New York Weddings

There’s one thing we know FOR SURE. We know that EVERY single one of you are thinking about the details that will MAKE your wedding. The big and the small. The obvious and the not so obvious! That’s why you’re here, right? And that’s what makes today’s wedding so absolutely enormous . The details … you can see ’em in every shot (i.e., every ~ fabulous ~ shot from Turn Loose The Art)!

from the super creative and beautiful bride …. Kathleen …
It was very important to us that we incorporate our personalities into the wedding. From our invitations, to our quilt guest book we wanted every detail to match who we are as a couple.  Being a huge fan of photography, our pictures were an aspect of the wedding that meant so much to us. We knew it would be those pictures that would serve as that tangible memory of our most special day. We were SO lucky to have found Joe and Britney at Turn Loose The Art.  Not only are they masters of their art, they are absolutely wonderful and fun people!

Britney & Joe have lots more gorgeous shots from the day on their blog! Definitely take a look: Turn Loose The Art: Kathleen & Chris

Share all their joy in this highlight from Pat Ingravallo from Golden Moments Video!

Kathleen & Christopher from Pat Ingravallo (Golden Moments) on Vimeo.

. . .

When we first got engaged it was a no-brainer that we would be married on Long Island surrounded by our closest friends and family. Port Jefferson has always been a special place to us. Not only do we love it’s old world charm, it’s where we had many of our first dates. We knew the church on the big hill would be the perfect place to promise the deepest parts of our being to one another.

Chris and I both love all things old, vintage, and rustic, so we immediately knew we wanted to bring as much of that into our wedding as possible. As much as we would have loved to have our celebration outdoors we were worried about New York’s random weather so we opted for the Hamlet Willow Creek in Mt. Siani. It was breathtaking and had many of the elements we were looking for.

We knew that our bridal party would consist of family members who are very near and dear to our hearts. Our main concern for our bridesmaids and groomsmen was that they each felt comfortable. Their own style dress and shoe, and Nike Air Force Ones helped us accomplish that goal! Chris was the star of the night with his break dancing performances. The smiles and laughter from our friends and family were truly captivating and lit up the entire room. We received so many compliments from our guests who said they have never seen a bride and groom have so much fun on their wedding day. It was the best thing anyone has ever said to us.

Wedding Gown: Priscilla of Boston / Church: Infant Jesus / Venue: Hamlet Willow Creek / Makeup: Makeup by Oksana / Flowers: Roots Florist / Stationery: Rachel Jasper Designs

This is one of those blissful weddings that I could stare at for hours upon end. It’s traditional and yet totally fresh. It’s timeless and yet infused with girly, contemporary touches. It’s pretty, it’s feminine, it’s just perfect. And it proves that ballroom weddings are utterly gorgeous. Photographed by Caroline Tran (who we heart) with flowers by the beloved Saipua and a design by the fab Daughter of Design, this is one of those weddings that I’m sure will quickly jump to the op of your favorite list. Click here to see so much more!

click to see the full wedding gallery!

Jason’s proposal was touching and sentimental. It started with a poem and ended on a bended knee. Soon after, we were surrounded by friends and family delighting in our bliss. The celebration began at dusk and went well into the night. It was a night to remember. Jason and I knew we wanted our wedding to have the same feel; sweet, elegant, romantic and fun!

I started off looking at wedding blogs, including Style Me Pretty, for inspiration. I found myself drawn to ethereal, whimsical, romantic weddings. Chandeliers, candle-lit rooms, soft chiffon, drop veils from Monique Lhuillier, beautiful full peonies, garden roses and lilacs- all were part of my inspiration. Peachy-pink with touches of lilac purple, pinks and chamomile was my color palette. I hand-picked the peach-pink silk-chiffon for my bridesmaids’ dresses and had them custom-made. Not only did the dresses fit them like a glove, but they also showed a bit of their personalities because they were the ones who designed the tops of their dresses. I was also drawn to quirky details. I scoured here and there for the perfect quirky sock for the groomsmen, which I found in Paul Smith. For the bridesmaids, I wanted flowing streams of ribbon for their bouquets. It gave the bouquets a fresh and light element. As for the reception, I wanted guests to feel like they were in an ethereal wonderland full of soft lights and tall branches. I love the organic nature of fresh picked flowers from an English garden and I hoped to reflect that in our floral arrangements.

In all aspects, we had the wedding of our dreams. We knew that the beautiful and majestic Oheka Castle was the only venue we truly desired and was lucky enough to get our wish. Our amazing florists, Saipua in collaboration with Nicolette Camille, did a splendid job adding to the beauty of Oheka with a gorgeous palette and arrangement of flowers. They were so professional and incredibly intuitive. Within minutes of conversing, they understood my vision for my wedding day and they pulled it off without flaw. Our wedding couldn’t have gone so effortlessly without our planner Annie Lee of Daughter of Design and assistants. And finally, our EXTRAORDINARY photographer, Caroline Tran, was there every step of the way to capture all the splendor and elegance.

From the flowers to the cake to the smiles on our guests’ face, it was an amazing day… one I will never forget.

Photography: Caroline Tran / Cinematography: Well Spun Wedding Films / Flowers: Saipua / Event Planning + Design: Daughter of Design / Ceremony + Reception Location: Oheka Castle / Invitations: Bella figura / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Hair: Valery Joseph Salon / Musicians: Rhythm In Motion, Inc / Linens and Coverings: Party Rental LTD / Makeup Artist: makeupnv / Transportation: M & V Limousines LTD / Film Work: Richard Photo

I am pretty positive that New York City has a million cool spots to tie the knot with all of its fab nooks and crannies. But, there is one spot that we go a little crazy for, can’t seem to get enough of and aren’t above begging in order to score one of this coveted locale’s soirees. The venue? That would be The Nest Event Loft by Hatch Creative Studio. It practically oozes with sass and chic city details and this wedding photographed by Yasmin Khajavi is the perfect fit for it. A match made in wedding heaven. See the rest of the pretty New York details in the gallery.

see it all here!

Originally from different places in the US – (Dustin from a farm in Wisconsin, myself from a small town in Oregon) – we knew that getting married in the city where we met and currently live we be the most meaningful for us. Also considering the chain of events that occurred to lead us individually to New York City, and then to actually find each other here, was what we would like to call fate. Thus celebrating our “finding each other” in the Big Apple was a no-brainer! We chose to get married in October because the fall is our favorite time of year. Its when we met. When we moved in together. And when we got engaged (all in consecutive years, of course). So nostalgic and crisp! Dustin and I also wanted to have an incredibly intimate affair, with close family and friends – and all in one venue location. A cocktail party with drinks and food flowing all night was our vision of the perfect party. Dustin an architect, and myself an interior designer, we often times set our aesthetic standards high – maybe too high! We wanted to celebrate our love and our sacred union in beautiful and simple place – And not to mention, with a little “nod and wink to our country backgrounds” with a dash of rustic charm. Where would we find such a place in this concrete jungle?

