Portsmouth Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

A French Inspired Fall Wedding in New England at Glen Manor House

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[field title=”The Inspiration”]We wanted to create a French-inspired Fall wedding set against the picturesque backdrop of New England for this editorial. We aimed to capture the essence of autumn with sophisticated and warm colors, evoking the romantic and elegant ambiance of a classic French celebration. By incorporating elements such as a welcome party, we wanted to illustrate the full experience of a wedding weekend. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The color palette for this editorial was carefully chosen to reflect the rich and varied tones of the Fall sun while maintaining a sense of sophistication and elegance. We used deep yellows, gold, rust, taupe, and touches of deep red and olive green. [/field]
[field title=”The Venue”]The venue for our editorial was the exquisite Glen Manor House in Portsmouth, RI, just outside of Newport. This historic mansion, with its French-style architecture and beautifully landscaped gardens, provided the perfect setting for our French-inspired theme.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]All of the bridal looks were designed by London-based designer, Mara Marie Bridal, and were styled by The Boston Bridal Stylist, Lindsay Terranova.

For the Welcome party, our bride wore Mara Marie Bridal’s classic COCO mini. This strapless little white dress is made from a gorgeous ivory tweed and features a corded lace hemline and a delicate bow on the bodice.

For the ceremony, the bride wore Mara Marie Bridal’s IRENE gown. This gown is made from a gorgeous ivory mikado fabric. The gown features a semi-fitted silhouette with a horsehair hemline and a dramatic bow at the back. We paired it with a dramatic ruffle veil, also made by Mara Marie Bridal.

For the reception look, our bride wore Mara Marie Bridal’s MOORE gown which is a modern strapless gown featuring a high to low hemline and hand draping detail on the bodice. The gown is made from an ultra-shiny satin, which makes it perfect for the dance floor.

Both wedding day looks were styled with elegant diamond earrings designed by Cynthia Britt and crystal-embellished satin Jimmy Choo heels.[/field]
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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Our goal with the florals was to evoke a French chateau, fall-inspired feel, centered around the sun’s light, warmth, and the beauty of nature, with an unstructured and organic design style. To achieve this, we incorporated warm tones of gold, toffee, caramel, and rust, blending them with textural foliage, vines, and branches. This palette and style created the feeling of an overgrown fall garden, combining elegance, sophistication, whimsy, and a touch of wild beauty. The florals used were climbing garden roses, sweet pea, ranunculus, and lisianthus, complemented by epimedium leaves, foliage, branches, and plumosa fern. This mix added texture, movement, and dimension to each of the arrangements.[/field]
[field title=”Favorite Design Element”]One of our favorite design element was undoubtedly the ceremony scene. Drawing inspiration from the sun, it was designed as a circular ceremony with radiating spokes emanating from the center. Another favorite design element was the unique seating chart. We wanted to bring out the romantic calm one gets when sitting to watch the sunrise with the love of their life. We also loved the dual functionality that the seating chart brought to the guest experience. Not only was it a way to tell guests where they’d be sitting but it could also be used as a photo op for guests! [/field]
[field title=”Tips To Pull Off The Look”]Hire an amazing calligraphy and stationery designer! They are critical to bringing decor and guest experiences, like the interactive seating chart, to life.[/field]
[field title=”DIY Moments”]Add ribbon to your reception napkins and table candles. They’re an easy item to purchase online and assemble in advance of the wedding day. Arrange this with the rental company you hire to pick up a day or two before your wedding so you can add this special design element to your table settings.[/field]
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BBJ La Tavola

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Lauren Baker Photography

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Katydyd Events

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A Timeless Summer Wedding at Glen Manor House in Portsmouth, RI

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The colors were white with different shades of pinks.[/field]
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Our vision for our wedding was timeless elegance. When we found our venue, it truly brought our inspiration to life and made it easy to fill in the details. I had always dreamed of an outdoor ceremony, and our venue exceeded my expectations. It featured a beautiful blooming garden and was set by the water, giving us everything we hoped for. Having a summer wedding in a historic town with stunning mansions created a refined atmosphere, providing us with the most beautiful and memorable night!

