Four score and seven years ago… feels about the length of time since I last shared some love on the blog. There’s no better way to get back into all of the beautiful, personal weddings and events we’ve been producing, than starting with a very important element of one of our most recent – and favorite – weddings! The wedding stationery for Molly and Griffin’s September home fete brought in so much personalization. Here, we were able to feature something that no other wedding will have, and that was a grand painting of the home that everyone knew, love, and called their home that day.

We were lucky to work with the magical mind that is Karri Lee Designs, a watercolor painter and stationery artist that creates one-of-a-kind paper masterpieces. You can check out a little more of her work and why we love her here!

Molly & Griffin’s Wedding Stationery

Molly and Griffin’s wedding was held at the bride’s family’s summer home, a place that hosted many memorable celebrations throughout the years. You can feel the sentimentality of the property as soon as you step foot onsite, and it’s safe to say not a single person left that weekend without wishing they could spend more time there. A place of calm, warmth, and festivity set the stage for the aesthetic we created.

For the invitation suite, the first piece of their wedding stationery, Karri created a custom vellum wrap, depicting a landscape portrait of the family’s home, yard, and the shoreline that surrounds their property and neighborhood. This greeting image later became their escort card display backdrop, held in a custom frame by the groom himself.

Day-of Stationery

Every design and decision we make throughout the planning process is done intentionally, to ensure any idea we bring to life has purpose and value long after just the wedding day. Dressed in an array of colorful envelopes were our escort cards, carefully adhered so once removed, this piece became a keepsake hanging in the couple’s home.

The idea of using watercolor was an opportunity to evoke part of our surroundings into tangible pieces shared with guests. The beloved image of the property was used throughout the table numbers, with added intrigue in a way where guests at each table had a piece of the image instead of the full picture. A simpler square of a watercolor acted as our guests’ place cards, attached to the menu card. For a more intimate setting that provides more opportunity for a design effect, all long tables are the way to go. Be sure to check out our post on the full wedding design to see just how we curated a setting that everyone is still talking about long after the wedding day!

 

All images provided by Charlotte Jenks Lewis

A home wedding will always hold a special place in our hearts. By design, they are intimately personal, as they are set in a space that holds deep meaning for the couple and their family. That was no exception for Jason and Eli! Guests and vendors alike were hugged by such emotion, warmth, and personalization that this day holds the highest place in our memories.

Thinking back to this home wedding, three standout moments of the day shaped the essence of Jason and Eli’s wedding weekend.

Rain

Starting off strong here! In nearly every wedding weekend of 2023, rain was a guest. While unwelcome, Mother Nature showed up, and she often showed up pretty strong. While we had clear skies and radars for days, even minutes leading up to the ceremony, we were in a little pocket where the skies completely unleashed over the home. We brought guests under the tent, and with the help of the greatest vendor team to grace us that weekend, we set up their new ceremony location within a matter of seven minutes. Seven minutes! For a tented home wedding, this is a feat.

Completely unphased by what the weather was doing, Jason and Eli were watching out of the window together, cool as cucumbers getting ready for their vows. When discussing the immediate next steps together, they asked if we could hold off for about ten minutes. They were looking over the horizon, where the sun was clearly (and quickly) creeping toward us. They wanted to wait, and with the forty umbrellas we brought along with us, there was nothing but excitement to follow their direction.

When we invited guests back to the original ceremony location, there were only cheers leading everyone that way. Guests, like Jason and Eli, were there for all the right reasons. They were ready and excited to embrace our guys in all the love and support they had in them!

Family

When we curate home weddings, we get to know the couple intimately and their family, too. Homes are sacred spaces, and there are many unique nuances to consider in the scope of one day or a full weekend, so we are there for all planning partners.

It wasn’t difficult to see where these two come from. Their parents and siblings are incredible humans, a welcoming presence to anyone they meet!

We’ll never forget the ceremony recessional, once vows had wound down and everyone was heading into cocktail hour. Most commonly, we see one side of the family recess, followed by the other side of the couple’s family right behind them. In the case of Jason and Eli’s wedding, both sets of parents joined hands with one another and recessed as one full family force.

Planning Their Home Wedding

When it comes to wedding planning, we’ve always led the process with the mentality that our clients don’t know what they don’t know. Nor should they! We have experience in all facets of events to lend to our couples to ensure the efficiency, personalization, and success of their celebrations. That list grows exponentially when you’re building a venue from scratch, which is a home wedding!