After extensive searches we finally found The Nest Event Loft, home of Hatch Creative Studio located in the lovely Flatiron District: an ever-so-sweet loft space, studded with breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, and perched on the 17th floor of a beautiful and charming old building. Chocolate hardwood floors, white everything, breezy window treatments, and charming vintage nick-nacks scattered about. Perfect! We had a very DIY mentality and truly created so many of the details from scratch – from the save-the-dates and invitations, to the planning itself. We wanted a very clean and sweet palette that agreed well with the transition from summer into fall – whites, charcoal gray, sweet peaches and pinks, all with a splash of buttery, glowing yellow. My gown from La Sposa, Dustin’s charcoal grey suit from Paul Smith, and our bridal party in J Crew, the attire was that of a semi-formal cocktail affair. I love Etsy with all of my heart, so I worked different artists and designers for all of my accessories including my veil by Fascinating Creations, earrings by Jurgita Handmade, and my garter by Pomp and Plumage. Makeup artist Taryn Potenza really finalized my look with a perfectly fresh face that I could have never done myself!

With an intimate 75 guests, we made sure everyone arrived a tad early to soak in the views and enjoy a glass of bubbly. Our sunset vows occurred at the gorgeous perimeter windows of the space as the sky turned orange. As I walked down the aisle to an acoustic guitar version of “In My Life” by the Beatles, the room felt so full of love. We planted a little tree with the soil from where each of us grew up as a symbol of our unity, sealed our vows, and let the party begin! Tinna Brenton Catering executed a fabulous evening of nonstop food and drink. The concept was “appetizer versions” of our favorite foods, with an ever-evolving menu throughout the night. As “all over the map” as it may seem, our favorite foods are American Comfort, Mexican, and French. Thus the evening featured everything from mashed potato martinis and mini burgers, to pulled pork tacos and chips ‘n guac, to stinky brie and rustic baguette. We cut our cake to Edith Piaf’s “La Vie En Rose”, ate ourselves silly, and danced the night away. With the Empire State Building illuminated in the background, it was perfect down to every little detail. Above all, our wedding philosophy was: It takes a village. To help contribute to the DIY effort, we had the honor of having so many amazing friends and family contribute to key elements – the readings during the ceremony, our beautiful flowers, our scrumptious carrot cake and cupcakes, our fabulous DJ, and our amazing photographer who caught every detail with such a wonderful eye. Even our “wedding” sign was made by Dustin’s sister from a piece of old barn wood that she found on the farm in Wisconsin. The day truly couldn’t have been possible without everyone’s love and support. Thank you to everyone for contributing to our wedded bliss!

Photography: Yasmin Khajavi Photography / Flowers: Becky Espirtiu / Ceremony & Reception Location: Nest Event Loft, home of Hatch Creative Studio / Invitations: DIY / Shoes: J.Crew / Dress: La Sposa / Groom’s suit: Paul Smith / Bridal Party: J.Crew / Veil: Fascinating Creations / Earrings: Jurgita Handmade / Garter: Pomp and Plumage / Make-up: Taryn Potenza / Catering: Tinna Brenton Catering

Every wedding that we share makes me happy but this one, set in the picturesque Hudson Valley, really had me grinning from ear to ear.  Each image from Scobey Photography is just so adorable and full of squeal-worthy details.  All of which were designed and created by the bride and her family.  It is so nice to see a more traditional wedding that is handcrafted with such elegance and grace.   There is more inspiration to be found from this labor of love in the full gallery!

Check out the full wedding gallery for even more inspiration!

It’s a beautiful thing when two peoples’ paths merge into one… and then become a journey. What’s even more beautiful is when two families have so much love for their children that they, too, jump into that journey: with both feet. supporting. laughing. crying. loving with all of their hearts. That is what made Alex and Brian’s wedding so incredibly special (well, that and all of the amazing details).

Alex and Brian met in Nashville while attending Vanderbilt University. They grew up in two completely different parts of the country, fell in love in Tennessee, moved to New York City together, and got married at Oak Hill; overlooking the Hudson River on a gorgeous Fall day.

Brian chose to have their First Look in the same place that her parents had taken their wedding photos years before: Bard College. We love shooting First Looks; there is just nothing quite as intimate. Bard’s campus has one of Frank Gehry’s famed architectural designs, which made for an amazing backdrop for some portraits.

Wedding guests enjoyed a cocktail hour overlooking the Hudson River – accompanied by the soothing sounds of a Jazz Band. There were so many things that made this wedding extraordinary. First off, Alex (with the help of her super-woman mom and sister) imagined, designed, and executed this entire day. Everything. The invitations, the signs, menus, favors, table decor. Every-THING.  Another beautiful touch? The cake-topper was the same one that sat on top of Alex’s parent’s cake years before.

From beginning to end, their day was such a labor of love, and it showed one-hundred-percent. It could not have been any more perfect.

Wedding Photography: Scobey Photography for Carla Ten Eyck / Wedding Florist: Floral Fantasies / Accomodations: Old Rhinebeck Inn / Ceremony Venue: Catholic Church of The Good Shepherd / Reception Venue: Oak Hill / Bride’s Dress: Romona Keveza / Bridal Salon: Kleinfeld’s / DJ: DJ Trevor / Caterer: Oliver Kita

Grab your wedding binders, moleskin notebooks or whatever you use to jot down great ideas because there are a TON of them in this handmade wedding from Weddings by Two.  When the couple couldn’t do something themselves (there doesn’t seem like much these two can’t do!) they rallied their talented friends and family to help get the job done!  We are in love with every last precious detail from the vintage illustration table numbers to the handcrafted cake stands!  There is so much more in the full gallery so go check it out!

Click here for more handmade inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

Nearly everything in our wedding was handmade, and most of it by us. I love old things; so, since our wedding was set on an old estate hugging the Hudson River, I tried to create the feeling that the year could be 2010 just as likely as it could be 1927. When planning our wedding, the words that resonated most with me were vintage, intimate, lovely, playful and tasteful.  Through and through a detail person, I was inspired by all the things that reward the senses in subtle ways. Subsequently, most of the items I used were made from natural materials — from the all-cotton, eyelet napkins I made myself to the twine that attached the shipping tag name cards to the napkins; and from the hand spun lace runners to the muslin-wrapped candles. Wishing to neither procure in excess nor create waste, I tried to have as much of the things needed for the wedding harvested from what we already had, obtained as secondhand items, or reused once the day was done. Subsequently, I spent at least ten months gathering old candlesticks and limoges plates from yard sales and thrift stores to make the cake stands and tiered trays that served throughout the courses of our wedding — from cocktail hour appetizers to savory dinner tarts and finally macarons and cupcakes. In doing so, I learned how to drill through porcelain (surprisingly not all that difficult). As for other “something old”s — I found my earrings at a county antique store and stitched the ring pillow from a handkerchief that belonged to my grandmother (which my aunt had embroidered for our big day). The table number illustrations — scientific drawings of flowers — came from an old poster I found through an antique dealer. I bought my dress from a bridal atelier that gets couture gowns straight off the runway and donates 100% of sales to a children’s charity.

