Newport Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

Inspiration to Help You Host Your European Destination Wedding Along the Coasts of the United States

Boy oh boy, do we have a treat for y’all today. Not only is this inspiration shoot from Lauren Fair and Always Yours Events at Glen Manor House insanely gorgeous (hello that Monique Lhuillier floral gown), it also serves as a guide to help you host the European destination wedding you’ve always dreamed of, all while staying safe here in the States. Their advice and tips will allow to provide the same immersive experience for your guests just as you would if abroad. No seriously… it’s possible! Keep on reading for the inside scoop and head on over to the full gallery after to get all the design inspiration you’ll need, complete with floral magic by The Wild Dahlia.

From Always Yours Events… Over the last year we have seen remarkable intimate weddings take center stage here in the US, filled with small guest lists yet remarkable impact and awe-inspiring designs that have taken the internet and social media by storm. Yet in actuality, in recent years the intimate wedding was already slowly on the rise, with couples opting to create an experiential wedding weekend for their guests in exciting destinations including tropical locales such as Bora Bora to every corner of Europe from the coasts of the Mediterranean to the countryside of Italy, France, United Kingdom and more. However with the recent challenge of travel being temporarily suspended, we have seen couples opt to change their dates for their destination weddings, or worse, indefinitely put their celebrations on hold.

With this editorial design, Lauren Fair and I wanted to encourage couples to look at an exciting alternative option for their international destination weddings. We wanted to inspire couples to bring their intimate destination weddings back to the beautiful locales found here throughout the country, and host the same immersive experience just as you would if abroad. Experiential long weekends of celebration for intimate guest counts can still be had here in places you may not even know exist, such as one of the waterfront mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, a Tuscan-inspired villa and venue in the mountains of the South or the Hudson Valley of New York, a light and airy French-inspired chateau hidden up in Vermont, a tiny charming inn found on a private island of the coast of Florida… just to name a few.

Selecting an Experiential Venue and Backdrop:

For this design we chose the stunning backdrop of the coasts of Rhode Island at the Glen Manor House. What drew us to this particular location is the fact that it is very much reminiscent of the French Riviera. Newport and Portsmouth, Rhode Island are known for their stunning mansions that once served as Summer homes of the wealthiest families in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and these gilded homes were often inspired by chateaus and manors found throughout the coasts and countryside of Europe. The setting was one conducive to that of a French Riviera wedding weekend, including an immersive experience of a coastal ceremony, an intimate dinner for amongst the architecture of the chateau’s terrace and an antique yacht send off.

Finding Inspiration Reminiscent of Your Destination:

Inspiring the design from start to finish was the exquisite Tuileries gown from Monique Lhuillier, styled by Lorella of La Jolie Bride and completed with canary diamond earrings and fine jewelry by Verstolo. The gown has such a breathtaking and romantic pattern (reminiscent of the Tuileries gardens of France) that we used it to anchor the aesthetic, and subtly wove it in and out of the fine details, and used the color palette and textures to guide the overall vision.

Invite and Welcome Your Guests to the Weekend:

Since stationery is an imperative element and tool for a destination wedding, we worked with the talented Diane of My Lady Dye to create a full and multi-piece custom suite of handmade paper with printing methods including blind letterpress, satin gold foil, hand-painted venue illustrations and floral patterns with accents of blue butterflies found within the Tuileries dress pattern. The stationery design branded the entire guest experience, including welcome notes and personalized ribbon tied tags on french market welcome bags filled with splits of Veuve Clicquot, luxurious soaps, the couple’s favorite French candle paired with black matches and local sweets.

To evoke the European feeling within the fine details and the “getting ready” part of the weekend, we styled the stationery details on Old-World inspired styling surfaces by Chasing Stone, and incorporated a custom textured backdrop by JD Artshop within the bridal suite. Both of these textural backdrops created a cohesive European look and feel within the gallery, even when it came to the fine details.

The Intimate Ceremony:

We felt it was imperative that Carly and Jon exchange their vows with the water surrounding them and the venue in the background, creating a breathtaking view and backdrop for their sentimental ceremony. Surrounded by a deconstructed arch filled with garden roses, ranunculus, jasmine vine and delicate greenery by the talented Shawna and team of the Wild Dahlia, the couple was a vision with the Glen Manor House behind them and guests in Louis chairs in front for an intimate late afternoon ceremony. Carly’s beauty look was created by a talented duo of women, with hair pulled back in a soft and romantic chignon with a twist by renowned hairstylist Jennifer Tawa, completed with a natural yet glamorous makeup look by the beloved Amanda McCarthy. To finish her bridal look, Carly held a bouquet filled with delicate garden roses and butterfly ranunculus by the Wild Dahlia. Jon wore a smart black and white tuxedo by the Black Tux with black bowtie fitting for the black tie celebration.

The Tour via Antique Yacht:

When it comes to a coastal European-inspired wedding, it would not be complete without a boating excursion. Post ceremony our couple hopped on the Antique Yacht (named Temma) and tooled around the harbor and inlets of Newport for a little time together prior to the reception. Giving guests the opportunity to freshen up and head to the evening reception, the bride and groom took golden hour photos around the coast and then head back to the Glen Manor House in time for the bride to change into a second look.

A Second Look:

With an intimate wedding, a second look allows for another fashionable moment, approachability and comfort. Carly changed into a stunning deep v-neck gown (called Celine) from Monique Lhuillier completed with soft, glamorous waves, a smoldering eye look, and a pearl and crystal hairpiece. This look was a perfect way to transition from day to night, from ceremony to reception, from part one of the celebration to part two.

An Immersive Reception:

With an intimate guest count, receptions can take place in locations not always offered to celebrations with larger guest lists. For this reception, we chose the terrace overlooking the ocean and gardens of Glen Manor House. To bring statement lighting and ambience to the space, the team at Ryan Designs installed mixed beaded chandeliers over the dining table and soft pale champagne draping to frame the table within the terrace. The table was covered in champagne velvet linen and set with fine china, crystal and gold flatware, and surrounded by tufted gray Louis chairs from PEAK Event Services. Down the center of the table was an undulating set of shell colored compotes and vessels filled with overflowing florals and framed with soft peachy-blush candles in wooden taper holders by the Wild Dahlia. Each place setting featured a menu card with blue tassel and a tiny and intricately decorated cake made of artisan cookies by the talented Andrea of Andrea Reno Calligraphy and Cakes. The wedding cake by Andrea was an absolute work of art utilizing old world European piping techniques, and it impeccably fit in within the reception design.

With a little creativity, vision and a vendor team alongside, we encourage couples to take a second look at their destination celebrations and bring them to a stunning locale within reach now. This editorial is proof that dream weddings can and will take place wherever you are, and that experience, aesthetic and ambience do not need to be sacrificed even if the destination must change. And in the eyes of your nearest and dearest guests, the most exquisite destination is wherever you invite them to be a part of this exquisite celebration.

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Lauren Fair Photography

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Carly Michelle Photography

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The Wild Dahlia

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How One Couple Used Style Me Pretty Products to Transform Their Last Minute Wedding at Home

For all of you ‘COVID brides,’ this is one you’re going to want to read! Rather than cancel their big wedding, this couple opted to say I Do at the brides family home, surrounded by their family and the fruits of their labor – a true family affair as they all came together to make the day possible! Brooke Allison Photo was there to capture it all from all of the local favorites to the surprise car parade for the bride and groom. Decorative florals were gathered from around the home and the bouquet was crafted by White Moss and Twigs and the other decor….well, that just so happened to be done by Style Me Pretty products! Check it all out below, and be sure to read all about each and every special detail of this magical day!

From the Bride…On June 20, 2020, Sydney and Caleb’s family gathered to celebrate their wedding at the bride’s parents’ house. It wasn’t the wedding they had been planning over the last year ( in fact it wasn’t planned for at all until a month before the wedding) but both family pulled together, to pull of this amazing home wedding in Newport, RI.

