson Valley inspired? Yankee inspired? I would love suggestions! xoxo, A. Blaire

This down on the farm Cooperstown wedding by Orchard Cove Photography is playing my heart strings like a fiddle. The lovely color combos, the pretty pretty paper from Spark Letterpress, the gaggle of geese and pretty pretty sheep – I’m surprised you can’t hear my heart strings singing and strummin’ from where your sitting this morning. There is just.so.much to sing about in this lovely affair, so I suggest you take a little jaunt over to the full gallery of images for even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… I had grown up visiting Cooperstown in the summertime and knew that the town had so much to offer, so we came up with a four-day itinerary for our guests and really tried to emphasize the different events on our custom made save the date with Spark letterpress… we would throw a beer tasting with a local brewery during a welcome party at the Baseball Hall of Fame on Thursday evening, hold a golf outing at the Otesaga Hotel’s golf course on Friday morning, a softball game on the famous Doubleday Field before the rehearsal dinner on Friday and then have the intimate wedding ceremony and reception that we were hoping for on Saturday evening. Cooperstown just felt FUN – and we couldn’t wait to show our guests this perfectly quaint and beautiful village.

We wanted to respect the quaint, rustic and historical aesthetic that makes Cooperstown so special – we kept the ceremony decor simple but detail-oriented. The church at the farmer’s museum was such a blank canvas and I fell in love with it for its simplicity. It felt unfair to try and “pretty” it up too much. My mom and a few of her friends collected vintage hankies for over a year and we displayed them in a basket at the entrance of the church with a note that said “for your happy tears.” We followed along with this same theme at the reception with pashminas in a vintage suitcase and a sign reading “for a midnight stroll,” next to these were flip-flips with a sign reading “for your dancing feet.” I love mason jars and initially tried to use them as our reception centerpieces but ultimately decided they were better suited for the ceremony location. They fit in perfectly with the beautiful church windows.

Our paper goods became such an important part of our wedding process. We realized that in order to get people to Cooperstown for more than just one night we really needed to lay the foundation for a fun, energetic and lively weekend. The team at Spark Letterpress were out-of-control, cannot-describe-accurately-in-words AMAZING and I would recommend them (and do recommend them) to everyone I know. We worked with them on designing and letterpress-printing our save the dates and invitations – and then they designed our menus, programs, place cards, favor cards and welcome basket items – but had their partners at Village Invites in Manhattan do the actual digital printing for these items.

Zack and I are both pretty into food so we spent a few different car rides coming up with food and drink pairings to act as table cards – each table was named after things that go well together – like “peas and carrots,” “meat and potatoes,” “bacon and eggs” – and our head table was named “Laura and Zack.”

As for reception details, we organized bocce and croquet games on the back lawn during the cocktail hour which made for good times and some amazing photos! We also had several tables set up in a room off of the dining room displaying wedding portraits of family members, the cigar bar, candy bar and photo booth- these details helped to gave off the vintage, fun and whimsical feel that we were hoping to emulate that night and throughout the entire weekend.

There are so many moments throughout the day that we will treasure – but after we were about 10 minutes into all of the festivities and Zack and I had the opportunity to look around and see all of our friends and family laughing, playing croquet and bocce on the back lawn, enjoying the beautiful veranda and view of the lake, we really just felt a huge sense of relief come over us… like we “did it!” And while I know it sounds a bit cliche, the feeling of having so many people surrounding you on that day and having them all in the same place and rooting for you is just an indescribable feeling and one we will carry with us always.

Wedding Photography: Orchard Cove Photography / Wedding Ceremony Location: The Farmers’ Museum / Wedding Reception Location: The Otesaga Resort / Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Accessories: Sara Gabriel / Florist: Coddington’s Florist / Band: Prime Time Horns / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair: Timeless Spa and Salon / Videographer: Bigler Productions / Umbrellas: Bella Umbrella / Invitations: Spark Letterpress

OK, have you LOVED this Inspire Me Pretty fest as much as I have? What a great addition to an already very pretty week! Building boards is uber therapeutic to me, and I love that I am not alone on this one! I would build a board everyday if I could get away with it – but enough about me, I bet you want to see whose board is getting its 15 minutes of fame. Well you’ll just have to wait a little bit longer. There were so many pretty boards I couldn’t possible decide in one hour, so the winner will be announced on Monday morning! Stay tuned!