Despite an intensive planning process, I happily recognize that many of our wedding successes were due to sheer luck (or serendipity, depending on how you view those things). The flowers are a perfect case in point. Not wanting to spend a lot of money, and ambivalent overall about cut flowers, we were still without a flower solution three weeks from our wedding. During our final trip upstate to tie up loose ends, we took a side road we hadn’t previously taken, and that’s when we discovered “you pick flowers.” No one was present, but in their absence a sign read “please leave a check for what you take.” A week later, it occurred to me that we may have seen the field at its peak, and by the time of our wedding — at the summer’s end — there would be no flowers left. Nevertheless, I gave myself over to fate. When my husband and I arrived the day before our wedding, we found an even more bounteous offering. During my “bridesmaid luncheon,” my husband and his older brother went to work cutting all their sheers would allow. The ladies — instructed to only use their creativity and imagination as a guide — spent most of the afternoon the day before the wedding helping me arrange the flowers into gorgeous bouquets in mason jars. The flowers could not have been a more perfect, personal expression of us… or of how, for us at least, the act of not planning was rewarded handsomely, and how flowers CAN be done on the cheap.

Though it’s trite to say this, our wedding day was the best day of our lives. All of the nervous anticipation melted away once the activities were underway (and perhaps because there were so many details to tend to, we couldn’t be preoccupied with whether things would go “perfectly”). Seeing our guests before me during the ceremony filled me with so much joy, and throughout the entire reception there were endless touching moments. Many guests told me they cried seeing me dance with my father. I later noticed that my expression in the photos seems one of sentimental weeping — though, really, I was laughing uncontrollably throughout our dance, as my dad — never at a loss for jokes — was making me laugh throughout our “father daughter dance.” Though my husband and I did much of the heavy lifting in the months before the wedding, we would not have pulled off the wedding if not for all the help of our families, particularly in the final days leading up to the wedding. Their support and contributions made the entire weekend that much more special.

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Clermont State Historic Site / Wedding Photography: Weddings by Two / Band: Saturday Night Bluegrass / Event Design and Planning: Thistledown Creative / Favors: Crop to Cup Coffee Co. / Wedding Desserts: Kumquat Cupcakery and Macaron de Paris / Invitations: Sesame Letterpress / Bridesmaid dress: J.Crew / Groomsmen attire: Haspel / Groom’s suit: Mr. Ned Custom Tailor / Dress: Ulla-Maija Couture / Day-of-Coordinator: Sara Grady

If you are a dreamer, come in. Yes, I am quoting Shel Silverstein (who doesn’t love him), but for good reason I promise! The couple of this inspirational New York City occasion quoted Mr. Silverstein on their invitation, and I must say, it suites the wedding and dreamlike images by Melissa Hayes Photography to a tee. Perfectly elegant, yet rustic at the same time – it is such a unique and inspirational New York City event. So if you are a dreamer, come in! – to the gallery, that is.

click here for the full wedding gallery!

We knew we wanted a fall wedding. Fall is a magical time in New York City – the nights are cool, the afternoon sunlight is perfect, and there’s an intimate coziness that fills the entire city. And even though we had just gotten engaged in June – leaving us about four and a half months to plan – we both shared a vision of the kind of wedding we wanted, and had an incredible time putting it together. We wanted our wedding to represent who we are as a couple – elegant, but laid back. We found the perfect venue at 632 on Hudson, a beautifully eclectic triplex townhouse in the West Village, complete with marble fireplace, art deco lounge, farmhouse table, rustic antiques, roof garden, and a thai bedroom we affectionately coined ‘the opium den’. It was the perfect setting to throw an intimate but lively party for 87 of our closest friends and family. Together, we wrote a ceremony filled with personal elements, leaving out anything that didn’t carry particular meaning for us. A good friend (the person who introduced us nearly six years ago, actually) served as officiant. Several close friends gave readings, and another played classical guitar as Maya walked down the aisle – and a rousing rendition of ‘Linus and Lucy’ as we walked out. Maya wore a simply stunning Nicole Miller dress, along with antique jewelry borrowed from her mother. Tristan and the groomsmen wore ties in the Kincaid Clan Tartan and simple but formal grey suits.

632 Hudson is immaculately and eccentrically decorated, so we were able to enjoy the space without much added decorations. The flowers from Saipua were inspired and absolutely amazing. Sarah created uniquely elegant arrangements that took advantage of the deep and rustic colors of the venue while simultaneously adding a lightness and airiness to the whole space. Sean and Dan from djnyc crafted a great party out of all the music we love, segueing from cocktail hour to dinner music to dance party without missing a beat. Melissa Hayes captured the beauty and personality of the whole evening, with an exceptional eye for creating amazing and intimate images of the craziest moments and the most romantic details.Food was another reason we wanted to get married in the fall. We love the rich colors and rustic flavors of this season, and the menu that Leslie from Marcey Brownstein Catering helped create was perfect – from the shirred quail eggs and shortrib polenta to the butternut squash risotto and perfectly rare hangar steak.  Momofuku Milk Bar created the three-tier cake – chocolate chip with passion fruit curd for the top and the bottom, and birthday cake in the middle for no other reason than that everyone loves birthday cake!

At the end of the night, everyone took home a bag of mini madeleines that Maya baked, a cookie associated with sweet memories and a treat that Maya’s mom made for her when she was little. Tristan designed the favor tags, along with the labels for our guest books. Maya’s sister and Maid of Honor hand lettered the program on a chalkboard, along with some of our favorite poems on windows and mirrors throughout the venue. We had started the weekend on Friday with a rehearsal dinner for our families and the wedding party, and a welcome party at the oldest bar in Brooklyn for everyone the next day, which was a chance for people to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. So when our wedding started on Sunday afternoon, everyone knew each other and was ready to have the time of their lives – which is exactly what happened.

Photography: Melissa Hayes Photography / Venue: 632 on Hudson / Catering: Marcey Brownstein Catering + Events / Flowers: Saipua / Cake: Momofuku Milk Bar / Music: DJNYC / Hair & Makeup: Naho Sawada at Dvir Salon / Invitation Design: Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence / Bride’s Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Shoes: Butter / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s suit: J.Crew

Emily and Scott lived in the same building in Manhattan for a year before they met. They were finally introduced to each other through their door man. Their wedding was held in Tribeca Rooftop presided by a rabbi who was Emily’s teacher. Both bride and groom are dedicated in their belief of Judaism – the ceremony was held under the incredible chuppah spotted with gorgeous lighting. Theatrical music played during the ceremony was composed by Emily’s grandfather. The vows they wrote to each other were so powerful and emotional that they made all us cry. –Love In Progress

It doesn’t matter whether you are planning your wedding, or your wedding is a thing of the past, hearing the vows spoken in wedding films should serve as a reminder to us all ~ a reminder that the promises we make to each other are just as valid now as they were yesterday, just as valid tomorrow as they will be twenty years from now. Yes, the vows we make to one another, traditional or personal, are the core of this business we call marriage. We must never forget that!

Emily & Scott’ Crazy Love at Tribeca Rooftop from Love in Progress on Vimeo.