At the beginning of May, when it became obvious their large wedding would not be able to take place, the bride’s father suggested using a side room in the family’s historic farmhouse. It was a large round room with 12 ft ceilings and a beautiful stone fireplace in the middle. The only problem was the room was unfinished. Prior to the family moving into the farmhouse, the room had been gutted and it had not yet been refinished. Her father was undeterred though and over the next couple weeks, her fiance, her brother, and her dad worked together to complete the drywall, reface the fireplace, paint the ceiling and walls, and put in new light fixtures. On June 18th, just two days before the wedding, it was finished.

From here, the bride and her mother took over planning how to decorate. The mother of the groom had drawn a beautiful wedding crest that was meant to be used on the invitations, and they used this crest as the inspiration for decorations. It was a romantic yet cheerful crest, filled with soft pastels, roses, and shades of blues. The bride and her mother walked around the neighborhood asking neighbors for permission to cut some of their garden roses. Because of COVID, no florist would sell flower petals so they gathered them from under bushes around the yard.

Earlier that year they had bought small potted olive trees to use as extra centerpieces at the original wedding, but now they took center stage amidst a flurry of votive candles and under the twinkling Christmas lights. The bride and grooms seat was marked out by Style Me Pretty “Bride” and “Groom” signs as well as SMP gold champagne glasses.

From the barn in the family’s backyard they hung SMP’s “Together is my favorite place to be” banner, a saying that seemed especially meaningful for such an intimate family wedding. And it truly was a family affair! The groom and his brothers set up tables in the backyard, small pop up tents, and hung Christmas lights from the shed. The bride’s brother, the mother of the groom, and the sister of the groom decorated the ceremony room, and the maid of honor (Sydney’s sister) decorated the master bedroom for a “getting ready” suite. The bride herself made the “Wedding Schedule” sign on a mirror from her old dorm room, calligraphed small signs to hang around the property, and designed the programs. When all was done, it was hard to tell if the beauty came from the details or the love that the family had poured into it.

Outside the door to the ceremony room was the framed crest alongside the mirror, the programs, and a SMP card box. The doorway was framed with two potted blueberry bushes, a nod to Caleb’s home state of Maine while all the flowers inside the ceremony room came from around Sydney’s neighborhood. The bride’s bouquet, the boutonnières, and corsages were all provided by White Moss and Twigs. Music was played by the groom’s sister as the family gathered in the room and during the procession (which started at the top of the stairs just outside the room and stopped in front of the fireplace).

After the ceremony the bride changed out of her ballroom style dress into a more casual and fitted dress. Upon exiting the house, the newly married couple were surprised by a parade of friends driving by with congratulations and well wishes. During cocktail hour the family mingled in the backyard; the older member of the family played corn hole, relaxed and chatted on patio lounge, and enjoyed appetizers while the younger ones swung around on one of the tree swings or the zip line.

Because it was a day of two families coming together, they wanted to acknowledge both families’ home states in the food served (Rhode Island and Maine). So for specialty cocktails, they served Rhode Island favorite, Del’s Lemonade (kept in white coolers the bride had hand painted for the occasion) with a vodka mixer, and for dinner they had a lobster boil.

One request of the bride, was there had to be some sort of French fries, but the bride and her mother where they could order so many French fries from. One week before the wedding, while the intended couple and the bride’s parents were eating out at a local restaurant, the bride and her mother commented on how good the tator tots were. On a whim, the bride’s mother asked the chef if it would be possible to order tray of them to go for the following weekend, and were pleasantly surprised that they could! For dessert the mother of the groom made ice cream sandwiches, and the couple’s cake was from Greggs (a local favorite).

After dinner, the families moved back inside to the ballroom for the couple’s first dance and cake cutting; which then lead to everyone joining the dance floor as the bride’s sister played dj. After all the dessert had been eaten and everyone was worn out from dancing, the two families gathered together in front of the house to send off the new couple with a sparkler exit. It was a beautiful ending to an entire day celebrating not just two individuals but two families coming together. Every single person had helped and played a part in the day, and because of that every detail had extra meaning.

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When They Couldn’t Have Their Dream Wedding in Italy, They Brought Italy to Them!

Today’s gorgeous bride and groom brought their Tuscan wedding vision stateside – and boy did they pull it off. From ceremony to reception, the details of the day came together so seamlessly to create a Tuscan garden dream in Newport, Rhode Island. Semia Floral Design arranged stunning bouquets filled with lush blooms, living chandeliers and even decorated their head table with Tuscan inspired fruit. Head on over to the full gallery, captured by Arielle Doneson Photography to see it all unfold.

From the bride… Our original dream was to get married in Italy at a tuscan villa with our close family & friends. We had to re-think that dream when we realized my grandparents health would not allow for that kind of trip. Instead, we decided to combine the essence of Tuscany with the seaside beauty of our favorite day trip destination, Newport, RI. My memories of Tuscany always evoked feelings of calm, pure happiness, natural beauty & of course, amazing food.

That is exactly the feeling we went off of to pick all of our details, from the colors to the venue. To play off of that serene feeling and to compliment the gorgeous views of our venue, we went with a more muted color palette of dusty blues, mauves & lots of greenery.

The venue itself was a no brainer, with its gorgeous views of the water and Newports’ iconic cliff walk, as well as a it’s stylish, yet blank canvas decor, it was perfect for us to give our guests a taste of Newport and also create our Tuscan vision. Our florist, Semia, did such an amazing job of making our venue feel like a Tuscan garden, even weaving greenery through the driftwood chandeliers to bring that Tuscan al-fresco feeling indoors.

If you looked closely, our head table even had some fruits scattered within it. We made sure to pay homage to not only our vision, but also our personal story together and individually. We had food that represented where each of us are from, music that spoke to our relationship & decor details that paid homage to Tuscany while blending seamlessly into the backdrop of the Newport seaside.

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Jenny Yoo

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Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon’s Fairytale Wedding at Rosecliff Mansion – See All the Photos!

It’s official! On Sunday, August 11th, the Bachelor Nation royal wedding we’ve all been waiting *years* for finally happened – and boy was it worth the wait. Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon tied the knot in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island, followed by a ballroom reception at Rosecliff Mansion. From spectacular floral arrangements by Birch Event Design to the sweetest same day edit surprise from Le Rêve Films – the entire day was planned to perfection by Simply Troy Lifestyle + Events. Lucky for us, Rebecca Yale Photography was there to capture all the details! Keep on reading for words from Simply Troy, a Q&A with Ashley and Jared, their reaction video to the same day edit and ALL the photos!

What were some of your favorite moments from your wedding day?

Jared: The entire ceremony was our favorite part of the wedding. Walking down the aisle, seeing Elan at the altar just put a smile on my face. Seeing all my loved ones walk down the aisle got me very emotional. I was already crying before Ashley entered the church. When the doors opened up and I saw Ashley for the first time in her dress I lost it. It was such a beautiful moment. Hugging her dad as he handed Ashley off to me, my dad handing off the rings to Elan, the movie quotes, Ashley’s vows Elan’s entire ceremony, everything was so perfect. Standing up on that alter with Ashley was the highlight of my life.

Ashley, tell us about your gorgeous princess gowns!

Ashley: I don’t think I could’ve felt any prettier that day. My dresses fit perfectly. I’ve always loved ballgowns and I always knew I wanted to wear a princess gown for my wedding. I actually looked like an okay dancer because I looked great spinning around the dance floor with them.

What were some of your favorite personalized wedding details?

Jared: Instead of traditional readings at our wedding, we had readings of movie quotes that Ashley and I picked out. We asked both Jordan Kahn Orchestra and Jack Ford (DJ) to play personalized songs that were very meaningful to Ashley and I. The Dunkin Donut donuts we handed out to couples with pictures of them on it. The personalized drinks which included “Ashley’s Tears” and “The Brady Punch” (after Tom Brady). Theres really too many! It was a very personalized wedding. Thank you to Troy Williams for helping us live out our dream wedding.

Were you surprised at all by how you felt on your wedding day or was it exactly how you expected to feel?