This planning process was the kind we dream about with our clients, and though we know they’ll never have to plan their own wedding again, we’d jokingly rush to go back if we ever had the offer! They were invested in planning and loved understanding how everything worked to come together. They asked questions out of curiosity, explored levels of their day that reflected who they are, and engaged with everyone and everything that was a part of it.

Happy first anniversary, Jason and Eli! Wishing you two a hundred more years of happiness, adventure, and sun among the stormy skies! XOXO

Be sure to check out our favorite tented weddings here!

TOP-TIER TEAM:

Photography: Madison Abbey Photography
Event Planning & Design: Jubilee Events
Flowers: Halcyon Heroine
Entertainment: CZone Entertainment, Divina Artisti
Cake: Wingates Cakes
Catering: Blackstone Caterers
Tent Decor & Bar: Ryan Designs
Rentals: PEAK Event Services
Stationery: Karri Lee Designs
Tent: Sperry Tents

 

Have you ever met someone who was so overwhelmingly cool that you just gravitated towards them? Well, that is exactly who Kristen and Evan are, and their City Winery wedding in Hudson Valley mirrored them perfectly!

To understand the joviality behind the elements of Kristen and Evan’s wedding, you must first understand them. Sneak peek: you’ll see disco balls, pizza, a band that would make you take your jacket off and wave it around your head, and just the right pops of color that make you rethink your whole wardrobe. Admittedly, I do that already, as Kristen is an incredible shoe designer. Check out some of her work, which she donned throughout her entire weekend — you’ll just about melt!

A Love Letter to Family

City Winery set the stage perfectly for their day and Hudson Valley for the full weekend. Aside from how obsessed we are with their design, we are even more infatuated with this couple and their guest group. I told you they were so overwhelmingly cool, and a significant part of that is attributed to their family.

Families come in all styles, shapes, sizes, and forms, but the defining feature is love. Around here, you know that’s what we are all about, and around this family, you are surrounded! In their presence, you’re family, no matter where you come from. There were friendships present that spanned decades, multiple schools, and even military tours overseas. The bond is palpable and the support even more. With comfort and kinship like that, it’s easy to be you and immerse yourself in a celebration built around you. In this case, Kristen and Evan!

Notable Mentions from this City Winery Wedding

Some of our favorite things about this City Winery wedding? The disco balls, for starters. In disco balls, we stan! A close second is the fashion! Between Kristen’s chic, pearl-studded sleeves and the bridesmaid’s array of green, magenta, and floral-print dresses. Honorable mention goes to the most fashionable Mother of the Bride!

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the couple’s alternative to their cake-cutting. Pizza is symbolic in their relationship, as it has been a part of their first date and weekly date nights since. Their sweet tooths are savory ones, and this was a perfect nod to something they love.

Lastly, our bride and groom! The best weddings truly reflect the people being celebrated, and this was top-tier. To Kristen, Evan, and their family and friends. We adore you and appreciate you, and we hope to be as cool as you one day!!

 

COOL KIDS CLUB:

Photography: Emily Delamater Photography
Ceremony & Reception Location: City Winery – Hudson Valley
Planning & Coordination: Jubilee Events
Flowers: The Wild Gyp
Music: Around Town Entertainment
Beauty: Erica Renee Beauty
Signage & Disco Balls: Created and provided by the couple!
Fashion: The Wedding Embassy

Karri Lee Designs is a custom stationery studio specializing in personal, custom pieces. Karri, the Owner and Creative Director behind the self-named business, and though we work with her most often on wedding stationery, she does so much more! She has the mind of magic, as she takes such ordinary, everyday details and puts them on paper in the most beloved way!

In the digital age, stationery has proven to be important and valuable to its recipients. Stationery is the introduction loved ones have to the coming celebration. It’s also an element of impact that provides memories of some of the most significant times in our lives. Looking back at a friend’s RSVP cards she saved, there were handwritten notes from her grandparents who were no longer here. The sentimentality of their handwriting, their quips, and their love is something that she has because of that piece of paper.

One of the best parts about stationery is you can do anything with it. You can introduce new and different materials and be as adventurous with colors, styles, and shapes as you’d like. We’ve been fortunate to partner with Karri Lee Designs on a number of weddings, celebrations, and editorial shoots over the years — even some personal projects!