In case you missed them, here are the pretty posts from SMP New York this week:

a to die for bridal shoot in Brooklyn
a New York City wedding with loads of personality 
an Inspire Me Pretty board building challenge
a could not be more pretty Rye wedding
a chic NYC affair at Gramercy Park Hotel

A few pretty things we found around the web…

a save the date perfect for a seaside affair via The Sweetest Occasion 
a seriously stylish recap of the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic via Everything Fabulous
a doily DIY via Sparkle & Hay

Have a simply fabulous weekend everyone! We’ll see you back here on Monday! xoxo, A.Blaire

So here we are again at the end of yet another fabulous, inspiring, and beautiful week at SMP! Before we bid you adiu for the weekend, we want to share an ah-maz-ing wedding that is sitting pretty over on our SMP New York Weddings blog. Held at The Gramercy Park Hotel (my favorite hotel, even though I’ve never been there) this wedding is sure to knock you right off your feet with its dramatic setting, so go ahead, check out it all out here. And have a pretty, pretty weekend! See you Monday morning. xoxo

If you missed any, here are all of our pretty posts from the week:

a pretty in pink island affair
a beyond fabulous bachelorette party
a bohemian chic outdoor Austin wedding
an Ontario wedding with a twist
a West Hollywood stunner
a beyond beautiful Bali bash
another day filled with seven gorgeous weddings
a super gorgeous indoor Charlotte wedding
another Napa Valley stunner from Jose Villa

Some fabulous links from around the web:

A super cute DIY wedding hairdo via A Cup of Jo. 
Bold and bright DIY Ikat pillow via DesignSponge.
Our very own Abby plays guest judge over at Elizabeth Anne Designs and The Sweetest Occasion.

We’d also like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest Little Black Book Members…

Erica Keuter Designs
Carol Harrold Photography
Albert Palmer Photography
Parrish Designs
Wind Productions
New England Country Rentals
Virgil Bunao
My Simple Details
Susie Cee Makeup
Susie Chhuor Makeup
Posh Petals and Pearls
Your Beauty Call
Barbie Hull Photography
Liven It Up Events
NY Ceremony Music
Elan Artists
Green Leaf Designs
Makeupforyourday
the Event company
Daniel Stark Photography
Art of Imagination
Anna Kim Photography
Tiger Lily Weddings
Stelloberry Designs
Stevie Ramos Photography

To apply to become a member of our LBB click here. We’d love to hear from you!

Have the prettiest weekend ever! See you Monday morning. Xoxo

Okay, it’s official. I need to get my booty to the Hudson River Valley. It’s beyond gorgeous. The perfect locale for a wedding. This adorable couple had the right idea when they fled The City and headed for the hills. And the proof is in the pictures from none other than Robert and Kathleen Photography. These two have done it again and it’s all here in the gallery for us to devour on this lovely Friday morning!

Click here to see entire image gallery!

From Robert and Kathleen Photography: There are some couples that seem to say a thousand words to one another without actually speaking at all. Ashley and Alex are one of those couples and it was never more evident than on their wedding day. It started from the very first moment they laid eyes on each other that day during their first look on the winding dirt road leading out to the golf course of the country club. While Alex stood there waiting to feel Ashley’s hand gently touch him on his shoulder, he held his hands together in an effort to contain his nervous excitement. Although he couldn’t see her, Ashely was doing nearly the same thing as she walked toward him grinning ear to ear, trying to keep in all the emotions she was feeling as she was about to see Alex. When they faced each other, it all came to the surface. The flurry of emotion between the two of them came flooding out through the sweet expressions on their faces, the way they grasped each other’s hands and how they would gently touch each other’s face when the kissed. That connection stayed strong all night long, each of them knowing exactly how the other felt with the simple touch of a hand or glance. As they signed their Ketubah surrounded by their closest family and friends, they held hands tightly and look over at one another as if they were each trying to reassure the other that this all really was happening. As they exchanged vows, they did so not only with their words but also with their unspoken support in the form of a loving glance or squeeze of the hand. When the night came to an end and the last dance was played Ashley and Alex were out in the middle of the dance floor, holding one another tight and staring into each other’s eyes. In that moment that one look said more than any words every could.

Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Hair: Brittany DiGiacomo / Make-up: Meredith Hayman / Flowers: Lee Vazquez Floral Design / Bridal Gown: Watters / Bridal Shop: Lovely Bridal Shop / Tablecards: Calligraphy by Bride’s Mother / Ceremony and Reception Location: Highlands Country Club / Reception Entertainment: Fevah Dream

There is more to this seriously stylish couple than just two pretty faces. Yes, the sophisticated, city-chic feel at the Gramercy Park Hotel is out of this world fabulous (hello amazing light display!), and yes the images from Robert & Kathleen Photographers are seriously breathtaking. But it’s this couple’s commitment to helping others (the groom happens to be the founder) that has me seriously swooning. Not only did they provide us with gorgeous wedding eye candy, they also made me aware of a great cause – you have to love that! See even more here!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Robert & Kathleen Photographers… New Yorkers Renee & Matt selected the classic Gramercy Park Hotel for their wedding after being drawn to it’s unique decor and vast collection of art.  The ceremony & reception were held in the roof terrace – an area of the hotel filled with particularly interesting touches since it was originally the home of the hotel’s architect.  The cocktail hour was held in the Rose Bar – a popular weekend spot that was reserved solely for Renee & Matt’s guests that evening.