Jared: I was way more emotional before the wedding than I expected. I was finishing up my vows and as I was re-reading them, began to cry. Then I went to go see Troy (our wedding planner) to make sure my vows sounded okay and we both got choked up. It was just an overwhelming day for everybody.

Tell us about the incredible entertainment! Your reception playlist sounded amazing!

Ashley and Jared: Jordan Kahn Orchestra crushed it! Their covers of “My Heart Will Go On”, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Beauty and the Beast” were so beautiful I honestly got chocked up. The winner of the night was their cover of “Shallow”. That will be a moment I’ll never forget. Then we had Jack Ford DJ for the last 45 minutes. I don’t think there was anybody not dancing when he was DJing. His setlist was incredible. He played so many jams and his remixes of them all were perfect! He really read the room perfectly.

Who from Bachelor Nation was there to celebrate your big day?

Ashley and Jared: Nick Viall and Dean Unglert were apart of the groomsmen party. Ben Higgins was pretty much an honorary groomsman cause he’s amazing! He actually gave a small speech at the rehearsal dinner, thats how much we love him. Evan Bass and Carly Waddell were there. Chris Randone and Krystal Nielson. Kaitlyn Bristowe and Jason Tartick. JJ Lane, Chris Strandburg, Olivia Caridi and Becca Tilley. Tanner and Jade were there in Spirit.

What would be your best piece of wedding advice for future couples?

Jared: Do whatever you want to do during your wedding! Don’t be afraid to hurt peoples feelings. This is YOUR day! Talk to who you want to talk to. Dance to the songs you want to dance to. Take a look around at the venue, spend time with your friends and your family. Let it soak in because it only happens once (well, hopefully).

How would you describe Ashley and Jared’s overall wedding vision and design style?

From Troy Williams of Simply Troy Lifestyle + Events… Everything was based around creating a romantic experience for all of the guests. Their love of movies gave us so much inspiration to create personalized details along every step of the way. From Ashley wanting to be married in a small church like in “A Walk to Remember” to the grandeur of “Titanic” and the ballroom romance of “Beauty and the Beast”, even a nod to Jared’s love of “Superman” with the custom A&J logo that is in shape of the Superman crest. Love is attention to the details and we made sure every single guest felt the love every step along the way.

What were some of the surprises you were able to pull off for the adorable newlyweds?!

The same day edit that Le Rêve created to surprise Ashley & Jared at their wedding reception was beyond incredible. I didn’t even ask if they could possibly do such a feat until after we got off the sail boat on late Friday night. They had a crazy press deadline schedule every night with their video clips and then I ask them for this major element and they said “YES!” without any hesitation. Ashley & Jared’s faces were surprised and sweet at first when they saw the Friday Night Welcome Sunset Sail, then the Saturday Rehearsal Dinner, but then the shock set in when they saw them getting ready just a few hours before. Then their church wedding ceremony where they were floored, but then the drone shot of the Rolls Royce entrance to Rosecliff Mansion, them outside and then the ballroom detail shots that happened literally an hour before sent them and ALL the guests into total shock and then major applause at the end for Le R ê ve. Such a stellar accomplishment by a wonderfully talented videography team. We cannot recommend them enough!!

Watch their reaction to the surprise same day edit from Le Rêve Films below!

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All of the specialized gold framed mirrors with the personalized movie quotes and master escort card lists created by Details & Swirls were a total surprise we had brought in for them.

And our super fun late night SHAKE SHACK attack on the dance floor was too fun!! After the final bar call, the amazing Blackstone Catering team had driven 45 mins one way to get all of the Shake Shack hamburgers and fries and put them in hot boxes to stay fresh. Blackstone tracked down the EXACT trays that they use at Shake Shack restaurants to serve all of them on and had their staffers in the actual Shake Shack t-shirts and hats when they started passing them out. We even had Details & Swirls create the Shake Shack logo and name on one of the fancy gold framed mirrors and had it hand-carried out to the dance floor to announce the arrival of the Shake Shack surprise. It was such a deliciously decadent treat to wind down the night!!

How was it working with Ashley and Jared throughout the planning process?

They seriously are a dream to work with and are such kind, nice people who adore one another. I sincerely love them and their families and the entire wedding planning experience. We loved everyone. I will say this wedding had more logistical musical cues than any other wedding I’ve ever done. They both had such specific emotions related to songs and instrumental music that they chose every song for American Idol winner David Cook, the cocktail band, the dinner quartet, the reception orchestra and the late night DJ to play for all of their guests. It totally set the romance tone of the night with every song change!

The invitation suite is so unique and beautiful – talk to us about the details!

The laser-cut black gates on the front of the official MINTED wedding invitations were the exact replica of the Rosecliff Mansion front doors. They originally had simple black gates on the invite and then I sent the exact image of the front door of Rosecliff and they graciously did a custom laser cutting to have them be exact replicas and switched out the original doors.

Tell us more about the wedding weekend festivities!

The Friday Night Sunset Sailboat Cruise for about 70 guests set the perfect Rhode Island Welcome. Then the 11+ speeches at the Ocean Cliff Rehearsal Dinner looking out over the water on Saturday night was perfect. Every single speaker the entire weekend was well-spoken, extremely heartfelt, made guests laugh and made us cry. It was such a treat every time someone got up to talk.

I wore the Patriots colors for Jared’s favorite football team of course – Red, Navy, White and a silver SUPERMAN belt buckle for his favorite superhero. It’s all about the little touches and he absolutely loved those. This photo is also the one that made me cry when I first saw it on Sunday morning when Rebecca sent it to me. I recorded my reaction on Instastories and the video went bonkers. People loved it!

Talk to us about the gorgeous floral design!

Birch Event Design did a fantastic floral interpretation of Ashley & Jared’s romantic wedding visions. They were exquisite in both the church for the ceremony and also at the reception in the ballroom. Also, Ashley had a stunning bouquet that had her grandfather’s old keys put onto the handle of the bouquet for the night. It was such a sweet moment.

Most memorable moment from the wedding?

Seeing Jared cry the first time he saw Ashley walk down the aisle was EVERYTHING. Also, the surprise same day edit during the wedding reception was such an awesome jaw-dropping surprise. Loved it.

Personally, I had my own special memorable moments with both Ashley & Jared that I will never forget. Trying to get Ashley down the elevator in her princess ball gown and me having to be under the dress pulling her fallen sound mic garter up her leg while her Dad was over me had all 3 of us cracking up.

I loved getting to review Jared’s wedding vows with him at Starbucks on his wedding morning. It was a surprise when he called and asked me to meet him. They were so perfect and not a single letter was changed by me. I knew he had written them with all the love and straight from his heart so they were perfect.

I also had an amazing moment at the Saturday night rehearsal dinner when at the end of the speeches I read aloud an amazing letter Ashley had written 3 years before to do something incredibly selfless and heartfelt for Jared. I possessed the only copy of the letter and Jared had never heard the actual letter read in it’s entirety before. Many tears were shed and it was such a special moment that they both deserved to experience.

Walk us through the food & drink menu (and all the details of that stunning cake!!)

They definitely wanted to give their guests a special touch of New England in their choices for the food that night. Guests loved the demi tasse cup of New England Clam Chowder topped with a Clamcake and the mini Newport Lobster Roll on a petite buttered bun!! So delicious!! Also, they both have an immense love for Italian food so they had a Pasta Lovers Station during their cocktail hour out on the back terrace. We even had Peter on the Simply Troy team hand illustrate a “Lady and The Tramp” moment to adorn the Pasta Lovers Station. It was such a fun touch. The Signature Cocktails for the night were created by Jared’s former bartending buddy, Adam Stabile. They were named:

“Ashley’s Tears” (for obvious reasons hahaha)
“Jack and Rose” (after “Titantic” of course)
“The Brady Punch” (a nod to Jared’s absolute favorite athlete of all-time, Tom Brady)

All the cocktails were served at a gorgeous circular Emerald Green Velvet Bar with Mirror Top and custom created by Birch Event Design. Plus, we absolutely LOVED having DUNKIN’ be a part of the wedding. Jared and Ashley both grew up loving Dunkin’ so it was a necessity to have them at the wedding. We wanted to do something completely different and not do a Donut Wall. So the Dunkin’ team worked with our incredible Banga Portrait Lounge and took the images of guests photographed in their all night long and had them put on edible donuts as the wedding favors guests left with at the end of the evening. It was such a delightful treat and the guests were all putting photos of them on social media all night long. Such an impactful way to remember the night and to do something different.