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]Drago and Whitney were living in LA when he had a work trip to New York one weekend. He asked if she wanted to join him so they could make a weekend out of it.

Between his work obligations, they explored the city and went sightseeing. One of the sights Drago was very adamant about visiting was Central Park. They planned to go each day they were there, but something always came up. The first day, work ran longer than expected. The second evening, they planned to go after dinner, but a major power outage closed the park.

On their last day, as they were heading to the airport, Drago insisted that they stop by Central Park on the way. Whitney was surprised at how badly he wanted to see the park, but she agreed, thinking they should make it quick.

Luck was on their side, as they found parking right next to Central Park, giving them some extra time. They found a little garden off the main trail with a beautiful view of the city. Drago told Whitney to turn around so he could take her picture. She thought, “How cute!” and posed facing away from the camera.

When she turned back around, Drago was kneeling with a ring in hand and asked her to marry him!

She said yes![/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The wedding gown was the Martini by Grace Loves Lace. It features a modern, stretch crepe fabric that elegantly sculpts the body, -with a scoop neckline, daring low back, and a sleek column silhouette. This luxurious piece is perfect for dancing and makes a dramatic statement with a detachable double-layer silk bow on the train.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Morin’s Catering did a fantastic job with the food, offering summer must-haves in New England, like scallops for hors d’oeuvres. The drinks were carefully chosen as perfect late-July refreshers, featuring lavender lemonade and mint iced tea. These selections provided a delightful culinary experience for all the guests.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]The florals featured a delicate mix of pinks and greens, carefully chosen to complement the venue. Overall, the arrangements were kept simple and elegant to allow the timeless beauty of Glen Manor House to shine. This understated approach highlighted the venue’s natural charm and provided a perfect backdrop for the celebration.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]They opted for a vanilla cake with raspberry filling, made by Ellie’s Bakery out of Providence. The cake was both delicious and beautifully presented.[/field]
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These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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Colton Simmons Photography

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A Dreamy Spring Wedding at Glen Manor House

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The couple chose a color palette of white, soft blues, and dusty pink to set the stage for an ethereal and dreamy ambiance, perfectly complementing the venue’s timeless beauty.

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This captivating celebration was meticulously curated with attention to every detail, reflecting a delightful blend of Canadian French and American Southern influences. As guests arrived at the historic Glen Manor House, they were greeted by an atmosphere that exuded romance and sophistication. The bride’s meticulous planning transformed the venue into a whimsical wonderland, seamlessly merging elements from two distinct cultures. The design aesthetic beautifully harmonized the French Canadian style’s refined elegance with the American South’s warm hospitality.

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Quísan and Corey’s love story started in a totally millennial fashion – they met online! Their first date was anything but ordinary, fueled by their shared passion for basketball. It was Celtics versus Lakers, and while Corey’s team emerged victorious in the game, Quísan triumphed in the follow-up pool match. Braving a dreadful winter blizzard, these lovebirds found solace in each other’s arms, and their bond only grew stronger with each passing date, month, and year. Ten years later, these two souls, wise beyond their years, have become inseparable best friends and an unstoppable force as partners in this crazy adventure called life.

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The bride showcased her impeccable style and elegance with two stunning wedding gowns, each encapsulating a distinct essence of beauty. For the ceremony, she adorned herself in a breathtaking gown by the renowned designer Pronovias, creating an ethereal and romantic look. The bride enhanced her bridal charm with an elegant birdcage veil to complete her ceremony ensemble. The birdcage veil, a classic and timeless accessory, delicately framed her face, adding an air of vintage sophistication. As the day transitioned into the reception, the bride embraced a new level of grace and elegance by changing into her reception gown.

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The bridesmaids were free to select their own dresses, resulting in a charmingly mismatched ensemble that added a modern twist to the overall design while staying true to the designated pink color palette.