Matt lived in Africa as a boy, attended high school in London and somehow ended up selecting St. Louis, Missouri when it came time to pick a college. From all his travels around the world, it would be in Missouri that Matt would find a girl from Connecticut. Renee caught his eye during the three years they shared the campus at Washington University, yet they never really got to know one another. Even though Renee does say that she definitely noticed Matt back then as well, they wouldn’t connect until years later.

Both committed to helping others, it was their shared interest in helping the people of Rwanda that finally brought them together. After law school, Matt started a nonprofit called Indego Africa, an organization that partners women artisans in Rwanda with high-end retailers and returning all of the profits back to Rwanda in order to help bring an end to poverty in the region. (It’s an incredibly worthwhile cause and the products are amazing, you can check out the online store here). Renee, pursuing a career in clinical psychology, had a research trip planned to Rwanda when a mutual friend suggested she get in touch with Matt since he knew quite a bit about the region. She was more than happy to go along with the suggestion. They chatted on the phone for a bit and eventually an official date was made. It was at a bar in D.C., they not only noticed one another once again but finally got to talk in person. The spark between them was clear right away.

For a couple always seeking to make the world a better place, they did that night. Just by finding one another.

Wedding Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Gramercy Park Hotel / Bridal Gown: Christos / Favors: Indego Africa (Handmade Gifts from Women in Rwanda)

Get ready to fall head over heels in love with this Rye Wedding by Vanessa Joy Photography. Head. over. (hopefully very pretty) heels. There is so much pretty to be had I felt like I could make 100 boards when putting this post together. I tried to reign it in, but that means the full gallery is just that – full. Full of so much pretty you can spend all day in there, and I highly suggest you do just that. See even more here!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Vanessa Joy Photography… Chrissy and Ryan had a super-cute engagement session in Hoboken last month, complete with two perfect books for starting out as a husband and wife. I knew then that Chrissy had an eye for detail, and their wedding definitely showed that strong-suit! I was literally in detail heaven throughout the day and every single thoughtful touch really brought out Chrissy and Ryan’s personalities.

Ironically, just a few days prior, I was telling a friend that I was dying to shoot a personalized wire hanger, and Chrissy made that dream come true, along with engraved wedding rings with The Simpsons quote “I choo-choo-choose you,” custom wood carved initials, “Thank You” on a string, funky sunglasses, Mr. & Mrs. chair signs, pink bathrobes for the bridesmaids, intricately chosen flowers, doily wrapped flower petals for the church exit, a turquoise vintage Chevrolet get-away car, and Maid of Honor homemade “Whoopee! We’re married!” pies for guests to enjoy during their drive to the reception. We made a stop to an old historic church on the way to the reception for some seriously amazing pictures of just the two of them before heading to The Wainwright house.

The reception ceiling had Chinese lanterns, mason jars for cocktail and reception table flowers, a photo booth for extra entertainment during the reception, a clothes-line frame full of old photos hung with clothes pins, flip-flops for dancing in, a cupcake-cake (with an actual cake-topper to complete the traditional cake-cutting ceremony), a coffee and tea station with a huge fun tea cup and custom made glass 6-foot server platter with coffee beans and other fun embedded in it, candy bar favors on the way out, and a big finish with a sparkler send-off.

I seriously hope you enjoy all of these fun details (if for naught else than ideas) as I truly enjoyed photographing each and every one of them!

Wedding Photography: Vanessa Joy Photography / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Augustine’s Church / Wedding Reception: The Wainwright House / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta / Makeup & Hair: Expert Makeup Artistry / Entertainment: Brian Lynch of Electrifying Productions / Photo Booth: Vanessa Joy Photography

Happy Wedding Wednesday New Yorkers! I am going to shake things up a bit here because I know there are so many of you out there, and I sorta kinda want to have a chance to meet you all in some way, shape or form. So I thought it might be a good idea to start inspiring each other. So here’s what I’m thinking – I’ll show you an inspiration board of a wedding that is floating around in my head. A wedding that screams “I’m 100% ALL New York”. Then you can create one using our board builder to show me what about New York inspires you. Let’s keep them New York focused, but dream big! Anything goes here folks, no budgets involved! Just show me your absolute dream New York wedding. Label and TAG your board Inspire Me Pretty NY, and on Friday I’ll pick my favorite to post on the Wrap It Up Pretty New York post. Ready? This week, I whipped up a sophisticated city-style affair. Modern with a touch of whimsy. I can almost smell the city streets and feel the Jimmy Choo’s on my feet…

What do you think? Now it’s your turn, so get to board building! I can barely wait to see all the amazingness! Remember to label your board Inspire Me Pretty NY and look for the winner on Friday afternoon! xoxo, A.Blaire

You would think that after four years of blogging about one romantic love story after another, I would be a bit desensitized to all of the mushy stuff. That I might just watch something like this next little gem and not shed a single tear. WRONG. Totally wrong. I sat here like a baby, bawling my eyes out, grinning from ear to ear, clutching my hands together in total glee. It’s a proposal story that the holy-cow-fabulous McKenzie Miller of McKenzie Miller Films sent our way and it has single-handedly turned my not so great day, into total happiness. It’s a last minute addition to today’s line-up but one that you really can’t miss…one that I simply HAD to share.