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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How to Thoughtfully Infuse Your Interior Design Style Into Your Wedding Decor

More and more, brides are beginning to take inspiration from their own homes in order to curate their overall wedding design… and let us just say, the results are BEYOND gorgeous. Not only that, it’s also an amazing way to let your personality shine through your decor and make it your wedding look and feel so you. From your lounge furniture to your tablescape, Always Yours Events is taking you step by step through the many ways you can thoughtfully infuse your unique interior design style into your wedding. Check out the full gallery captured beautifully by Jessa Schifilliti featuring stunning blooms at every turn by The Wild Dahlia to get seriously inspired.

From Keri of Always Yours Events…. Now more than ever we are seeing couples prioritizing the infusion of their personality and style into their wedding designs and celebrations, and what better way than to take cues from interior design and possibly their home to create a stylish and welcoming design that leaves guests in awe. For this inspiration shoot, film photographer Jessa Schifilliti and I dreamed up a design that would infuse the interior design of a modern coastal home into an intimate wedding celebration. We imagined a couple with impeccable taste, Sloane and Brooks, who have a background of working within the interior design and architecture industries, and it felt incredibly fitting to create an aesthetic based on interior and seaside inspiration in a modern and unexpected fashion.

This celebration was meant to be intimate with a guest list of just close family and friends, as well as feature all of the fine details and luxuries the bride and groom ever desired. To create a visually interesting and romantic design, we set our sights on a unique color palette and a plethora of textures. A color palette of painterly ocean blue shades, wheat, sandy beige, tan, taupe, blush, orange sherbet, cream, ivory and gold worked together impeccably and created cohesion amongst all of the textural elements of the design. For texture, we took inspiration from rattan, woven baskets, weathered wood, modern pottery, grasses and bleached ruscus. For the first guest touchpoint we worked with the talented ladies of Gus and Ruby Letterpress to create a custom and distinctive wedding invitation suite with clever elements that guests would be wow-ed by upon receiving.

The suite included handmade tan cotton paper with matte white foil, a mixture of casual handwritten and serif fonts, a unique take on standard invitation wording to infuse personality, a custom address wrap and an oyster shell liner that tied into the theme of our welcome reception — Bubbly and Bivalves. For attire, our gorgeous bride Sloane’s bridal look included an ethereal and show-stopping gown by Alexandra Grecco, a stunning custom oval diamond engagement ring and distinctive gold band by Susie Saltzman, Jimmy Choo nude heels, and an effortless yet flawless look created by the talents of hairstylist Maricruz, owner of Maricruz Polito Hairstyles and makeup artistry by Garineh, owner of Glamour Cosmetics. Our dapper groom Brooks wore a custom tailored blue suit with a soft blue tie complimented by a textural boutonniere of pampas grass and white blooms.

The spaces of this editorial included a seaside ceremony on the beach, an al fresco dinner under a dreamy cabana of billowing off-white fabric and mixed rattan pendant lights executed by the incredible team at Ryan Designs, as well as a send off by the ocean with a floral adorned white Jeep Wrangler from Platinum Auto’s Cape Cod Jeep Rentals. Shawna from the Wild Dahlia took the color palette and textural inspiration to the next level and designed a complete floral story of composed florals that brought the entire aesthetic together. With the use of pampas grasses, bunny tail grass and bleached white ruscus instead of the usual greenery, the applique detail of Sloane’s gown and the woven details of the rentals flowed seamlessly with the floral design. A statement bouquet of blooms including an array of neutral garden roses and an unusual and rare peony referred to as the “brownie” peony was tied with light blue silk ribbon and carried by our gorgeous bride. Our tablescape and place settings under the cabana included tabletop rentals from Party Rental LTD, and some of the highlights included the mid-century modern Alexander Elmwood chairs, a wheat woven linen, white pottery chargers, gold flatware, a mixture of modern glassware and woven fans mixed with white fringe napkins set with a personalized menu card atop including woven textured place cards designating each guest’s seat.

The centerpieces included neutral blooms and grasses in white clay handmade vessels with sandstone taper candles placed in between. To bring the design and color palette full circle, our talented baker Nancy of Silver Whisk Bake Shop created a four tiered cake including the soft blues of the color palette, the couple’s monogram from the stationery and a seagrass basket inspired base layer all against the basket wall installation of the Newport Beach House. At the end of the celebration, Sloane and Brooks changed into their getaway outfits (including a beautiful two-piece white number from Gal Meets Glam) and hopped into the white Jeep wrangler with blooms surrounding the iconic wheel on the back for a trip down the beach and out of Newport. In addition to the beautiful gallery, a remarkable film created by the extraordinarily talented Greg of Willow Tree Films was created to showcase the feeling of the day and the elements as guests would experience them. This editorial was an absolute dream to conceptualize with an all-star team of vendors, and we hope this design inspires those couples hoping infuse interior design into their own celebrations.

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Old-World Elegance With Shades of Terracotta and Soft Blue at Fort Adams Trust

If you’re looking for classically romantic wedding inspiration that also has that dreamy old-world charm, look no further – this style shoot from Urban Soirée Boston, Stephanie Vegliante Photography and The Wild Dahlia is the answer to your prayers. This talented vendor team made all kinds of magic happen at the historic Fort Adams Trust in shades of terracotta, cream and soft blues.

From Urban Soirée Boston… Inspired by the historic Fort Adams Trust in Newport, Rhode Island, we sought to create a styled shoot that struck the perfect balance of classic romance and old-world charm.

We envisioned an intimate exchange of vows set within the North Casemates of the fort. The focal point of our ceremony backdrop featured lush greenery trailing up the weathered brick for an unexpectedly elegant look. The bridal bouquet designed by The Wild Dahila showcased a color palette of terracotta, taupes, creams, and the softest shades of blue. That palette carried throughout each of our design elements, including the sweetheart table lined with taper candles, styled place settings, and organic florals.

Playing off our vintage romance inspiration, we also incorporated a boudoir session showcasing a stunning veil designed by Malis-Henderson. Whether newly engaged or months into planning, we hope to inspire couples wishing to draw on the magic of another era and create a one-of-a-kind experience their guests will always remember.

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The Wild Dahlia

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Elegant New England Wedding at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island

There’s nothing quite like a classic coastal New England wedding—especially when it’s set in Newport, Rhode Island. I may be a tad biased as my very own I dos were said on these waters! So, when today’s fete at Castle Hill Inn came across my desk, a sweet nostalgia came over me. Join me in the soul-warming gallery, captured by Rebecca Arthurs.

From the Bride… Brendan and I met while both attending medical school in Washington, DC and after much persuasion, he managed to convince me to move to his hometown of Boston to continue residency training. As a Californian native, it took some time getting used to the snow, however I quickly fell in love with the old-world charm of New England. We wanted our wedding to reflect what we loved most about New England and found that in the beautiful Castle Hill Inn in Newport, RI. The easy elegance and unpretentious charm of Castle Hill Inn, with it’s beautiful coastline views and Adirondack dotted lawn was the perfect venue for us. The tented reception site created an indoor-outdoor space that allowed our guests to enjoy cocktails on the lawn, watch the beautiful late summer sunset, and enjoy the cool seaside breeze.

With its beautiful surroundings, CHI needed very little additional decor; however as a lover of flowers, finding a florist that could augment the beauty of CHI was important to me. Stoneblossom Florals did an amazing job of re-creating my dream color palette of the lightest blush surrounded by whites and greens. Hydrangeas, garden roses, rice flower, jasmine ivy, cafe au lait dahlias, etc elegantly dressed up the sperry tents. Chinese blessing scrolls my parents brought from their native Taiwan were flanked with Chinoiserie vases, a subtle nod to my Asian heritage.