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Russell Morin Catering & Events excelled in delivering a remarkable culinary experience by offering a delightful spin on traditional dishes. The dinner showcased a lavish 5-course meal accompanied by palate cleansers, culminating in an exquisite dessert bar to conclude the grand affair.

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Renowned for its stunning grounds, Glen Manor House captivates with its charm and beauty. Cocoa & Co., with their expertise in floral design, meticulously crafted an organic arrangement, infusing the space with a captivating romantic elegance. Every detail, from the selection of linens to the choice of plates, harmoniously complemented the colors and aesthetics of the floral design. Soft blues, pinks, and gold were chosen to create a mesmerizing ambiance for the candlelight dinner setting.

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Cakes By Eboni crafted a stunning three-tiered cake. It effortlessly complemented the venue and proved to be the ideal confectionary centerpiece for the dining space.

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Concluding their ceremony, the couple joyfully leaped over the broom. This age-old tradition, known as “jumping the broom,” holds diverse meanings across various cultures, leading to debates about its origins. Primarily attributed to the West African nation of Ghana, it was believed that local brooms possessed spiritual significance, symbolizing the cleansing of malevolent spirits and past transgressions.

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The Feels of a Vintage, French Chateau Wedding Right in Tiny Rhode Island, at The Glen Manor!

Sometimes all of the big destination wedding day feels can be felt right at home, like at The Glen Manor House in tiny Rhode Island, which feels like you are at a vintage, French chateau with its charming details. For this bride and groom who got engaged and married during the pandemic, small and intimate felt perfect for them with special antique-inspired details and classic floral arrangements by Stoneblossom Floral and Wedding Design. Check it out below to see all of the classic wedding day goodness captured by Meredith Jane Photography!

From the Bride…The Glen Manor House was perfect for us. It has the spirit of a French chateau without the 6-hour flight and was the ideal backdrop for a classic, French, vintage-inspired wedding.

From the bride: Our wedding was scheduled for early April, which comes with unpredictable weather, but boy did we luck out with the MOST beautiful day. The sky was Colorado blue, with only a few wisps of clouds, and the sun was shining brightly. We had our ceremony outside on the lawn overlooking the water, which is exactly how we imagined it when we first discovered Glen Manor House. Our ceremony was short and sweet, probably no more than 15 minutes, and at the end, we walked down the aisle together as husband and wife to the string quartet playing “Here Comes the Sun,” by the Beatles, so fitting! Despite our wedding being held during the pandemic, we had guests who made huge efforts to attend and vendors who ensured everything was safe for everyone. We are very grateful to all of them; our day was perfect! Looking back, there is nothing I would change about it.

How did you first meet?

Thomas and I met through mutual friends during medical residency at Dartmouth in 2016. He is an orthopedic surgeon, and I am a dermatologist. Some refer to us as a “Skin and Bones” couple, haha. My friend invited me to a party to introduce us. I was very nervous because set-ups can be awkward, but Thomas was very charming and made quite an effort to spend time with me the entire night.

How did Thomas Propose?

He proposed in May 2020, during the height of the pandemic, while we were walking along a path around Mascoma Lake in New Hampshire. Originally, he planned to propose during a trip to Positano, Italy, but that was canceled due to the pandemic. Instead, he had an Italian picnic basket waiting for us at the water’s edge that we came upon during our walk. Right when we arrived at “the spot” it started to snow, in May! Our friend was hiding nearby and captured the dramatic moment in the snow. Honestly, this was better than I could have imagined. Despite all of the awful things to come from the pandemic, I do appreciate how human interactions have become more authentic; there is no need for a grand gesture, as these true, quiet moments of love mean the most. We have frequented this area many times over the years during residency and it felt like the perfect place for us to start our life together.