I am a wedding cinematographer in New York City and last month I had the opportunity to be a part of the most fun and exciting wedding proposal in Grand Central Station. Todd (the proposer) contacted me about a week before it was to take place to see if I would be interested in sneakily filming him proposing to his girlfriend in Grand Central during rush hour. Todd works in Connecticut every day and therefore always comes through Grand Central. Griffin often meets him there after work to go to dinner or wherever, so Grand Central has a special place in their hearts. I had never met Griffin before so all I had to recognize her by were the few photos Todd sent to me. After a few secret meetings with Todd to finalize details, the big day arrived and it was so much fun! Todd was scheduled to be in Grand Central at the height of rush hour when thousands of people are making their way through the terminal. He told Griffin he had received really good news at work that day and wanted to go out and celebrate. Since she met him there so often, she didn’t think anything of it. Todd’s plan for the proposal was to have 11 strangers on his train hand Griffin 11 white roses. Once that was done, he emerged with the 12th rose and proposed. Everything went off without a hitch and as you can see from the video, Griffin was totally surprised!

Thank you, McKenzie…and the adorable proposer…for brightening my day to no end.

Two high school sweethearts turned into one adorable married couple, and 4Eyes Photography was there to capture all the fun! And capture it they did, with loads of style and personality in the couple’s new home of New York City. The Bowery Hotel provided the duo with the stylish backdrop close to home they were looking for and the rest is, as they say, history. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Some might say this wedding was a long time coming… Andrew and I met and began dating our junior year of high school. Through two high schools, two volvos, four proms, three colleges and a selection of strange summer jobs, we were nearly inseparable for the next three and half years. <<intermission>>

Our paths crossed five years later in our adopted hometown of New York City and we quickly realized how similar we had become in our years apart. One stormy night last March, a walk around the neighborhood turned into a surprise wedding proposal followed by dinner at our favorite neighborhood spot with our parents, who Andrew had secretly arranged to drive up from Philadelphia.

We wanted our wedding to reflect our long history but also celebrate our new relationship so we decided to focus our venue search on New York City.  The Bowery Hotel is a convenient two blocks away from our apartment, which for New York City is about as close as you can get to getting married at home. It was the first place I contacted after getting engaged and we couldn’t have been happier with the results. We wanted to play up the winter side of a March wedding, so we chose deep jewel-tone accents and kept the fireplace roaring.  Since we were married on the festival of Purim, Andrew’s grandma baked her famous hamantaschen to celebrate. Other delicious desserts included Veniero’s cheesecake and Momofuku Milk Bar cookies and truffles.

Thanks to amazing family, friends and vendors, the wedding weekend was filled with countless happy memories. Our favorite moments had to be dancing the night away to our band Dexter Lake Club and most of all, our ceremony. Preparing our ceremony and writing our personal vows was the most special and personal part of the wedding celebration. When we shared our vows in advance I couldn’t get through them without bawling, luckily we held it together for the real deal!

Kelly and Rupert of 4Eyes Photography beautifully captured the vibe of the night. We look through the pictures all the time and both agree, we wouldn’t change a thing.

Wedding Photography: 4Eyes Photography / Floral Design: Victoria Ahn of Designs by Ahn / Wedding Invitations: MaeMae Paperie / Cake & Desserts: Momofuku Milk Bar + Veniero’s + Grandmother of the Groom (Homemade Hamantaschen) / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Jewelry: Elizabeth Cole Jewelry / Groom’s suit: Custom by Mr. Ned / Wedding rings: Little King Ltd. / Day of Coordination: Rachel Arteaga Events / Band: Dexter Lake Club Band / Cinematography: Tyler Ribble / Venue: The Bowery Hotel

Remember when you were little, you’d put on your mom’s veil and waltz around with your Ken doll to the gentle crooning of Sleeping Beauty? You’d imagine your perfect wedding day, with your best friends dressed in tutu’s all lined up sweetly behind you. Well this wedding, in my humble opinion, is the perfect grown up version of that childhood fairy tale. Karen Hill is the lady behind the lens for this New York wedding at the brides private family estate, and it has brought us back to a simpler, prettier (if you can believe it) time. We’re in love. Dance on over to the gallery when you’re done here!

From Karen Hill … Darlington Hall, set in a majestic park like setting, is the bride’s family’s country estate. For Olympia and John, it was clearly the perfect setting for their wedding. The grounds of Darlington Hall are magnificent. The entry gate, manicured gardens, pools, ponds and rolling hills all played a part in the splendor of this beautiful and memorable wedding landscape – one no one will soon forget.

Photographically, I covered their wedding in both film and digital. I love how each worked to capture the subtle nuances of place, light and how richly the images describe the day.