Each and every time, she brings new life and zest to the project at hand, elevating such a significant detail. She is wildly creative and makes this part of the process fun, engaging, thoughtful, and oh-so-beautiful! She also embraces her work with personal touches and authentic memories. She creates a moment within her work that’s unique to every single person she designs for.

Below are a handful of our favorite pieces from Karri Lee Designs!

 

Wedding Stationery by Karri Lee Designs

One of our favorite elements about this stationery was including Martin, the couple’s pup, and the MVP of the day. No soul in M+M’s life doesn’t know and adore Martin, and it’s clear to see why, even from a watercolor image. See more of how their stationery ties into the full wedding design here.

 

 

This stationery suite was for a dear friend and colleague, Flowers by Justine. Married in Florida with the inspiration of golf, whiskey, and flowers, Karri involved these elements for a cohesive suite. Excitement was abundant with the inclusion of color and pattern within the suite. You may even notice the nod to the linens we brought in!

 

More Favorites from Karri Lee Designs

 

These various wedding stationery images include elements personal to the couples. You’ll see a family home where the celebration was held. You’ll also see a collection of locations documenting the pivotal moments of one couple’s relationship.

 

The last photo showcases one of my favorite details from a past Fall wedding. Here, Karri created a custom bar panel that emulated the pattern of our bride’s dress. It is exquisite and unexpectedly fresh!

Mackenzie and Matt’s summer Hamptons wedding was the quintessential Hamptons weekend you hope for! It was sunny, clear blue skies and the most comfortable temperatures. The bride and groom are the perfect couple, so it only made sense that they had an absolutely perfect day. Truth be told, it didn’t look that way until the day their wedding weekend kicked off.

The week leading into their weekend was the one where New York was coated in the wildfire haze traveling down from Canada. On Wednesday of wedding week, the city was covered in an apocalyptic cloud, so confidence that we’d have the day we had been dreaming was not on our side. We immediately began working through Plan C: the wildfire plan.

Thankfully, all was well by Friday, and we hosted their celebration al fresco under a canopy of twinkle lights and disco balls. We are in our disco ball era, so being able to bring this to life is a dream for all of us!

Bringing to life their Hamptons wedding meant there were several details we needed to be sure to include: the perfect outdoor setting, summer cocktails, and an endless good time. We checked those boxes off quickly, and on top of that, their day was an abundance of everything we love most about weddings. We treated guests to energetic colors, so much food (we’re talking a walking raw bar, mini ice cream cones, and take-home burgers and fries), and the best guest of all. Feast your eyes on their story below. There’s much to fall in love with, and you can find some close-ups of those details here!

Mackenzie & Matt’s Hamptons Wedding in Photos

Mackenzie, Matt (and Martin!), thank you so much for giving us the most special opportunity to partake in this process! Even more, your unforgettable Hamptons wedding! We’ll be reliving all the special details and exceptionally fun moments for years to come!! XOXO

 

VENDOR TEAM WE COULD HUG FOREVER:

Photography: Joanna Fisher
Ceremony & Reception Location: Canoe Place
Design & Planning: Jubilee Events
Flowers: Flowers by Justine
Entertainment: Silver Pro Entertainment
Stationery: Karri Lee Designs
Cinema: Move Mountains Co.
Beauty: Bad Brides Club
Lighting & Decor: NY Lounge Decor
Linens: Stradley Davidson
Matchbooks: For Your Party
Polaroids: Inkifi
Dress: Kleinfeld

Happy six months to Lauren and Timmy! Today, we are celebrating their Castle Hill Inn wedding on our blog. In case you missed the photos in their freshly added gallery, we have the full story here with all of the timeless details for you to eat up!

Our bride, Lauren, is a dear friend and colleague in the wedding industry. She is a fashion icon in our eyes, and it is safe to say we were feverishly waiting for her and Tim’s day to see what she’d be donning. In true Lauren fashion, she served all the looks with her custom Anne Barge gown. You’ll need a moment to soak in her bow. If you look this up in the dictionary, it is notably set beside bomb dot com!

What is a Bridal Dresser?

We first met Lauren at The White Dress by the Shore, our favorite Connecticut-based dress shop for all wedding dresses, Mother-of-the-occasion dresses, accessories, and more. Their team is incredible, and you’ll want to add them all to your family after meeting them one time!

One of the ancillary services the TWD offers is headed by the owner, Beth Chapman. Born out of the need to enhance a very personal and important moment of the wedding was Beth Chapman Styling, a bridal dressing service.  A bridal stylist assists clients in selecting their wedding wardrobe. They often shop with their clients, helping them curate their look and attend fitting to ensure the perfect fit.