Our stationers, Champagne & Ink, kept consistent with our theme and all our day of items were decorated with delicate pale pink florals. We wanted to forgo the traditional “Mr”‘ and “Mrs” chair signs, so they custom designed “Dr” and “Dr” laser cut chair signs. Although a small detail, this was special to us as it defines a large part of us as individuals and as a couple.

The best part of the night was sneaking away from the dance floor and wandering out towards the ocean. There was a moment when we looked back towards the lit up reception tent and couldn’t help but feel so lucky to be married, whilst surrounded by all the people we love.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Stoneblossom Floral and Wedding Design

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Jenny Yoo

Spring 2014 Maternity

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Galia Lahav

Le Secret Royal 2016

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Ivory Tower 2016

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Les Reves Bohemians 2016

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Make A Scene

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A Charming New England Wedding at Castle Hill Inn

Ahhh, New England in the summertime… blooming hydrangeas at every turn, salty air, and a crisp, coastal breeze – there’s truly nothing like it! The second we laid eyes on this romantic Castle Hill Inn wedding in Newport, Rhode Island, with photos from Erich Mcvey and planning by Firefly Events, we were instantly consumed by it’s charm. Blueberries accented the table design while floral arrangements full of radiant roses by Tinge Floral have us tickled pink. Don’t miss a detail and head on over to the FULL GALLERY here!

Our goal as wedding planners is always to create a celebration that is a true reflection of our clients’ personalities and love story. Lane and Connor are two of the kindest people we know. They also happen to be effortlessly classy and SO.MUCH.FUN! So, when it was time to plan and design their wedding we had to make sure it was genuine, classy and a full-on BLAST!

Lane and Connor met at boarding school in Connecticut and picked Newport, RI as the perfect meeting spot for friends from Choate, Dartmouth and Colby. They knew they wanted to get married near the ocean (Connor loves to fish!), and they selected the stunning Castle Hill Inn in Newport, RI for their reception. They held the ceremony at the iconic St. Mary’s Church where Jacqueline Bouvier married then Senator John F. Kennedy in 1953 for their ceremony. Classy. Once the venues were selected, we started to plan their vision for the big day. We turned to invite masters Bliss and Bone who crafted the loveliest invitation suite that was perfect for L+C. 1-part fun and creative, 1-part simple elegance. From there we knew we needed a photographer that was super fun and personable, just like L+C, but who could also capture their deep love for one another. Cue Erich McVey. Genius. He also happened to share the same last name as Lane, so we knew it was meant to be.

With the big vendors done, we moved into the fun details like decor! We wanted a florist that could nail L+C’s chic vibe, while still being cutting edge and fun, so we turned to Tinge. Tinge is one of our fave designers out of Utah whose sprawling, organic designs look more like art pieces than floral arrangements. We had a lot of fun with colors and textures on the tables (hello gorgeous lamb’s ear!) and jazzed up the tent with some wrought iron chandeliers dripping with greenery and a floral backdrop for the photo booth.

The team came together from there and included our friends at Rent Patina, the local baker Confectionery Designs and The Elements from Elan Artist who kept Lane and Connor on the dance floor ALL NIGHT LONG. Can’t forget A Signature Welcome, who helped Lane and Connor welcome their guests with some killer welcome boxes including their favorite things like Chicago popcorn mix and stroopwafels, a treat Connor came to love during his time playing hockey in Norway. We maybe snuck a few “extras” in our suitcases home!

In short, Lane and Connor’s wedding was not only an epic dance party, it was also a heartfelt weekend filled with so much love, family, friends and and a thoughtfully curated team to bring to help bring it all to life.

A Seaside Affair Where the Bride and Groom First Vacationed

Their first road trip ever took them to a romantic light house at Castle Hill Inn so naturally when it came time to pick a venue, this duo set their sights on that very spot in Rhode Island. Combining the beauty of the seascape with classic New England details and a pretty pastel color palette, this Newport celebration captured by Sally Pinera will make you fall head over heels for the Ocean State.

From the Bride…

The Planning

Sean and I started dating in New York City almost three years ago, and since then it’s been just non-stop traveling every moment (and vacation days) we can spare. Our first road trip ever ended up being Newport, Rhode Island when we knew nothing of the place. There we randomly discovered this romantic lighthouse at Castle Hill Inn, and since then we joked about getting married there, and who knew it would become reality!

We always wanted a destination wedding so it can be a more intimate smaller group with a casual rustic vibe where our family and friends can just chill and enjoy themselves surrounded by nature like they just came on vacation. And I wanted it to be a bohemian style wedding so a Malibu winery felt perfect for this since I’m from California as well. But as I was planning without a wedding planner, we decided it was best to bring it back to the East Coast.

After some talks with Castle Hill Inn, we were lucky enough to get the perfect date on September 8th to turn it into a boho rustic Malibu winery with an entirely alfresco ceremony and reception (apparently first time ever for them to have the reception outdoors) with romantic bistro lights strung all across the lawn. Just the dancing would have to be inside the tent due to Rhode Island’s sound regulations, which turned out to be great so our guests can fully enjoy their dinner before moving inside the tent to dance.

I knew the photographer was the most important to bring that California light into the picture. Sally Pinera was perfect for the task and she delivered above and beyond our expectations and definitely brought the California sunshine onto Castle Hill Inn. We also wanted to be very minimalist with the details thereby enhancing the vintage, rustic bohemian vibe using minimal flowers with more greenery and candle lights to accentuate the natural beauty of the place. And as our theme was “Life is a journey best traveled together,” we had a world map as our guest book, vintage suitcases as the card holder and commissioned a vintage VW 77 Photo Bus as our photo booth, which our guests absolutely adored and lined up for.

The Ceremony

What was so special about our ceremony was that all of our close friends and family participating in it made it such an intimate affair. My close college friend flew over all the way from Germany and performed such a memorable ceremony for us and my high school friends’ four beautiful kids (who are all 1/4 Korean by the way) added the perfect bohemian touch with their flower crowns and Moroccon oversized baskets (just the two year old got a bit fussy and refused to wear them but at the end at least she walked down the aisle! Whew!). Our mothers provided the last touch with our Korean heritage by wearing the traditional Korean Hanbok bursting with color amongst the nude palette of the wedding party.

The Reception

We had the most romantic dinner, dining under the stars and danced our First Dance to “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” by Meghan Trainor under the bistro lights with the blessing of all of our loved ones surrounding us. Our wedding favor was High-Grade Tie Guan Yin Green Tea directly brought in from Shanghai by my Matron of Honor and had a Gourmet Espresso Bar for all of our guests as we are coffee and tea lovers and our guests all seasoned New Yorkers (or from a metropolitan city all over the world) like us with sophisticated taste in coffee and tea.

Ultimately, we just wanted to make sure we had a memorable, intimate experience with the people we love and that they have the best time, amazing food and good music to remember it by. So we asked them to wear flats instead of heels and be more casual in their attire so they can dance to the best DJ (we picked a real DJ instead of a wedding DJ) all night with a very personalized playlist handpicked by my husband himself.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Modern Seaside Wedding in Newport With a Pop of Peony

Do you know what pairs perfectly with a sleek modern backdrop like that of Belle Mer? The brightest pop of coral peony. That gorgeous bloom is woven throughout this seaside affair with stunning floral installations crafted by Stoneblossom Florals and some of the best views Newport has to offer. Peek inside the gorgeous details of this sweet couple’s wedding day with image after pretty image captured by Twah Dougherty.

Rachel And Francis got married in the beautiful seaside town of Newport Rhode Island, filled with old world charm and nautical elegance. They incorporated their favorite Light House by Castle Hill into their wedding invitations and the silhouette of Newport Bridge into their paper details. Stoneblossom Florals used driftwood as a seaside detail to incorporate beautiful florals for their table arrangements. Rachel and Francis kept their vision classic with a clean white palette. They incorporated an Indian fusion menu to pay respect to Francis Indian heritage.