John taught me all about wines and we really fell in love on our first trip to Napa a few years ago; we have returned many times and love everything from the vineyards to the natural beauty of the scenery and the great food – and so it was natural that John proposed in Napa. He was supposed to propose at our favorite vineyard, Paul Hobbs, but apparently I was so impatient (I didn’t think he was going to propose) that he ended up proposing at our hotel. But it was still perfect! All the wine at our wedding was from Paul Hobbs which was special for us

We got married at my family’s summer house because we loved the idea of getting married at home. We felt it was the most personal place to have the wedding. We wanted something outside, in the gardens, with a summery feel to it so it was an easy choice!

We wanted simple elegance, light colors, everything that you think of when you think of warm summers. John is from England so we wanted to marry the best of both cultures. One of the first things my mom bought after our engagement were United Kingdom and United States flags to attach to our garden houses for the day of the wedding.

Photography: Karen Hill Photography / Location: Darlington Hall / Flowers: Cecily F. Grand / Caterer: Sarah Bouissou / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid Dresses: Lovely

When I think of SMP’s new local wedding blogs, I can’t help but think of my best friend’s mom’s bumper sticker back when I was in high school that read, “Think Globally, Act Locally” because that’s exactly what we’re doing here at SMP. We’re bringing the wedding wonderfulness right to your own back yard! So whether you’re interested in California weddings, Texas weddings, New York weddings, Florida weddings, or Destination weddings, SMP has got you covered. So go ahead, Act Locally, my high school best friend’s mom will love you for it! And for all you visual peeps out there, here’s a peek at what’s going on in Florida from the fabulous Kat Braman. Click here for even more!

Don’t fret if you don’t see your hometown in our local lineup yet! We’re working hard to cover each corner of the country, so stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled, because SMP is coming to a state near you really, really soon!

Happy Monday! On Friday we gave you a little teaser for this fabulous bridal photo shoot by Tory Williams, Blades Natural Beauty, Poppies & Posies, Regas New York and more, and now you get to see it in all of its glory! If you can even believe it, this shoot was created completely on the fly and in a wink they had models, dresses, flowers and beauty all ready to make their inspiration a reality. These ladies make magic happen! Be sure to check out all of the glamourous inspiration in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

And just because we want to make your Monday a little more inspirational, here is the behind the scenes video from MDK Productions!

Behind the Scenes: Bridal Fashion Shoot from Tory Williams on Vimeo.

From Tory Williams… A bridal fashion shoot on the fly! Jessa Blades and I dreamt up this shoot with the inspiration of her beautiful Ft. Greene apartment.  Not knowing what we were getting into— we had the location, makeup, photography, and a lot of ideas.  Luckily we know a handful of wonderful and generous vendors that contributed to making this an amazing production.

We found models from all angles; a flight attendant from recent trip, a couple actors, as well as some really beautiful friends.  Samuelle and Sir Brooklyn’s dresses were the icing on the cake.  Both completely unique designers paving new trends in the industry.  Bowties are all the rave with Jcravata’s handmade wears, and the most stunning jewelry by Caleo Jewelry to decorate the brides.  It wouldn’t be a fashion shoot without hair!  The Parlour Brooklyn impressed us all with their team of busy stylists attending to each hair.  And finally, Poppies and Posies added their mark with their brightly colored arrangements complimenting Jessa’s vibrant lipstick selections.

Photography: Tory Williams / Video: Meredith Kaufman / Makeup: Jessa Blades of Blades Natural Beauty / Jewelry: Lyndsay Caleo / Hair Accessories: Susan Domelsmith of DLC Brooklyn / Flowers: Sierra and Juliet of Poppies & Posies / Hair Styling: The Parlour Brooklyn / Dresses: Joanna Baum of Sir Brooklyn + Sam Beasley of Samuelle / Men’s Suits: Hickey Freeman / Men’s Bowties: Joshua M. Anderson of J.Cravata / Men’s Shirts: Alex Yoo of Alexander West / Stationery: Meredith Kurosko of Regas New York / On Set Stylist: Emily Gilbert

What a pretty, pretty week it has been! Here we are at Friday again and it’s June! How did that happen? Hopefully you have something fabulous up your sleeves for the weekend. In the meantime, how are you loving SMP New York Weddings? We are LOVING the local blogs, but want to hear from you too! Feel free to let us know what you want to see more or less of on these local blogs in the comment section below. We read and love each.and.every.one! To tide you over while you are leaving comments and getting ready to ride off into the weekend, here is a little sneak peak of the fabulousness by Tory Williams Photography and Blades Natural Beauty coming your way on Monday! xoxo

Photography: Tory Williams Photography

In case you missed them, here are the pretty posts from SMP New York this week:

a quirky, vintage Manhattan wedding
a glam-our-ous Manhattan affair 
a detail-filled love-fest by Cayuta Lake
a fall fête in the Adirondack’s
a seriously adorable Coney Island engagement shoot