Venue: Tribeca Rooftop / Wedding coordinator: Rebekah M. Ferreira / Communications Director: Matthew Robbins Design |Artfool| / Photographer: Fred Marcus / Florist: Matthew Robbins Design Artfool / Hair stylist & Make-up artists: NY Wedding Makeup ~  Claudia and Maureen Pedela / Ceremony Music: Curtis Music & Entertainment / Complete Music & Entertainment Planning Services, For party: NYC Swing and 52nd Street / Limousine & Transportation: EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services / Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier from Mark Ingram / Ballet Flats from French Sole / Fur Wrap from Krizia / Tuxedo: Tom Ford / Catering: Tribeca Rooftop / Cake: Audrey’s Fine Goods

New York weddings are some of my favorites. They always have that citified hip, uberly cool way about them and this next wedding is the perfect example. The lovely ladies at DM Events thought of every last detail and decked out this old warehouse turned restaurant in Brooklyn into a thing of beauty. And the icing on the cake? The prettiest of pretty cupcakes. Be sure to stop by the gallery for even more city dreaming captured by Mantas Wright Photography.

see the full wedding here!

Jenny and Dave selected an amazing venue, My Moon in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Once an abandoned factory, it is a truly spectacular location, with interesting architecture and artwork everywhere you look, not to mention their delicious Middle Eastern fare! Jenny bought a dress she loved, ordered a yummy cookie/cupcake bar from One Girl Cookies, and knew she wanted to fill the reception room with bright colors – beyond that, they trusted us to fill in the blanks, without breaking the bank! The challenge of designing Jenny and Dave’s wedding was to balance the need to use enough color to fill the large space without competing with the amazing décor of the venue. We chose to use bud vases for a number of reasons. First, they allowed us to disperse color throughout the room without it becoming overpowering in any one area. Second, dispersing buds, rather than arrangements of flowers, really kept costs down. And finally, the clear glass of the vases did not complete with the textures of the venue including brink, wrought iron, and heavy wood, while the varied shape of the vases still kept them interesting!

The main room of the venue was filled with oversized long wooden tables, lined with bud vases of pink and orange dahlias, pink zineas, and yellow craspedias. The zineas and dahlias were selected not just for the intensity of their color but also for their large size, allowing us to use only 1-2 buds per vessel – a huge cost savings!!!! In keeping with the Turkish “cavern” feel of the venue, we put bronze colored mercury votives in just about every nook and cranny we could find! Even the bar helped to provide color as it was lined with canisters of brightly colored red and yellow sangria… this certainly promoted the “fun” wedding Jenny and Dave wanted to create!

My Moon has a beautiful deck anchored by a recycle steel wall overflowing with greenery, making it the perfect spot for an intimate ceremony. Keeping with the organic, outdoor feel, the aisle was lined with colorful potted plants from the venue. Just as the ceremony was ending and the sun was setting, guests moved to an outdoor lounge for cocktails, transporting them from a Williamsburg evening to an Arabian night. To complete the transformation, sheers of deep red and bright orange were draped over the tables and lanterns and large pillows were scattered around the space. After dinner, guests returned to the lounge for more cocktails and cigars! In an urban jungle like New York City it was a pleasure to create a Middle Eastern escape for Jenny and Dave and provide them with their one wedding wish: to celebrate their love with family and friends.

Event Planning and Design: DM Events / Flowers: DM Events / Photography: Phil Mantas of Mantas Wright Photography / Ceremony and Reception Location: My Moon Restaurant / Dessert Bar: One Girl Cookies / Dress: Nicole Miller

Have you ever wondered what a wedding would look like if it were the joining of a computer programmer for Etsy and a freelance writer/blogger? Well wonder no more. These New York nuptials are the crème de la crème…all out gorgeous…an explosion of beautiful fall details and maybe our new favorite wedding to date. Of course, no wedding is complete without the fabulous vendors behind the scenes and this wedding is boasting some mega-heavy hitters. Robert Sukrachand lent his hand to the picture perfect images while Hatch Creative Studio created a masterpiece of floral proportions. THE Sylvia Weinstock made one extremely gorgeous cake and the paper goods were tackled by Hello!Lucky AND Ceci New York. All in all, total perfection. See the rest of the day in the gallery.

if you think it couldn’t possibly get any prettier, then you need to see the gallery!

Eli and I saw our wedding as a public expression of who we are as a couple. We chose to have a traditional Jewish ceremony, but spent a lot of time making it our own. We added our own vows and wrote our own translations for the seven blessings. The intimacy of the ceremony was incredibly special for us and brought all our guests together beautifully. It was especially important to me that I looked and felt like myself when I walked down the aisle. My wedding dress took awhile to find, but as soon as I tried this one on, I was crying. It was the most gorgeous second skin I’ve ever worn. When Eli saw me that day, I know that he saw the woman he chose to marry. We tried to bring in as many DIY touches as possible, though we discovered that takes a lot of time! Among the highlights: My brother made our wooden ring box by hand—he even sewed the tiny pillow inside; our chuppah was my mother’s beautiful handiwork, and included 64 sunrays (for our song, “When I’m 64”); I made the bridesmaid necklaces, with each of our birthstones wrapped into the back clasp; Eli sang to me, backed by the band and his college a cappella group (easily one of my favorite moments of the night); and our wedding was entirely gluten free and delectable to boot!

I imagine that every bride has a favorite idea for her wedding, and mine was the mailboxes (Barb’s gorgeous creation!) filled with personal notes that we wrote for each of our guests. Writing those notes was a wonderful reminder of why each person was there with us that night and we loved watching how thrilled the guests were when they saw them. The energy at the reception was electric from start to finish. We felt so warmly surrounded by all our family and friends. At the end of the night, I knew we’d thrown an amazing party when all of our guests started screaming for an encore! As we were driving back to the hotel, totally exhausted, we could not stop talking about the day. We wanted so much to keep the moment, to just hold it and have it for one second longer. I feel so blessed to have the memory, to have a wonderful husband, family, and friends, and to have so much love in my life.

And a note from the Groom … I just want to throw in a few additional details. One – the band was off the CHAIN. They were tight as hell and had obvious passion and joy while performing. Everyone was dancing – even my other computer programmer friends (which is, like, a feat). Two – my suit was made from LASERS. Yes, it’s true! Alton Lane measures you with a super-futuristic laser booth and creates a suit that fits like a glove. They also are patient with the fashion-inept. Two thumbs up. Three – some other handmade touches include the Save the Dates (taken by my co-worker), the amazing website (made by Nadia and myself, which includes a custom-built online RSVP thing), and a recording booth that guests could use to leave us a fun voice message (assembled by me and Nadia’s dad, and complete with mad fun prompt signs, made by a friend of Nadia’s). Four – if you’re reading this and are planning for your wedding, know that all of those ridiculous nights when you and your spouse-to-be are wringing your hands and bandying about questions like “should we use plum or sage for the ribbons on the gift bags?” actually do pay off. It was such a mind-bending pleasure to see all of the details that Nadia and I had agonized over come together into a coherent event that was much more than the sum of its parts. I hope that viewing our pictures is inspiring or useful to you in some way.