From the Bride… As soon as we got engaged, we immediately knew that we wanted to get married in Newport, Rhode Island. We spend a lot of time there during the summer months and few places compare. Newport’s yacht-filled harbors and Gilded Age Mansions make it easy to fall in love with the small town. Newport has many options when looking for a wedding venue. We visited at least fifteen venues before we selected our favorite, Belle Mer. We fell in love with the views, and the all-white decor that allowed us to customize everything! Belle Mer is a beautiful sea-side venue sitting along the coastline of Narragansett Bay, overlooking the Newport Bridge. We wanted to pick a day of the month that would be special so we decided to get married on my grandparent’s 57th wedding anniversary. The vision for our wedding was classic with a subtle nod to Newport’s seaside location. We had our invitations designed by Robinson Press. We used views of our favorite lighthouse in Newport as the backdrop for our invitations. We knew we wanted our flowers to be the focal point of the reception. Stone blossom florals helped our vision become a reality. We chose bright flowers that were hand woven through driftwood centerpieces, accented by warm candlelight. When choosing the food we selected an Indian-fusion menu to incorporate both of our cultures and to allow our guests to try something new! It was the perfect day in every way. Our amazing photographer Twah Dougherty and her team captured it beautifully and all of our vendors were wonderful to work with. With an incredible team and wonderful coordinator, we were able to relax and enjoy every moment.

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Stoneblossom Floral and Wedding Design

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A Gorgeous Newport Estate Wedding With a Modern Twist

All the things that make Newport one of the most quintessential New England cities can be found tucked inside this Rhode Island celebration coordinated by Exquisite Events. Held at a stunning family estate, you’ll find lobster, loads of hydrangeas by Stoneblossom, a classic tented reception and the blue backdrop of the Atlantic. Relive the celebration through the perfect film by Inkspot Crow Films and pretty images by Rebecca Arthurs too.

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From the Cinemetographer… I loved Alex & Zack’s seaside celebration in Newport, Rhode Island. The weekend kicked off with a classic clambake at the Eisenhower House where guests ate New England fare at communal tables and danced to honky tonk music. The ceremony was at the historic Trinity Church in Newport (location in the movie Moonrise Kingdom) and the couple and their wedding party arrived by double decker bus, paying homage to London, where Alex and Zack currently live. The tented reception was on the lawn of the family’s home in Newport, on the historic Cliff Walk. Guests dined, danced and danced some more through the night. It was both beautiful and full of heart.

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Stoneblossom Floral and Wedding Design

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A Clean, Modern Take on a New England Wedding

In a day where clean lines and modern design reigns king, it only makes sense that the incredible Belle Mer plays backdrop. Set right on the sea, the venue was everything Samantha and Zach were looking for. Add in the abundance of white-on-white florals from Greenlion Design and the images from the ever-fabulous Rebecca Arthurs and you have a day to remember from beginning to end.

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From the bride, Samantha… Zach and I met in college at The University of Michigan, but we did not start dating until a few months after graduation when we lived in the same building in New York City.

My vision for the wedding was a formal evening with a modern sophistication in a waterfront location. My favorite moment of the wedding day was the first look – it was such an honest and raw moment and something special that I will always remember.

From the floral designer, Greenlion… Samantha and Zach both were drawn to clean lines and simplicity. We incorporated lush large philodendron leaves to add a contrast to the clean groupings of white hydrangea, tulip, and orchids we used in the centerpiece work. It complimented the space beautifully. The chuppah was hand-crafted from vines and we added lush organic style florals in greens whites and creams for a bold ceremony backdrop.

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Bridesmaid Dresses

Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

Amsale Bridesmaids Spring 2014

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Amsale Bridal Fall 2014

Amsale Bridal Spring 2015

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Amsale Bridal Spring 2016

Amsale Bridal Fall 2016

Amsale Bridal Spring 2018

Amsale Bridal Fall 2018

Amsale Bridesmaids

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Modern Indian Wedding Inspired by a European Garden

We might only be in February, but I’m predicting Zarine and Vineet’s wedding as one of Style Me Pretty’s best of the year. It’s a day that combines two distinct Indian cultures paired with the bride’s personal taste for European charm…and does it all with elegance and grace. Zarine donned three custom-designed gowns paired with heirloom jewelry and Twah Dougherty captured each moment behind her lens. This day is the definition of cultural beauty and we can’t get enough.

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From Erin Braun, event stylist… Zarine and Vineet come from two very distinct Indian cultures and religions, Zoroastrian and Hindu respectively. We worked to combine three very different aesthetics into one unique vision to perfectly reflect their authentic styles – the all white traditions of Zoroastrian weddings, colorful and vibrant Hindu celebrations, and a soft European garden style to reflect the Bride’s personal aesthetic and the couple’s Parisian engagement. Belle Mer provided a breathtaking white seaside setting for this seamlessly executed multicultural event that was so stunningly captured by Twah Dougherty.

Intricate chalk patterns is one of Zarine’s favorite traditions in Zoroastrian celebrations, so we carried this design element throughout the wedding events. From detailed illustrations on the hand painted invitations, to chalk drawings leading into the entrance of the ceremony and hand painted tiles to display the guests’ escort cards. We created a color palette of white, cream, and blush with touches of gold and vivid berry tones to meld the unique cultural aesthetics.

Throughout the wedding festivities, the bride wore three different outfits, which were all custom designed and hand-crafted for her in India. She also adorned heirloom jewelry that had been passed down through both families. Gold elephants, signage written in three different family languages, a white horse for the groom’s procession, and banana leaves wrapped around each place setting are just a few of the many personal and thoughtful details that were infused throughout the day of events. Everything was so wonderfully executed by the most talented team of vendors and the unique blending of cultures and families left such a lasting impression on all of the guests!

Coastal Wedding Obsessed? This Fete Will Give You ALL the Heart Eyes.

I might be a tad bit biased when it comes to coastal summer fetes in Newport. OK—definitely biased. If a seaside soiree is on the books for you, I assure you, this sun-drenched day snapped up by Arielle Doneson is one you’ll want to cozy up to for a good long while. Complete with a navy and coral color combo and nautical touches to boot, there’s even more sitting pretty in The Vault.

From the Bride… Liam and I spend most of our free time in the summer on the beach in Rhode Island, and made many happy memories there in the time that we were dating. We wanted our wedding to reflect summertime on the water in New England, while at the same time remaining simple, timeless, and classic. Our main focus was for the day to host a fun Newport ‘summertime party’ for our friends and family to relax, eat, drink, and dance! We also incorporated a few personal touches to make our wedding feel like it was really “ours”, which included: a welcome sunset sail the night before, the boat ride prior to the ceremony, personalized vows, my late grandmother’s jewelry, having the mothers of the bride and groom choose the readings (and gifting to them handkerchiefs with embroidered quotes), having a close friend officiate, a funfetti cake (something I’ve made for Liam since the first few months that we started dated), our first dance song was a song that we frequently listened to on the way home from the beach….etc, etc you get the point!

I chose a mostly white color palette with some touches of navy and red/peach flowers to help evoke the summery and classic feel that I wanted…I also wanted to make sure that when we look back at our photos in 15 years, we don’t regret bold or trendy color statements! Liam and I are both non-fussy people, and I wanted to keep our decor clean and streamlined as well, not to mention maximizing the views of Newport Harbor.

I hope this helps give you a sense of my mindset while planning…Liam and I just wanted the day to feel like “us” at the end of the day, and I based all of my design decisions off of that main line of thought!

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Wedding Dresses

Nicole Miller

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

Fall 2015

SPRING 2016

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Donna Morgan

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Donna Morgan Collection - Core Chiffon

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4 Winter Beauty Trends to Take You from Ski Slopes to Fireside Cocktails

One thing I struggle with every winter is getting stuck in the same old beauty routine. Sound familiar? Not this year, my friends. It’s time to layer on the metallics, dark berry lips and wow-factor lashes to boot. We’ve teamed up with Tarte Cosmetics and Jennie Kay Beauty to break down four of the season’s hottest beauty trends that’ll take you from the ski slopes to fireside cocktails in sparkling style. Grab the tutorials below!