A few pretty things we found around the web…

a DIY glittery cake bunting via The Sweetest Occasion 
how about water-proof drink labels perfect for your next backyard party? via A Subtle Revelry 
a must bookmark – proper table settings via Mrs. Lilien

While you are browsing the web, join the party on our SMP New York Weddings Facebook page!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  We’ll see you back here bright and early on Monday! xoxo, A.Blaire

Holy adorable Coney Island engagement shoot by Patricia Kantzos Photography! And holy ridiculously good looking couple! Such lookers I tell you! I promise to stop using exclamation marks at some point of this post, but it’s just so hard when everything is so freakin’ cute! Not only are they pretty as can be, but Coney Island was their very first date – if it wasn’t for that super sweet fact, I would be convinced they were models! There is a gallery full of images worthy of exclamation marks for you to go gaga over, so be sure to stop on by! (end of the exclamation overload).

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Patricia Kantzos Photography… Kwanji & Howel had their first date at Coney Island.  So when they were deciding on a location for their E-Shoot it was easy to choose this classic Brooklyn location.

Photography: Patricia Kantzos Photography / Location: Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY

We have a real treat for y’all this morning!  I’m doing my own little happy dance over this dreamilicious vintage-inspired photo shoot directed by Aisle Candy and photographed by one of our absolute favorite photo-extraordinaires KT Merry.  This is part ballerina, part fairy tale romance and all kinds of breathtaking.  I don’t think it could possibly get much better than inspiration featuring the latest line of wedding dresses from BHLDN, loads of details from Anthropologie and a team of some of our favorite New York vendors.  I want to pack my bags and live inside this shoot I love it so much!  What could make this little nugget of goodness even better, you ask?  How about a buying guide and DIY project from the Katie of Aisle Candy to go along with all this pretty!?  Head on over there this morning to get the low-down on all this loveliness.  But first waltz yourself over to the full gallery to see even more!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Katie of Aisle Candy… The inspiration for our shoot was bridal fashion with a vintage New York flair. We shot at The Metropolitan Building in Long Island City which has got to be one of the coolest and most unique spaces I’ve even seen. It served as the perfect backdrop for our shoot, providing soft and warm hues to compliment our color palette of muted gold, neutral and blush tones. The shoot was all about vintage elegance and gorgeous imagery. The fashion styling was done by Dara of Preston & Olivia who brought together all the looks flawlessly with gowns from BHLDN and Marchesa.

The table scape was created by New York event stylist Ara Farnam of Rock Paper Scissors Events and featured vintage plates, glass and stemware all from Anthropologie, gorgeous floral arrangements by kat flower and sweet little placecards hand calligraphed in gold ink by Love, Jenna. Ara added texture and warmth to the eclectic mix of colorful tableware by pairing it with lace ribbon and soft flowing linens. We also had some adorable macarons made by Nine Cakes, which we ate at the end of the day – they were delicious!

The shoot was so much fun and I think everyone involved really enjoyed working together. It was truly an honor to collaborate with such amazing vendors! Everyone worked so hard on this shoot and it shows. The images are just breathtaking!

Location: The Metropolitan Building / Photographer: KT Merry / Hair: Takahide Tokuyama for Patrick Melville Salon / Makeup: Hiro Yonemoto for MAKE UP FOR EVER / Models: Click Models / Dresses: BHLDN + Gabriella New York / Hair Accessories: ban.do + Preston & Olivia + Jennifer Behr + Jannie Baltzer / Jewelry: BHLDN + Amanda Pearl / Floral Design: kat flower / Cake & Macarons: Nine Cakes / Event Design & Styling: Rock Paper Scissors Events / Calligraphy: Love Jenna / Tableware: Anthropologie / Models: Click Models / Fashion Styling: Dara Kent-Cobb of Preston & Olivia

Not to get ahead of the summer weather we are FINALLY enjoying here in New England, but I seriously love fall fêtes. There is inspiration to pull from everywhere, and this Adirondack wedding by Andy Duback pulled prettiness from all of my fall favorites – apples, barns, and the beautiful, crisp fall colors. On top of all of that – the couple requested all the ladies attending this festive fall occasion wear hats to recognize the groom’s English heritage. Love that! Since I not so secretly want hats to become the norm at weddings, I couldn’t be more thrilled at this step in the right direction. One small step for the hat-wearing kind! Don’t forget there is even more of this fabulous, fall, hat-wearing wedding in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… We got married September 4, 2010 at our farm in the Adirondacks. The farm has been in my family for over a hundred years and is a special place for me and my husband. It brings together all of our cousins on summer weekends and has made us all so much closer.

Once we decided to get married at the farm, the look and feel of the wedding developed from that. We used the colors of the barns (red and a pale blue) for our invitations. Our wedding weekend included lots of our favorite activities – from hiking to biking, swimming to visiting a goat farm. Matt and I spent all spring and summer working to transform our hay barn into a romantic and beautiful space for our cocktail hour. We brought in fresh cut trees and put up lights from Restoration Hardware.