Full Vision Of the Wedding:

I have always had an appreciation and love for antiques. I think I get this from my parents who took me to flea markets and antique shops growing up and taught me how to restore items to their former beauty. I love imagining the stories that could have been associated with these items: a dresser, a hairpin, a candlestick. Thomas grew up in a house built in the 1800s and also has an appreciation for times past. We especially love the architecture of French chateaus, which have quite a dreamy, romantic feel. We have visited France several times, especially because Thomas’s family has a French wine and champagne importing business. All of these factors were the inspiration for our wedding vision. We incorporated colors of creamy ivory, emerald greenery, silver, and champagne gold, along with a few dusty blue accents. I emphasized simple, classic, clean styling with lots of romantic candlelight. The week leading up to the wedding I spent hours polishing over 300 pieces of vintage silverware to complete the look!

Description of the Reception:

The reception was amazing! The vendors really listened and made my vision come to life. The multiple French double doors in the ballroom were opened and the setting golden sunlight was streaming in. The antique fireplaces were filled with candles and adorned with beautiful ivory garden roses, ranunculus, and hydrangeas. This complemented the crown molding and chandeliers of the vaulted ceilings at the Glen. We chose hors d’oeuvres that were inspired by our life in New England with a raw seafood bar and mini clam chowder in tiny mugs! As gifts for our guests, we also focused on decadent French desserts including macarons, madeleines, bouchons, and chocolate raspberry tartlets. We decided to forgo speeches except for one that Thomas gave to thank everyone for spending our most memorable day with us. We finished with a toast from a glittering champagne tower, filled with French champagne imported by Thomas’s family. After dinner and the cake cutting, Matty from Luke Renchan Entertainment seamlessly guided us through the rest of the night and played music everyone enjoyed. We ended the night with a fun trolley ride back to the hotel in Newport.

Description of the flowers:

The bouquet along with the table and fireplace arrangements were made of large ivory garden roses, tight clean white ranunculus, gardenia, and bright, happy white hydrangeas accented with emerald-green ivy and gardenia leaves. The fireplaces also had accents of blue tweedia.

Inspiration for your wedding cake:

We decided on a smaller cake because we also had French pastries. The outside of the cake was classic and clean, with dusty blue accents. I had originally wanted to use lily of the valley flowers along with cute little blue forget-me-nots in our floral arrangements because they both remind me of my mom. However, these were not in bloom in early April, so the pastry chef kindly incorporated them as a decoration on the cake, which was very sweet and meaningful! The inside of the cake included one layer of red velvet with cream cheese frosting and chocolate shavings. The second layer was chocolate cake with Oreo cookie frosting and chocolate/raspberry frosting. So many of our guests commented on how much they loved the frosting!

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Stoneblossom Floral and Wedding Design

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Want to Feel Like You’re at a French Chateau in New England? Here’s How.

If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought this elegant New England fete took place at an authentic French Chateau. That’s just how good Glen Manor House is, my friends. And when you’ve got a Bride and Groom as sharp as these two? You really can’t focus on much more. But you’ll surely be wowed at scenes like this. Get ready to lift your jaw off the floor in The Vault with Emily Delamater.

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From Emily Delamater… Amanda and Dan’s wedding was simply gorgeous. I loved the elegance and modern design, the classic color palette and the setting was so stunning. Amanda is a graphic designer, and designed all the paper goods herself, so the details were super important to her and Dan. She really knew what she wanted the look and feel to be and it all came together so beautifully. Such a gorgeous late Summer day with the most delightful glowy light and I just couldn’t get enough of Glen Manor, it felt like we were at a french chateau.

Elegant + Intimate Glen Manor Wedding

A stunning long sleeve lace gown? Check. Richly hued red florals? You bet. Versailles-inspired venue smack dab in the states? Oh yeah. Get ready to pack those Pinterest boards full of pretty, because Jen & John’s wedding is just that good. Rebecca Arthurs was behind the lens capturing New England magic married with major elegance and we’ve got it all waiting for you to witness in The Vault!