Venue: Wave Hill / Caterer: Great Performances / Cake: Sylvia Weinstock / Florist: Barb Salzman of Hatch Creative Studio / Photographer: Robert Sukrachand / Band: Urban Guerilla Orchestra (Elan Artists) / Makeup Artist: Victoria Moyer TheDown2EarthDiva@gmail.com or 484-716-4775 / Hairstylist: Courtney Benedetti / Day-of Event Planner: Annie Lee of Daughter of Design /  Stationery: Ceci New York / Save the Date: Hello!Lucky / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Groom’s Suit: Alton Lane / Ketubah: New Ketubah / Officiant: Rabbi Andy Bachman / Congregation: Beth Elohim

We don’t feature a ton of e-sessions on SMP because we like to focus more on the details and the style of a real wedding…BUT, I couldn’t resist sharing this one with you. The photographs, by CLY Creation, are so insanely beautiful. Romantic, ethereal, artistic. Images that you could easily hang on the walls of your home and without a doubt use as incredible inspiration for your own engagement portraits. To see even more, click right here.

click here to see the full gallery!

My fiancee and I chose downtown NYC as the backdrop for our engagement session with CLY Creation because I grew up in the city and went to high school just behind the buildings that served as our backdrop.  Being in front of the skyline, something I grew up looking at, felt very homey, believe it or not!  I also liked the idea of juxtaposing the grandness of the skyscrapers against the tenderness between the two of us.

CLY Creation has a vintage look to its photographs, which I adore, and so I paired a pearl necklace and pearls on my ears with my vintage-y polka-dot silk shantung dress.  We also brought along our save-the-date:  bookmarks that we DIY-ed with custom illustration done by the Emmy Award-winning artist Seonna Hong, my fiancee’s sister!  All in all, the result, I think, was the perfect twist on a vintage-New York photoshoot!

We have died and gone to dress heaven.  We are long time fans of ruffle-tastic dresses, but this one seriously blows it out of the ballpark.  The bride is rockin’ it and we can’t get enough.  This amazingly glamorous wedding, shot by Jeff Tisman Photography, is full of sweet little details.  We are loving the punches of green that are infused throughout the day…just gorgeous!  Are you dying to see more of that dress and all of its beauty?  Yeah, we thought so.  Hurry on over to the gallery to see more. XO, Tori & Myka

More breathtaking photos in the gallery.

We have a glorious Cooperstown, NY wedding from Justin and Mary to start off your week! The details, of which there are plenty, aren’t the only remarkable thing about this gorgeous celebration.  Caitlin and Mike won the giveaway from Jessica’s Country Flowers that we announced earlier this year!  They are certainly a deserving couple and we are so happy that they were able to get the wedding of their dreams.  As an extra treat, Jessica filled us in on how to get all the delicious goodies below.  Pick out your favorite from the full gallery!

Loads more details in the full gallery!

From Jessica  of Jessica’s Country Flowers…Caitlin and Mike applied for our deserving couple contest back in 2009.  They were going through some family issues and struggling financially.  Mike was leaving his job to go back to school full time and they were living off of one income.  They are such a loving couple, devoted to their family and to each other.  We couldn’t of selected a more grateful and truly deserving couple.

The setting: The Farmer’s Museum in Cooperstown, New York.  They were married in the chapel on the grounds, Cornwallville Church.  Then the reception following in the barn at the museum.  The Farmer’s Museum is a spectacular venue that has deep roots in New York State’s rural history.  The museum is set on 120 acres of pristine farm land which has been a working farm since the 1790’s.  The Farmer’s Museum is a private, non-profit educational organization.

Caitlin had a really great inspiration board she had created for us.  I used old aluminum sap buckets from my parent’s sugar house to showcase some antique purple hydrangea I picked out of my gardens at 4:30 am the morning of the wedding.  For her centerpieces we created three different looks.  One was in wooden crates, lined with sheet moss and overflowing with seasonal flowers.  The other were chocolate footed metal urns filled with antique hydrangea, garden spray roses and locally grown flowers.  For a simple look, we gathered bright pink and purple salvia, fresh mint, fresh sage leaves and garden roses in various sized mason jars.  Then, clustered them together on the tables.  The smell of fresh herbs is intense and wonderful for a summery wedding.

We created a “family tree” with manzanita branches in tall cylinder vases and purple mokara orchids.  The bride created her own DIY escort cards of flower seeds in envelopes.  We strung natural twine from the two trees and then hung each escort card with a wooden clothes pin.  Natural twine can be found at your local Home Depot or hardware store.  We dressed the escort card table with chocolate color burlap.

Since many guests were traveling, we created cute out of town guest bags.  We filled natural burlap bags with tissue paper, then added raspberry rhubarb jam from Lamothe’s Sugar House, bottled water, Crunch and munch, raisinettes and lavender oatmeal soap from Goat Boy soaps.  I picked up prepackaged “thank you” notes at Walmart and attached them to the handle of each bag with a wooden clothes pin.

Along with Jennifer from Cookie Creatives, we created a really awesome candy station.  She hand made caramel/chocolate popcorn, sea salt caramels, homemade marshmallows, chocolate dipped pretzel rods and three different kinds of chocolate bars.  We added maple lollipops and maple salt water taffy from the sugar house to the display.  I also made my parents famous Maple farmhouse chocolate chip cookies and placed them in jars for guests to help themselves to.   Jennifer also hand decorated sugar cookies with the couples monogram on and flowers.  We displayed those in vintage wooden trays amongst all the candy jars.

For a little candlelight romance, the staff at the Farmer’s Museum helped us hang green oxidized metal lanterns with real candles.  We used thin copper wire to hang them from little eye hooks that were already in the wood beams.  Since the ceilings were so tall, it helped to break up the space and add some drama.”

Vendor Credits: Photography: Justin & Mary / Event Design, Planning and Flowers: Jessica’s Country Flowers / Venue: The Farmers’ Museum /  Invitation Design: Darryl Norsen / Letterpress: Michael Dacey at Repeat Press / Bride’s Dress: Modern Trousseau from White Dress by the Shore / Band: The Lustre Kings / Bridesmaids Necklaces:  JustMade Jewelry / Bridesmaids Dresses: Davids Bridal / Head Piece: Lo Boheme / Ring Bowl: Paloma’s Nest / Candy Station: Jennifer of Cookie Creatives / Cake: Duran of ABC Cakes

I’m pretty sure this bride is my new best friend. She is so insanely chic, one look and I instantly feel a little frumpy. From her aaaah-dorable cocktail dress to her perfect birdcage veil and insane Jimmy Choos, every little bit of this bride is gorgeous. Plus, she managed to design and craft a New York City wedding without straining their wallet…a feat that is FAR from easy. So I love her that much more. The dreamy groom, the intimate details and the charming style doesn’t hurt either. Click here to see even more.

click here to see the full wedding gallery!

We were engaged in March 2010 and immediately decided to have a destination wedding in our favorite place, Bali. Unfortunately, we realized that many family and friends would not be able to make it. We decided to plan a small ceremony in New York (where we live).

We ended up having an amazing wedding with just a little over 60 family and friends at the Rooftop Garden of the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York. It was the complete opposite of our ‘island Bali’ wedding but amazingly special. Because we were not financially planning a second wedding we opted to just do (almost everything) ourselves and simplify with just a ceremony, cocktail hour (with a signature summer cocktail) and a luncheon.