Fall at the farm is so wonderful because we grow our own apples and make cider using a traditional cider press. We decided to get married in the apple orchard so we used apples as a theme throughout the wedding. They looked beautiful and saved us a lot of money on flowers. We used them at the entrance to the farm in my grandmother’s old fashioned bicycle basket, in cider presses that we had on the property directing people to the cocktail hour and tent and lining the aisle. We also put them in everyone’s gift bags. One of my bridesmaids made a stamp of the farm and we used that as a tag for the gift bags.

When we were cleaning out the barn, we found a lot of wonderful things that we used as decoration. My step dad cleaned and wheeled out an old Model T car that was my uncle Johnny’s. Johnny is no longer with us so it was very meaningful to have his car there. Inside the tent, we used the same colors from the barns for the table cloths, flowers and menu cards. We also had shinny apples and tea lights on all the tables. My friend made the menu cards and table numbers as a gift to us and we ordered simple red frames online to make them look elegant. We brought in branches from our land to tie to the tent poles to give the tent a more natural feeling and collected moss to surround our birch tree looking wedding cake.

Outside of the tent we set up two white, wrought iron benches for people who wanted to go outside and enjoy the evening. We hung mason jars from the trees over the benches and put candles in them to give it a warm feeling. As a guest book, we had an unfinished Adirondack chair and left pens in our theme colors for our guests to sign. My husband is from England so we asked all the ladies to wear hats and the men to wear morning suits. The hats were a big hit and lots of fun. We repainted the posts for horse jumps and placed them around the tent for ladies to put their hats on. My friend Mary used paint leftover from painting our barns to paint signs for the cocktail hour, wedding and after party. Our florist put flowers on the chupa and lined the aisle with rose petals. We lit candles at the beginning of the aisle. My uncle is a rabbi and officiated. We wrote our own vows which were heartfelt but also funny. We served lemonade and sparkling water to guests when they arrived and passed out little bottles of bubbles for guests to blow instead of rice after the ceremony. Two of our best friends sang Irene Cara’s “What a Feeling” as we walked back down the aisle after our ceremony. It was the most wonderful day of my life.

Wedding Photography: Andy Duback / Cinematography: Bradley Clarke / Floral Design: David Michael Schmidt of Renaissance Floral Design / Event Planning: Megan Grabowski / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Brant Lake Farm, Private Residence / Tent Rental: Clifton Park Rental Center / Wedding Invitations: Sesame Letterpress / Save the Date: Ceci New York / Wedding Dress: Angelo Lambrou / Catering: Glen Sanders / Cake: Cuisinne Lucette / Hair & Makeup: Ann-Marie Flores / Programs: Sarah Drake

Who doesn’t love an affair that starts with a book of love letters and ends up becoming a gorgeous, detail-filled love fest on the lake? I can tell you who does love that scenario – this little lady over here on this side of the computer screen! Mabyn Ludke Photography, the talent behind the lens for this pretty party and the sender of the sweet description below, captured the day in such a way I feel like I was there. She also jam-packed the gallery full of images for us all to enjoy so this pretty party doesn’t have to end!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Mabyn Ludke Photography… I couldn’t have asked for a better kick off to my wedding season. It was about an hour & 1/2 drive to reach the Fontaine Bleau Inn, but I loved every minute of it! There was a warm breeze was in the air, the ominous clouds held off their rain, and the countryside displayed it’s splendor. When I finally reached my destination I was welcomed by a friendly voice from a second story window. Leah’s face glowed with excitement waving down from her bed & breakfast nook. The whole place was a buzz with last minute details. Chairs being set up, flowers being placed, & cute little touches EVERYWHERE! Leah & Patrick had thought of everything.

I came into Leah’s room while she wrote in her journal (or so I thought). Upon further discussion Leah revealed that it wasn’t just a journal, but a book of love letters she had been writing to Patrick since they had started dating. She had even tucked in letters from when she was a little girl & teenager. Leah’s room that morning was a refuge of peace. Everyone rallied around her to get her put together from her dress all the way to her great grandmothers cameo necklace & earrings. Patrick’s room however, was electric with excitement! From the grin on his face to the jitters in his fingers, Patrick was alive with the thought of marrying Leah. His energy was undeniable!

I put together a “First Look” session for Leah & Pat. We ventured down a sweet little woodland path where we were greeted by a gorgeous old stone church. I had my assistant tuck Patrick away there while Leah made her way through a field of little purple flowers. When Patrick turned to see Leah all of that electricity burst out into tears and laughter. Both Leah & Patrick couldn’t hide the intense love they felt for one another.