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From the Bride… Like many other couples today, my now-husband, John, and I met online four years ago. Despite the modern way in which we met, however, our relationship is decidedly traditional and even old-fashioned. Much of our mutual love for tradition resulted from our very similar childhoods – both of us grew up having similar hobbies, such as playing classical piano and riding horses. Horses continue to be an important part in our lives, and actually played a pivotal role in how we became engaged. When it came time to propose, John was careful in selecting the perfect setting: a horse farm and former plantation estate in the pristine rolling hills of Loudoun County, Virginia. His idea was to propose to me while we were surrounded by nothing but a herd of horses. Determined to carry out his plan, the two of us walked through the field for close to half an hour in search of horses – any horse, really – but none were to be found (we discovered later that it was their feeding time and they were all on the other side of the property munching happily away at their hay). Though the horses refused to join us that day in the fields, John nervously proposed anyways in the company of the plantation owner’s four dogs, which was, nonetheless, still very romantic.

Within the first month, I threw myself into full wedding planning mode. John’s family is Italian, so, initially, I had this dream of us being married in Italy. To me, Italy embodies timeless romance – the rolling, golden fields, statuesque cypress trees, and stunning villas all combine to create this “heaven-on-earth” feel that I envisioned for our intimate event.

Unfortunately, due to the difficulty in having a Catholic wedding ceremony overseas, we had to alter our plans a bit (and by a bit I mean not getting married in Italy); however, I hadn’t completely let go of my “Italian Dream”, and figured I could still incorporate the same warmth and romance in a destination wedding in the United States. Like most brides, I spent a lot of time scouring Pinterest for the perfect venue. One day, I came across a pin of a gorgeous chateau that I was convinced had to be somewhere in Europe. I was (luckily) wrong – it was the Glen Manor House in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, just five hours north of where we lived! The Glen Manor House, with its elegant Versailles-inspired interior and beautiful Italian gardens overlooking the Narragansett Bay, had everything I was looking for to carry out my “mini-destination” wedding day plans.
Though the number of guests who attended our black-tie wedding (50 in total) was small in comparison to the burgeoning size of many guest lists today, it was truly a memorable event nonetheless. The Catholic ceremony was held in St. Mary’s Church in Bristol and was full of personal touches – I walked down the aisle with my father to my favorite classical piece, Clair de Lune, John’s cousin presided over the ceremony, and we exchanged rings that John had carved and cast himself. For the reception, our florist was able to create a warm, romantic atmosphere reminiscent of an Italian villa – the manor was teeming with sprawling vines and wine-hued florals that looked organic and untouched, as if they had been allowed to grow on the tables and furnishings for several years; flickering candles cast an amber glow in the mirrors and on the mantelpieces and were reflected back in the smiling faces of our closest family and friends. Dinner, which consisted of five separate courses, embodied traditional Italian fare, including monkfish, roasted rapini, and pappardelle in a forest mushroom cream sauce. The “cake” was actually a multi-layer Italian pastry known as a millefoglie decorated with fresh berries and displayed on a wooden cake stand that was also made by John.

We concluded the night dancing to live swing and jazz music, with a cigar and armagnac table set up outside for the gentlemen (and a few ladies!) who wanted a night cap. As an homage to our traditional side, we spent nine months before our wedding learning how to foxtrot and performed our first dance to “L-O-V-E”. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day that was in every way a reflection of us.

Classically Elegant Rhode Island Spring Wedding

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; there’s a reason classic elegance will never go out of style. Add in a venue that feels like a French chateau, blooms by Sayles Livingston Flowers, and a princess-like gown from Lovely Bride, and this elegant affair shines ever brighter. Erin McGinn snapped it all and LMV Productions filmed the love and the fun – see every beautiful bit in our VAULT right this way!

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From the Bride… Dale and I really wanted our wedding to be relaxed and elegant – with a focus on celebrating our love and having fun with our closest friends and families. We’ve always loved the Glen Manor House in Portsmouth, RI. It has so much charm and vintage detail, is surrounded by a beautiful garden, and it’s on the water. When we were picking a venue for our wedding, we knew it was the perfect place for us. Besides celebrating our marriage, our goal for the wedding was for the guests to have fun – we got a great band, had a photo booth, and even a cigar roller. We also tried to
include some unique and meaningful details that would make people smile and remember how much fun they had on our special day.