The best part about layering on these long-wearing looks for the holiday season? Our Tarte makeup bag is filled with essentials that are cruelty-free, life-tested products chock full of healthy ingredients (bye bye parabens, mineral oil, and phthalates!)—giving you the confidence that you’re not further damaging your skin during one of the harshest seasons. Why choose between beauty that works and beauty that’s healthy? It’s time to #RethinkNatural!

How To Prep Your Skin

1. Start by prepping your skin with a few drops of Maracuja Oil. This vegan oil will help give you that radiant glow (without that greasy feel!).

2. To refresh the eyes, use the Maracuja C-brighter™ Eye Treatment, which is packed with maracuja fruit, vitamin C and advanced botanicals to firm and brighten.

3. To keep makeup in place all day long, layer on Timeless Smoothing Primer.

Natural Ski Slope Glow

Say hello to the perfect snow bunny look. Not too undone or overdone, this look will have you heading down the mountain with a sweet glow.

1. We started with a tiny bit of Double Duty Beauty Hybrid Gel Foundation to smooth out the skin. Our secret for a more natural look? (You don’t want to look too overdone on the slopes!) This amazing Double-Ended Camouflage Brush. Apply the foundation with the brush end and blend in or erase with the sponge end. The curved head glides smoothly and leaves you streak free.

2. Dark circles from those après-ski cocktails the night before? Make sure to apply a bit of Aquacealer Concealer under your eyes.

3. For a pinch-the-cheeks-perfect rosy hue, we used ‘Blushing Bride’ Cheek Stain before applying our highlighter.

4. Using the Double-Ended Highlighter Brush and Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Highlighter in ‘Exposed’ we highlighted down the bridge of the nose, cupids bow, brow bones and upper cheekbone for a truly glowing look.

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Metallic Liner + Copper Shadow

Don’t want to go heavy on shadow but still want a bit of seasonal sparkle? This is such a fun and natural look!

1. First, apply Tarteist™ Metallic Shadow in ‘Scandal’ with the Double-Ended Shadow Brush tight to the lash line with the black end of the brush and then blend out with the white end. For a more dramatic look, use the tighter bristled side and for a softer look use the looser bristled side. Then, use the highlighter to blend the shadow onto the lid to create a softer look.

2. To add a bit of drama, tightline with The Eye Architect™ Liner & Shadow in ‘Brown/Champagne’. Slightly smug the brown on the lower lid, then use the champagne shadow in the inner corner.

3. Apply Double Duty Palette Highlighter on the cheek bone, then apply exposed blush on the apples of the cheeks using the Double-Ended Highlighter Brush.

4. Curl lashes and apply light coat of mascara.

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Dark Berry Lips

Turn up the winter drama with a dark berry lip—perfect for cocktail parties, date night and everything in between.

1. For this look, we kept the same metallic and copper liner look above, but added a bit more blush and drama to the eyes using Tarteist™ Metallic Shadow in ‘Scandal’ and Curl Boss on the lashes.

2. Transform your metallics look with Tarteist™ Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint. We tried two hues: ‘Acid Wash’ and ‘Friyay’, both fun hues for a berry wintry look.

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Doll-Like Lashes

For all the winter romance vibes, turn up the volume with these Twiggy-inspired doll like lashes.

1. For this dreamy, Twiggy-inspired look, we started by applying Hybrid Gel Foundation and Aquacealer Concealer using the Double-Ended Camouflage Brush.

2. We then layered on Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in ‘Seduce’ and Highlighter in ‘Exposed’. Followed by Cheek Stain in ‘Exposed’ on the lips.

3. For the eyes, we created a base with Blackened Plum Clay Pot Waterproof Liner using the Etch & Sketch Double-Ended Bamboo Liner Brush.

4. Lastly, we applied our Tarteist™ PRO Cruelty-Free Lashes in ‘Girl Boss’ and layered on Curl Boss mascara.

Elegant + Modern Wedding in Newport Rhode Island

You already know about the beauty that is Belle Mer, so then you know that this Newport celebration is sure to be chic. Add in W Studios New York behind the lens and you’re guaranteed a gallery filled with goodness. See it all in The Vault!

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From W Studios New York…Despite our many years of travel and photographing destination weddings, Stephen and I never got a chance to visit Rhode Island so you can imagine our excitement when we found out Jackie and Brad were tying the knot in Newport, Rhode Island. It met all of our expectations of a sea side town and more. Despite some rain on the wedding day, Jackie couldn’t wait to get to St. Mary’s Church located in the heart of town and get married! After the ceremony we took off for Belle Mer and is if by magic the rain let off. The newlyweds and the bridal party were greeted by gorgeous water views. The rain clouds made the sunset that much more dramatic and the sailboats sprinkled throughout set the perfect scene for the guests to enjoy. The reception space was decorated with luscious ivy and elegant orchids giving the space a crisp modern atmosphere. The guests spent the evening whirling on the dance floor and enjoying great conversation and warmth by the outdoor fire pit.

From the Bride…I remember thinking when I woke up in the morning…“Oh this is what everyone talks about” – I had never been so anxious in my life. I had adrenaline pumping through my body, I didn’t even need my morning coffee. I kept thinking, I wonder how Brad is? Once I got ready and put the dress on, I was ready to go. I couldn’t get to the church faster – and of course there was only one road to get there and it was down pouring rain. I couldn’t have ran there faster.

The ceremony was beautiful….Longest. Aisle. Ever. We laughed a lot and I was just happy to be next to Brad. I remember I calmed down as soon as I could hold his hand. I also remember thinking, all those times I have been to church, I felt like mass was so long. This was the fastest ceremony ever.

The day flew by. When we arrived at Belle Mer, it was exactly how I wanted it. Clean, crisp and fresh looking. The guests started to arrive and I just kept saying “Thank you for coming to celebrate with us, we really appreciate it” and I meant every word of that sentence every time I said it. Come to find out, Brad was saying the same words.

The party was amazing because of our friends and family who made the trip. The speeches were incredible, my Dad is THE BEST, my sister is hysterical and my now brother in law is so genuine.

Then the party started, the dance floor was full and that’s exactly what we wanted. We wanted everyone to have a blast (and I think it was a success!) Our friends convinced us we had to do the hora (neither Brad nor I are Jewish) – it was the most fun I have ever had on a chair. The room exploded with energy and it escalated throughout the evening. It is so hard to put that day into words. The perfect sunset, the fireworks, the people, the energy and of course US. We had expectations and we surpassed them. I have no regrets and I wouldn’t have done it any other way.

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Elizabeth Fillmore

Fall 2013

Fall 2014

ON - Going

Spring 2013

Spring 2014

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A Yacht Club Wedding with a New Spin on Nautical

The practice of planning perfect parties is very much alive and well when it comes to the Newport Yachting Center Marina. Take this lovely affair captured by Elizabeth LaDuca as the pretty little proof. For it’s nautical meets Newport and we’ve got it all waiting for you to fall madly in love with via The Vault!

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From Elizabeth LaDuca…Siobhan and David had the quintessential Newport wedding, with nods to Vermont to represent the groom’s roots. Siobhan spent the morning getting ready in the home of a childhood friend, surrounded by her family, beautiful natural light and gorgeous ocean views. Her bridesmaids wore mismatched sea-foam Amsale gowns, complemented perfectly by organic floral bouquets of cream, green and blue. Siobhan wore a classic Peter Langner bridal gown, complete with a delicate embellished belt and satin rose-petal Badgley Mischka heels.

A heartfelt ceremony took place in their church, and guests enjoyed Del’s frozen lemonade while mingling after the ceremony. Their reception was at the beautiful Newport Yachting Center, where they treated 200 of their closest friends and family to a luxurious celebration under a Sperry tent and along the docks amongst the yachts.

Each place setting was decorated with a custom bottle of Vermont maple syrup, donned with the couple’s custom crest created by one of their mutual friends. It was truly a stunning event, full of elegant touches, subtle references to the oceanside setting and lots of love and laughter.