I was so overwhelmed with emotion and the ceremony hadn’t even started yet! We made our way back just in time. Leah walked down the isle to “Hymn” by Brooke Fraiser with her bare feet & her parents to support her. Tears streamed down both couples faces as the reality of their dream finally set in. It was no surprise that the ceremony was just as emotional as the first look. Tears of joy were falling everywhere! Leah, Patrick, both sides of parents and even the guests! In hindsight maybe their favors should have been handkerchiefs! The ceremony ended with two very important details. The first was Leah washing Patricks feet like Jesus washed the disciples. It was a surprise gift to Patrick and touched the whole wedding congregation. The second was their first kiss. Up until that point, Leah & Patrick hadn’t allowed anyone to see them kiss! So when they were announced husband & wife the kiss was of epic proportions!

The reception was a plethora of DIY details! From the flowers that were picked from a local garden to the hand stamped candy bags & table tags that hung from a beautiful display of cherry blossoms. I especially loved their little jars of honey with pieces of antique lace tied to the top. Leah & her family did most of the work and it came together beautifully!

The rest of the day was filled with more chatter & laughter than tears, it was a gorgeous celebration of their love!

Photography: Mabyn Ludke Photography / Hair & Makeup: Hannah Heath, Sister of the Bride / Wedding Dress: Ann Taylor / Jewelry: Vintage / Bride’s Shoes: Banana Republic / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew + David’s Bridal / Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein via Men’s Wearhouse / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: The Fontainebleau Inn / Florist: Plenty of Posies / Floral Crown: Plenty of Posies + The Bride / DJ & Lighting: Ormond Entertainment / Catering & Cupcakes: Ithaca Bakery / Wedding Invitations & Stationery: Michael’s

Oscar de la Renta gown, red Valentino shoes. I don’t even think I need to say more. Those words alone set the scene for this elegant and classic Manhattan affair by Susan Baker Photography perfectly. I dream of Oscar and Valentino (who doesn’t) and seeing them in all of their glory in one pretty post makes for a very lovely Tuesday. And of course that is just the beginning, all of the details are as elegant as they are timeless, and you can see it all for yourself in the full gallery of images.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Susan Baker Photography… This was a lovely NYC wedding that began with Chrissy getting dressed into her Oscar de la Renta gown and Valentino red shoes in her family’s apartment overlooking Central Park West, while the groom prepared over at the Surrey Hotel. The majestic St. Ignatius Loyola church served as the backdrop for a heartfelt ceremony presided over by 200 guests. After “the kiss” the Bride & Groom whisked away in a vintage yellow cab and while dusk turned into night, headed off for some fun NYC shots. (They did not want to see each other before the ceremony.) Meanwhile, guests proceeded to the University Club for a relaxed cocktail hour.

Dinner and dancing were held in the main ballroom where floral designer’s Dejuan Stroud’s warm palette of red, yellow and burgundy was bathed in yellow patterned gobo lighting accented on the dance floor. Wedding coordinator and friend of the family, Judith Ness, created the invitations and place cards. All came together in an elegant and last, but not least, fun, energetic, loved filled evening!

Wedding Photography: Susan Baker & Francesco Mastalia of Susan Baker Photography / Cinematography: Valerie Barnes Videography / Floral & Event Design: Dejuan Stroud / Event Planning: Judith Ness Studio / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Ignatius Loyola / Wedding Reception Location: The University Club / Wedding Invitations: Judith Ness Studio / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino / Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta

Gorgeous couple? Check. Stunning dress? Check. Amazing cake, beautiful views, and Nigerian flair? Check! This New York Wedding, sent to us by the fabulous duo of 4Eyes Photography, is becoming a fast favorite here at the Little Black Book Blog. We love unique weddings that really bring a sense of culture to the table, and the amazing images 4Eyes sent our way have us dancing along with what we can only assume was a great Nigerian affair. Make sure you dance over to the gallery for more!

Psst. New York Brides – there are more FAB New York Weddings like this on our new New York Local Blog!

Ayo proposed on a family ski trip at the top of mountain in Utah. I was totally unsuspecting and caught by surprise, but delightedly said yes and we were married eight months later.

We loved the ceremony space at Glen Island Harbour Club, which was a rotunda of glass overlooking the Long Island Sound.  The whole space had an elegance and sophistication that matched our style, and being right next to the water provided a serene and picturesque backdrop for the day. For our wedding, we went with simple elegance. We wanted our fall colors (purple, yellow, gold, orange) to complement the season, not match to it, and to be vibrant and pop

Ayo was born and spent his childhood in Nigeria (where his father is from). After dinner, we incorporated an outfit change into traditional Nigerian dress and re-entered the room to Nigerian music. We then participated in a traditional celebration dance where we invited the room to dance around us in a circle.

Photographer: Kellie & Rupert of 4Eyes Photography / Floral Designer: Diana Gould Ltd / Day of Coordinator: Sojourner Auguste of Erganic Design / Invitation Designer: Kenzie Kate / Cake: Glen Island Harbour Club / Wedding Gown Designer: Nicole Miller / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Jim Hjelm / Bride’s Jewelry: Looney Maiden / Venue: Glen Island Harbour Club