A bridal dresser is present on the wedding day (or full weekend) to ensure the full fashion suite is prepared before it graces all of your guests. Your bridal dresser ensures that all garments are steamed and pressed. They assist the couple and wedding party in dressing, styling the portraits, bustling the gown, and, most notably, taking care of all fashion emergencies. We’ve gained a wealth of information on this topic, and it wouldn’t be possible without the incredible stylists we work with!

Lauren herself has been a stylist at several of our weddings and always adds a sense of peace and camaraderie and enhances the day in countless ways! Now celebrating her (and witnessing her fashion!) was a treat!

A Classic Newport Wedding at Castle Hill Inn

Lauren and Tim are gorgeous human beings – inside and out. They are the definition of sunshine – you instantly feel brighter and warmer in their presence. Their smiles are infectious, and their joy is contagious. It is not difficult to discern how their wedding party is comprised of relationships spanning decades!

Their love is timeless, so it was fitting that we had a wedding reflecting the same aesthetic. Set in quintessential Newport at Castle Hill Inn, our couple hosted about 225 loved ones. With a crisp, classic color palette of white and ivory with touches of gold and greenery, guests were wrapped up in a celebration that felt like Lauren and Tim. I remember standing back and saying, “This is so them!”

In a recent blog post, we talked about the considerations of hosting a large wedding and a small wedding. Check that blog post out here. As I wrote those tips for couples, I had Lauren and Tim’s Castle Hill Inn celebration in the back of my mind. Tim is one of eleven children, all incredibly smart, successful, kind, and an instant friend. His parents are each one of eight children, so mixed with the Italian backgrounds on both sides, this was a fete to remember.

A Love Note to Lauren and Tim

Every time we revisit this wedding, we can’t help but do the same with the list of things we love at this wedding! The day was immaculate – the weather was perfect, but everyone’s joy was palpable, and that spread far and wide. The fashion was top-tier, which, of course!! The best part of all is Laure and Tim. They’re the couple we’re long obsessed with. We love them beyond words and manifest so many more Laure and Tims in our world as they’re so outstandingly wonderful!

Lauren and Tim (and Gail and family!!), thank you for letting us be a part of such an iconic day! Love you the most!

 

TOP-TIER CREATIVE TEAM:

Photography: Melissa Stimpson Photography
Reception Location: Castle Hill Inn
Event Planning: Diana of Jubilee Events
Flowers: Flowers by Justine
Entertainment: DJ Lion King + Divina Artisti
Cake: Konditor Meister
Cinema: Vantage Point Films
Beauty: Glamour Cosmetics, Upstyle
Tent Decor: Ryan Designs
Rentals: PEAK Event Services, Ryan Designs
Stationery: Coral Pheasant
Styling: Beth Chapman Styling
Dress: Custom Anne Barge

It is love day, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by sharing one of our favorite love stories! Alex and Sam’s destination-inspired tent wedding is one that will forever hold a top spot in our hearts. There’s an endless list of reasons, starting with their impeccable style and ending with, most notably, the incredible humans they are. Their love, kindness, warmth, humor, down-to-earth sensibility, and hold of what is most important in life are unmatched. We are grateful for them and even more privileged to have brought one of our favorite tent weddings to fruition!

A & S’s Destination-Inspired Tent Wedding

When I first saw Alex and Sam’s venue, it was like driving up to a tucked-away garden in the French countryside. The Highfield Club has a tree-lined driveway that leads into an old stone house with ivy climbing up the exterior. The nature of this house is inherently historical, full of generations who belong to this club and depicting architecture that dates back decades. It provided the perfect backdrop to our Sperry Tent, which was filled with romantic long tables, some of a deep walnut and others dressed in a textural velvet linen.

Lined down the tables was a mix of arrangements, mostly smaller and delicate but filled with texture in white florals and greenery. Elisabeth from Blush Floral Design nailed it and mixed a variety of candles within for added ambiance. Our space hosted close to 200 guests, all of whom are close, longtime friends and family members, but filled the tables in a very intimate and close-knit way.

The Tea House is a treat with its floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors that sit on three sides of the house. A fireplace in the corner fills the room with all the cozy scents of cooler nights. Here we hung parasols to connect the guests to our tent set on the sprawling green lawn of the venue.