From the Bride… It was important to my husband and me that we draw from the natural beauty of Rhode Island and showcase what makes Newport so special. The Bohlin is already such a beautiful venue so we pulled colors from the buttery hues of the marina’s sails, the grey and blue tones of the ocean, the glimmer of lights on the water, as well as the overall airiness of Newport in July. We used these tones to guide our choice of flowers, bridesmaid dresses, votive candles, and suits. Petite bottles of Vermont Maple Syrup donning a tag with an anchor transitioning into an Evergreen was our gift to the guests and a way for us to give a nod to Vermont-my husband’s home state. Overall, we really wanted the feel of the wedding to be light and lovely; to give our guests the experience of a day on the water, rather than the formality of a structured reception.

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Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

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Amsale

Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2014

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Get Swept Away With This Newport Engagement Session

Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly love New England any more than I already do, Brumley & Wells sends us this stunning engagement session and find myself beaming from all the beauty. It’s windswept and totally wonderful, and thankfully you can witness it all firsthand in The Vault!

From Brumley & Wells… Toby & Rebecca’s adventurous and light-hearted spirits brought them to the cold and windy shores of Newport, Rhode Island for their engagement session with Brumley & Wells Photography, who’s always willing to brave the elements in order to shoot in beautiful settings. The rocky beach, along with the windswept hair and the movement in the dress, helped communicate the romance and fierce love that was so obvious in their relationship. They left with cold hands and warm hearts.

Photography: Brumley & Wells

Lighthouse + Rocky Cliffs = Ultimate Engagement Session

If romantic walks on the beach are your jam, then look no further because this lovely New England engagement session is all that and more. Complete with one charming lighthouse, rocky cliffs, and the sweetest couple ever (oh and we can’t forget their adorable pup!). Captured by the incomparable Mike Cassimatis Photography we’ve got it all in The Vault!

From Mike Cassimatis Photography…Maggie and Joe are the sweetest couple and I was so thrilled when they asked me to visit them in Newport for their engagement session. They will be getting married in Maggie’s hometown of St. Louis this summer but wanted to document this time of their lives in Newport, where Joe is temporarily stationed with the Navy. I instantly fell in love with the charm and scenery of the town. We started our session along the rocky coast with a beautiful lighthouse as our backdrop. After that, the couple’s black lab, Duke, joined us for a romantic stroll on the beach.

Photography: Mike Cassimatis Photography | Film Processing: Indie Film Lab | Location: Newport RI

The Chicest Fourth of July Wedding Ever

We’ve got a lot to celebrate today beginning with this stunner of a wedding from Brumley & Wells. For not only is this darling couple celebrating their one year anniversary (on America’s birthday, no less!) but see those napkin invitations? The Bride just so happens to be the brain and beauty CEO behind them. Join us as we toast this 4th of July celebration (and all the pretty it brings) via The Vault!

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From The Bride…Jake and I both grew up in Massachusetts but have fallen in love with the natural beauty of the west coast from visiting my brothers over the course of our relationship. After getting engaged, we took a trip to Sonoma, California to pick out the perfect wedding destination. After making a number of site visits to all the beautiful vineyards, we started the second leg of our journey to Portland. With only a tiny pocket of reception, we pulled over along side a windy road and sealed the deal. There we were on the phone with Belle Mer in Newport, Rhode Island. After thinking about what meant the most to us, we wanted our day to be where our family laid their roots and Newport was the perfect place for a Fourth of July wedding. It would be one of the best decisions kicking off planning the best day of our lives.

Newport, Rhode Island was not of significance to our relationship or our families before July fourth, but it was a place we were excited about making memories at in the next chapter of our lives. I had admired Belle Mer when it first opened 10 years ago. I was a 20-something just dreaming of my dream wedding. The modern and manicured design against the quintessential coastline of Narragansett Bay was perfect. To be able to bring everything we loved about Sonoma to Newport and then be surround by the love of our family and friends would be my dream.

We had exactly a year to plan and I was lucky to have a husband who wanted to be involved. We created “Wedding Wednesdays” to stay on track and enjoy the process with one another. The best advice we received was to make each wedding activity fun, so Wednesdays were dedicated to tackling our to-do’s over dates like coffee or wine and cheese.

I wanted our wedding to be an authentic representation of us and give our guests a great party. From our linen invitations to the beautiful blend of bridesmaids dresses, simple olive branches and homemade pies and ice cream, we chose the moments to be most thoughtful about without over doing the details.

After saying yes to Belle Mer, I knew my dress would help me establish the look and feel of the day. It ended up being the perfect blend of two designers. I chose a modern, timeless, chic silhouette by Nicole Miller from Lovely Bride in San Francisco and then added an unexpected, jeweled bolero by Hayley Paige. My something blue was my initials and our wedding date hand-stitched by my mom on the inside of my dress. My bridesmaids and mom wore a blend of tulle, lace and beaded silk from Monique Lhuillier and Adrianna Papell in shades of blush, taupe, and gray. Our two nieces wore simple tutus made by my mom and carried pennants that read “Team Cacci” and “Team Yee” written by Nashville hand-lettered Chelsea Petaja—my little surprise to Jake for his love for running and cycling.

I worked with Chelsea Petaja on all the hand-written elements to our wedding. Her bold fresh take on calligraphy complimented the simple design of our invite that I designed and had silk-screened on white linen. Each invitation was then finished the same way we make our Everyday Napkins and Handkerchiefs at my company, The Everyday Co. The rest of the invitation suite was beautifully letterpressed by my friends at Smudge Ink in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Our gifts to our bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents and siblings were our Everyday Handkerchiefs hand-stitched with everyones initials. They came in most handy during the ceremony!

It was important to included our family in as many moments of our wedding as possible. Jake and I knew we didn’t want to do a first look so instead, I did an unplanned first look with my dad and our photographer Jacob was there to capture the moment. With a tap on the shoulder as you would with your partner-to-be, I got to have the approval every little girl looks for from her dad. Needless to say, we both grabbed for his handkerchief! Our ceremony was laid out so that our family and friends were seated in a circle around us. Their presence and love was magical. After a cocktail hour of oysters (with crushed basil pineapple ice!), one of my twin brothers introduced us as Mr. & Mrs. while the other kicked off the night with a blessing and a toast. Our guests sat in an arrangement of long and round tables adorned with garden roses, peonies, blushing brides, café au laits, and hanging amaranths. Tall olive branches hung romantically over the rows of long tables as if they would in wine country. Together with our talented friend, Anastasia Francis of Orly Khon Floral, we created a warm, lush yet simple and effortlessly romantic aesthetic. Our head table comprised of our parents and siblings with glowing candles and a long lush green garland. Place settings had a white linen Everyday Dinner Napkin handmade by my mom for each guest as they enjoyed a colorful family-style meal paired with wines from California. Having our own Everyday Napkins meant we could share them with our guests and repurpose them for many meals together as a new family. We designed a rustic menu with custom side dishes recipes including ingredients and flavors inspired by Sonoma. For us, family-style represented a joyous celebration, tradition and coming together like one big family.

After dinner, we celebrated fourth of July with fireworks from Fort Adams, a summer variety of homemade pies by Cooks Orchard Farm from Vermont and ice cream from our friends at Richardson’s Farm in Middleton, Massachusetts. This was our nod to America’s Birthday and our way of thanking our guests for sharing the holiday with us. But the best part of dessert was the classic white two-tier wedding cake made by my brother and sister-in-law! The rest of the night was danced away to the impressive twelve-piece Motown band, Soul City.

What I loved most about our wedding was the love that filled Belle Mer that night. We wouldn’t change anything about the decisions we made or even the things we choose to leave out. We traveled 3,000 miles to realize the best destination was in your own back yard. If you’re thinking about having a destination wedding, consider who you want there and what means most to you. Choose your moments and think about the experience as a whole. Your wedding is only the first few pages of your next chapter. July fourth will forever be the day we remember as the best day of our lives.

A little background: We live in the South End, entrepreneurs, had know one another through very good mutual friends and lived around the corner from each other prior to dating but never knew it!

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