Our family and friends participated — making the our wedding special and unique. My uncle Rev. Michael Livingston officiated and our parents gave a blessing. We “JUMPED THE BROOM” an African American and celtic tradition. It signifies ‘sweeping away of the old’ and starting a new life together as you jump. Everyone participated, saying 1, 2, 3! Instead of a traditional wedding party we had our 3 nieces and 1 nephew in the wedding. Gil being a 3rd grade teacher and our love for family and children truly felt special for us.

My wedding planner, friends and family were amazing in helping us DIY…My best friend made the programs, we had an arts and crafts party with the kids and they helped us do the seed favors. My wedding planner and I did all the flowers. I collected some vintage rhinestone brooches for the corsages for our Moms, Aunts and my bouquet. I also ordered most of the hand made details on etsy.com. This includes our cake topper, the beautiful black love birds, sugar anemone flowers, flower girl basket, ring bearer pillow and even the broom! I heart etsy.com! My husband made the wishing tree as well as the small vases…he is a ceramics sculptor. This was a HUGE it — as guests took home the bud vases as a very special memento from our wedding.

Last, but certainly not least — we were ecstatic to have our french bull dog, Zoe be a part of the wedding. She is such a big part of our family it would not have been the same without her. Seriously, how cute is she?

Thanks for allowing me to share our simple, urban, chic wedding. Proof that it IS possible to have an inexpensive wedding in New York…with a little extra work and a lot of love, anything is possible!

Photography: Brooke Fitts / Event Planning: Rachel Tombes / Ceremony + Reception Location: Gramercy Park Hotel / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Dress: David Meister / Cake: Cupcakes from Sweet Sugar Sunshine (love birds and sugar flowers hand made and purchased from Etsy.com) / Escort card Design: Peacock Invitations / Wishing Tree: Made with love from the Groom / Hair: Latoya owner of Capelli NYC / Makeup: Lucinda from Nars at Barneys New York / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein / Brides Veil and Peacock Feather Fascinator: Jadore Dolce Couture / Broom: Broomchick

The ladies of Poppies and Posies have done it once again. They have created a masterpiece in the form of crazy gorgeous florals for this swoon-fest captured by Robert Sukrachand. Set on the banks of the Hudson River, this Persian wedding boasts not only an uber stylish couple and a magnificent 18th century mansion to hold all of the festivities but they have donkeys! Really, really cute donkeys. See more of this fantastic New York celebration in the gallery.

see all the fabulous details here!

From the Bride…

For two people who has absolutely no idea how and where to begin when planning a wedding, we managed to pull together an absolutely perfect weekend. After looking at tons of venues in a few different states we fell upon an exquisite private estate along the Hudson River, about two hours north of the New York City, where we live. The decided on the 70-acre property, which consisted of a stunning 18th century mansion (brilliantly restored by current owner Andre Balazs), a pool over looking the Hudson, a farming complex, two guest houses, and the best part…donkeys! I’m a devout vegetarian and a HUGE animal lover and my parents refused to allow the family shih-tzus to have any part in the wedding, so having the donkeys and sheep be part of our wedding day meant a lot to me.

Photographer: Robert Sukrachand / Florals: Poppies and Posies / Caterer: Oliver Kita / DJ: Israel Vines / Makeup and Hair: Michelle Scott / Invitations: Mr. Boddington’s Studio / Paper Goods: Georgia Fountoukis-Apostolidis / Tent and furniture rental: Events Unlimited Party Rentals / Groom’s Suit: Paul Smith / Groom’s Shoes: Maison Martin Margiela / Wedding Dress: Amsale / Bride’s Shoes: Miu Miu / Jewelry: Daniel K

We hope each and every single one of you are enjoying a nice Columbus Day away from the day job but even if you are back to the grind of another Monday, we have a few treats to lift your spirits and get you in a warm and cozy Fall mood. Sent to us by the wildly talented DM Events, this photo shoot is properly titled “Fall into Love.” And that we are.  The autumnal colors are so very gorgeous paired with the intimate dinner party-esque atmosphere and how about the drool inducing dessert bar created by Nine Cakes? That deserves a double YUM. See all of the pretty fall details captured by Allan Zepeda in the gallery and if this shoot puts you in the mood to do some entertaining, we’ve added a few of the recipes from the menu right here.

Fall even more in love with this shoot here!

From DM Events…

We can not imagine a more quintessentially perfect time of year than Autumn in New York City! As designers, we are inspired by the colors, textures, and most of all the feeling of a crisp Autumn day – it is the perfect time of year to Fall In Love. Through the years we have designed many fall-themed events filled with apples, pumpkins, leaves, and all the New England goodness you can imagine. As we planned for this shoot, we wanted to capture the regal side of Fall – a season not just filled with whimsy, but also grace. We stopped into Classic Party Rentals where we discovered an unique silverware set and amazing stemware collection that was reminiscent of a “grown-up” society dinner party (think the Rockefellers circa the early 1900s) – at that moment the fate of the shoot was sealed! The next challenge was to bring in fall colors without deferring to a traditional orange and red palette – we decided to stay true to the organic aesthetic of our venue and use burgundy and a variety of browns. This time of year the flower district is full of Cockscomb flowers – and we used the uniqueness of the shape to balance out the softness of the dahlias. We wanted to incorporate dried flowers into the arrangements and bouquets to reflect the harvest aspect of fall.

Next, we were off to find the décor! Scouring antique stores and boutique shops is honestly one of our favorite tasks! We found tons of copper and oversized wooden pieces that worked together like magic! The copper played up the regal aspect of the shoot, while the wooden pieces were a warm accent, keeping us true to the Fall season. We are always looking for an excuse to use Kraft paper but needed to ensure that we could still maintain the richness of our vision. This type of detail is what Jenna of Love, Jenna is best at! She paired the Kraft paper with fabulous paper patterns and her brilliant calligraphy in metallic inks. If you have any doubts about the pairing, just look at the scroll menu she created – we literally fell in love when we saw it! (And wasn’t that the whole point of the shoot :) )

The dessert bar was divine in every way! Nine Cakes created all the sweet creations with flavors ranging from Apple Cinnamon Caramel to Pumpkin Walnut Maple. We knew the dessert bar was a perfect place to introduce our copper antique finds – we coupled them with mercury candles and the vintage fall look came to life! Gabriella New York provided the beautiful Ulla Maija dress. The question remained… where should we showcase the dress? The most obvious place was the wine rack set against an exposed brick wall of the venue, but we rarely do anything that’s typical! So we brought in a vintage Louis Vinton trunk (every girl’s dream!) and the result was, once again, magical!

Styling, Design, and Florals: DM Events / Photography: Allan Zepeda / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Calligraphy: Love, Jenna / Cake: Nine Cakes / Dress: Bianca by Ulla Maija, provided by Gabriella New York / Location: Private loft, Chelsea, NY

Before we dive into our next perfect wedding by Christian Oth, I wanted to let all of you wedding junkies know that we’ve got some of the pics from the Today Show Wedding and we’ll be updating throughout the day. Click here to see all of the fun!

Now, if I had to make a list of my top five favorite venues around the country…Blue Hill at Stone Barns would be at the top of the list. It’s a blissfully gorgeous place and when Christian’s team gets an opportunity to photograph a wedding there, you can pretty much bank on perfection. This one, photographed by Shawn Connell for Christian Oth, is not only beautiful…it’s thoughtful and elegant with a focus on handcrafted details and a layering of beauty. Click here to see even more.

click here to see the full wedding gallery!

Matt and I are well known amongst our friends and family as “good hosts”. We love to cook, eat, and spend quality time with the people we care about. Matt is the savory cook, and I am the baker, and so it makes for a good pairing when there is a celebration to plan or even when there isn’t we always seem to come up with an excuse for a party. When we got engaged (in Central Park during an unexpected torrential thunder and lightening storm… oh wait that’s another story), we knew immediately that we wanted our wedding to continue this tradition of showing love thru food and thoughtful attention to detail. We wanted our guests to feel cared for from the moment they opened their Save-The-Date to again months later when enjoying their wedding take-away of Northwood Apiaries wildflower honey.

From the beginning it was also important to us that we work with people whose crafts we admire and respect and to allow them to showcase their own skills and artistic view points. We are both artists; he is a Graphic Designer and I am a Fine Artist who works (mostly) on paper. We didn’t want to redesign or mold a space to fit a theme, instead we wanted a place that already prioritized what we were looking for: amazing food set in the romantic outdoors. Serendipity was on our side when the only day available at Blue Hill at Stone Barns was a year to the day from our engagement. Blue Hill’s sense of responsible and sustainable farming and cooking combined with their staff’s incredible quality of service and care made for a seamless experience. It actually felt like they read our minds at varying times, which is a unique and rare quality, and much appreciated.

The planning process flowed easily from this point. I didn’t want the restriction of having to choose one or two “wedding colors.” Instead I wanted the palate to highlight and explore the relationships between the different elements of the wedding: intimate romance, elegant gardens and farms, with a soft but clean edge. We chose to work with Matthew Robbins in designing the flowers and décor because I had long coveted his aesthetic talents and exquisite color sense.

One of the most fun parts of planning our wedding was working together as Bride and Groom to-be on all the design details. And while I put more than my two cents in, Matt designed EVERYTHING that got printed for the wedding. The Save-The-Date dish towel was one of our favorite pieces because it highlighted what was to come: a food-centric, festive wedding with a reusable purpose. We purchased the dishtowels from Ikea and had them silk-screened with Matt’s design, and then with the help of my friend Brita (who also happens to be an event designer, we packaged them up in parchment tissue and brown paper boxes I got from Uline and tucked a letter-pressed accommodations card inside (see unveiling here).

The inspiration for the design motifs of the invitation suite stemmed from a combination of flowers found in Blue Hill’s gardens and vintage European type ornaments. Matt worked with the Brooklyn-based letterpress company, Sesame Letterpress, to get the tight registration needed for such detailed lines and varying type. We kept the cost of the invites down by only using two colors and by assembling them ourselves.

As for the wedding itself, we had the very best time imaginable. We worked with our officiant to customize and write our ceremony and vows because while neither of us is traditionally religious, we wanted a spiritual and personal ceremony. It was first and foremost that we include Matt’s son, who was our ring bearer extraordinaire. We also wanted to pay tribute to the joining of our families who have offered us such incredible support. I think the photographers, Shawn and Meredith, tell the story of the wedding day with perfection and captured everything from loving glances to the dip of our first dance to the full moon. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat and I wouldn’t change a single thing!

Venue/Food: Blue Hill at Stone Barns / Photographers: Shawn Connell of Christian Oth Studio / Flowers and wedding planner: Matthew Robbins Design / Graphic Design: Matthew Poor / Calligraphy: Ann Vollum / Letterpress: Sesame Letterpress / Cake: Ron Ben-Israel / Wedding Dress: Christos by Amsale / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bridesmaid dresses: Alix & Kelly / Hair: Corey Henderson (my hair stylist for 10 years!) / Make up: Deborah Altizio / Music: John Ragusa Music / Officiant: Shauna Kanter Weddings / Cinematography: Film Jones

Anytime Christian Oth stops by for an afternoon of gorgeousness is a really good day in my book. In the wedding industry, Christian is a total celebrity. His photographs are shockingly gorgeous and have been featured in some of the most beautiful publications you could ever imagine. And yet while he’s still kind of like the cat’s meow…he also happens to be really thoughtful, really kind, really authentic. A perfect combination in my book. Well, lucky for us, Christian is spending the day with us and he’s brought along three insanely beautiful weddings and some GREAT tips for you brides out there coming up later today. First up, I couldn’t resist this picture perfect Hamptons affair. It’s proof that a stunning venue only requires simple, refined details to take it to a new level of pretty. Click here to see even more.

From Shawn, the groom, on his proposal…

I had her best friend Melissa fake an emergency to get her out of the office on Friday around 11am (I had also let her boss know so she would be able to leave).  The plan was for them to get an early lunch at a nearby restaurant, but Melissa called at the last minute and said she was so upset she couldn’t handle being in a public restaurant and that Kristen needed to meet her upstairs at the outdoor rooftop lounge.  I had the whole rooftop blocked off and was waiting for her to arrive.  She arrived on the roof at around 11:20am where she found me waiting for her. I walked her over to the corner of the rooftop with a view North (Empire State Building etc) where I had a table set up with champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and the ring there for the proposal.  She said yes and then I surprised her with a trip to Turks and Caicos for the weekend.

From the bride, Kristen…

We selected Wolffer Estate because we love the Hamptons especially in the summer, we wanted to get married outdoors and it’s so beautiful there with all the lush greenery and gorgeous white hydrangeas. I’m from New Orleans and Shawn is from Boulder so we thought it was a good compromise location that would embrace both of our personalities and tastes.

We loved our ukulele player Josh Cho who played and sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World while I walked down the aisle. He also played Jack Johnson’s Better Together for the bridesmaids to walk to.

Our gift bags that we worked so hard on were natural cotton totes that were reusable and earth friendly. The totes had a map of the Hamptons on the front and were filled with local snacks like Tate’s cookies, North Fork Potato Chips and Wolffer Estate Wine. We personalized everyone’s dinner menu with their name on it as a nice touch.

My wedding dress and veil: Vera Wang / My Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Shawn’s suit: Valentino / Shawn’s shoes: Prada / Wedding bands: Kwiat / Bridesmaids dresses: Thread / White Roses/White Hydrangeas: Sag Harbor Florist / Food and Wedding cake: Fresh Flavors / Florist: Sag Harbor Florist / Hair/Makeup: Daniel Martin and Seiji Yamader (Wall Group) / DJ: DJ Ray Jarrell and DJ Ani Quinn / Videographer: Open Eye Media / Photographer: Christian Oth

PS…For those of you who are loving the Today Show Wedding happening live, we’ve got the gorgeous images from Denis Reggie right here on SMP. Click here to see the all of the pretty!

Carla Ten Eyck has got to be the most creative, spontaneous soul on this planet! Each time she sends us one of her weddings, we have to pick our jaws up off the floor! This wedding ~ Sarah and Jose’s New York City Boathouse wedding ~ just goes to show you we know what we’re talkin’ about …

Sarah ~ today’s beautiful bride ~ did NOT want to do a first look session. But, sometimes you gotta’ do what you gotta’ do. And her wedding day timing dictated a first look. According to Carla (on her blog), Sarah & Jose’s first look session now ranks as one of her personal all-time favorites!

Let’s back it up a bit … a few of the details.

After some fabulous first look shots and loads of wedding party fun in Central Park, when Sarah and Jose met once again, it was as if they were seeing each other for the first time!

See the full gallery here!

The reception was held at The Central Park Boathouse and was full to overflowing with brilliant colors, yummy cupcakes and love oozing out of every nook and cranny …

From Sarah … Jose and I met through his best friend and one of my best friends (who are actually a married couple). We met at a bar one night, but it wasn’t until our friends had a New Year’s Eve party that we really connected.  Jose struck up a conversation with me and I was immediately intrigued by his cute accent and good looks. Long story short, the ball dropped at midnight and he kissed me … the rest is history. Carla has posted a ton of gorgeous photos from Sarah and Jose’s wedding on her blog {here}. Lots and lots of beauty!

Congrats to Sarah & Jose and thanks to Carla for sharing!

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck / Dress: Kleinfeld’s of NY, Melissa Sweet / Flowers: Lenox Hill Florists of NY / Cupcakes: Cupcake Cafe of NYC / Video: Tom Morlock of Vantage Point Films

To see more of Carla’s creative genious ~ check out these posts …

Tim + Minday: Don’t Trash The Dress

Emily + Pat: Wedding At Saltwater Farm Vineyard

Callie + Niels: Wedding At The Webb Barn

Sometimes we come across a wedding that looks so effortless, so elegantly laid-back and carefree like this one. This perfect slice of wedding goodness photographed by the lovely Patricia Kantzos who captured every pretty parasol, every last gorgeous bundle of wildflowers and one very adorable pair of red shoes. Not to mention all of the scrumptious bright colors woven into each and every detail. Let’s just say we kind of love it. No, scratch that. We absolutely, majorly, no-holds-barred, totally LOVE it. Not only because a wedding like this makes a blogger’s job EXTREMELY easy but also because it’s just sort of perfect. What’s not to love? See lots more of this Long Island beauty in the gallery.

see the FULL wedding here!

From Patricia Kantzos:

Britt & Thad got married on June 26, 201 at Martha Clara Vineyard on the NorthFork in Long Island. Both Britt and Thad are in the environmental science filed finishing their post doctorates at UCLA. It was important to them to have a wedding that was beautiful and fun but also not wasteful. A trolley was rented for all their guests to travel to and from the vineyard. The wine was local as were the flowers and pies. BTW – yummy pies baked with locally grown fruit. They chose June 26 date specifically for the full moon.

Her dress, by Domo Adami, was gorgeous. I loved the symmetry and fluidity of it. It had a very organic feel to it. The lavender in her hair went perfect. Britt opted for a pair of shoes that she will definitely wear again. The boys suits the same, all from J.Crew. Shannon from Naturally Delicious was amazing. Britt & Thad planned their wedding while living in Arizona, then traveling to Thailand and moving to California. Shannon made it easy for them – and for me. As a photographer, my wish is to have an event planner at every wedding. What a difference in the easy flow and low stress of the day.

Martha Clara Vineyard was spectacular. It rained a bit. Britt &Thad planned for a sunny day so had beautiful handmade paper umbrellas to help block out the sun. Instead it helped with the rain. ALL their guests were so great – no one complained. Instead they embraced the beauty of the outdoors – we all agreed that the little bit of rain added to the joy. It really was a special group of people that Britt & Thad surrounded themselves with to share this day.

Photography: Patricia Kantzos / Venue: Martha Clara Vineyard & Farm, Long Island, NY / Dress: Domo Adami (but re-designed a bit at L’elite in Boston / Florist: Rebecca Jens-Johnson of Moments in Time Floral Design, Riverhead, NY / Hair: Myles at Special Effects Salon, Greenport, NY / Makeup: Amelia at Special Effects Salon & Spa Greenport, NY / Pies: Briermere Farms, Riverhead, NY (cherry-peach, strawberry-rhubarb, apple, blackberry) / Bridesmaids Dresses and Ties: LulaKate / Men’s Suits: J. Crew / Wedding Coordination: Shannon McCormick at Naturally Delicious, Brooklyn, NY / Catering: Naturally Delicious, Brooklyn, NY / Music: Dexter Lake Club Band, Brooklyn, NY

If ever there was a studio that so embodied everything we love about wedding photography, it would surely be Christian Oth Studios. Image after image is pure wedding insanity and it never fails, we fall madly, madly in love every single time. This particular gem was held at the luxurious Bowery Hotel in New York City. The AMAZING Carrie Sartor with Lyndsey Hamilton Events planned the entire wedding, while Belle Fleur did the breathtaking florals and Jake McBride for Christian Oth photographed the story. It is romantic, dramatic, and a total lesson in sheer and utter gorgeousness. We seriously could go on and on but instead, we will leave you to the beautiful photos. See the full wedding here.

click here to see the full wedding gallery!

The bride wanted a New York themed wedding, as many guests were traveling. The couple arrived at the Bowery in a classic yellow cab. The gift bags were NYC themed with Dean & Deluca snacks, Dylan’s Candy Bar treats, a donation to the Central Park Conservatory, and a DVD of Sex & the City, as the bride works for HBO. Gift bags were created by Melangerie. The meal was served family style with a selection of wines based on the couple’s personal favorites. Each wine had it’s own story relating to the couple and their travels. We had Mr Boddington create cards at each table to explain the significance of each wine.

We obviously wanted to incorporate the beauty and uniqueness of the space. We hired a sexy, vintage music trio, Bon Musique, for the cocktail hour. Because the meal was catered by the hotels’ restaurant Gemma, the bride wanted to infuse Tuscan-rustic elements into the evening. One of the ways we did so was sourcing an antique gelato cart from a prop house in Manhattan. The couple opted not to have a wedding cake, but rather passed mini-desserts and cookies in the shape of wedding cakes from Eleni’s.

The decor was complimentary of the rich, romantic space and Fall season. The color palette was a mixture of rich, deep burgundy and purples, with accents of green. Belle Fleur created the amazing florals. We chose rich wine-colored Dupioni silk linens. To complete the menu and table, we placed rosemary sprigs at each setting. We used colored water goblets to compliment the color palette. To incorporate the season, we used green suckling pears as place card holders.

Photography: Jake McBride of Christian Oth Studios / Venue and Caterer: The Bowery Hotel / Planner: Carrie Sartor with Lyndsey Hamilton Events / Florist: Belle Fleur / Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Hair and Makeup: Nikki & Heidi at Damali / Band and DJ: cocktail hour – Bon Musique, reception – Soulsystem / Invitations: Mr. Boddington’s Studio