What We Remember & Love Most from this Tent Wedding

As we said, this wedding is incredibly special and will always have a grip on our hearts. There was so much to love and appreciate about the process and, of course, the wedding day. We cannot let a moment go by without calling out what we’ll remember most from this monumental celebration!

• Our bride and groom, Alex and Sam! Not only are these two stunning humans, but they are the easiest duo to celebrate. It’s no wonder how so many equally amazing people surround them. They attract the best because they are the best!
• Our Mother of the Bride, Joanne. Boy, is she #momgoals !! We worked closely with her from start to finish, and the love she has for her kids is something I’ll remember when I have kids of my own. She also leaves such an impact on everyone she meets because she is as joyful and gracious as she is thoughtful!
• Alex and Sam’s family! You see how we feel about Joanne, so it’s not difficult to discern how the rest of this family became an extended part of our own. I belong to their fan club because they are SO much fun!
• Dancing on stage with the band at the close of the wedding. You read that right – this crowd never faltered from a lively party atmosphere, and joining the band on stage to close out the night might have been better than the last time I saw Earth, Wind, and Fire live!
• The design! This tent wedding is one we often reference, and we cannot thank the creative team we partnered with to bring it to life!

A Thank You

Toward the close of dinner, our Mother of the Bride requested every vendor to join her on the dance floor. Naturally, we were all nervous because we are used to being behind the scenes. Our magic happens undercover. It’s widely felt and experienced, but we don’t take center stage to show how it’s done.

We all obliged and filed out onto the dance floor, unsure of what was next. My body is nervously shaking just a bit, thinking back to this, but the outcome was one of the most phenomenal events we’ve ever been a part of as a creative team. She thanked us each by name (both company name and by individuals) for bringing this event together. For allowing her, the couple, their family, and all friends present to be present and enjoy this experience. We all received a standing ovation, and since then, my cheeks have always been bright red when thinking about this.

Alex, Sam, Joanne, George, and family, we cannot thank you enough. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your history, and thank you for opening your doors to such a memorable and positive planning process. We all look forward to continuing to celebrate you every day!

Care to check out other tent weddings we love so much?! Follow the link and treat your eyes!

The Crew We’re Most Grateful For:

Photography: Madison Abbey Photography
Reception Location: The Highfield Club
Event Planning + Design: Diana of Jubilee Events
Flowers: Blush Floral Design
Entertainment: Silver Arrow Band
Catering: Marketplace Catering
Cake: Cutie Pies
Libations: Citrus and Rye Events
Cinema: Light Mill Film Studios
Beauty: Lyndsay Simon Beauty
Tent: Greenwich Tent Co.
Tent Decor: EZ Occasions
Rentals: PEAK Event Services, Nuage Designs
Stationery: Coral Pheasant
Styling: Beth Chapman Styling
Dress: Monique Lhullier

There is a long list of things to consider as you begin wedding planning. You start with the time of year, a general location, and a type of venue. Among the first of those major decisions is the guest list! Determining what type of wedding you would like – a small wedding or a large wedding – will guide a number of decisions you make as you kick off planning and along the process. Once you tackle this most daunting of tasks is when you truly determine what size wedding is right for you.

Over our near decade-and-a-half of weddings, we’ve celebrated events with eight guests, all the way up to 422 guests and every number in between. As trends, the economy, and priorities progress across generations, we see the same as far as guest counts. As a couple, you’ll find the answer to this question is necessary as you consider a long list of factors.

 

Let’s Talk About the Wedding Guest Count…

Besides the date and location, the guest list is the next piece of information vendors and venues request. As you get started, you’ll see this is really deciding factor No. 1 as it drives where you look and how your budget takes shape. This is important to keep in mind throughout planning, too.

Though there are several helpful budget tools available online, there are also just as many factors to consider when building your own, and one size does not fit all. We’ll share more tips on crafting your budget soon, but there are two sentiments to keep in mind. There will be aspects of your budget that are based on time, while the rest is based on your guest count. Things that are influenced by your guest count include food and beverage, rentals, flower costs, transportation, stationery, favors, and hotel welcome bags to start. More guests equal higher costs.

If you’re on Instagram, one of the newest platforms I’ve been closely following is Maroo Wedding. They’ve been featuring real wedding budgets from several different states, guest counts, venues, and more. It’s important to remember that no two weddings or budgets are the same, as these are dependent on a variety of details discussed above.

 

What’s the Difference Between a Small Wedding & a Large Wedding?

Where do we draw the line between a small wedding and a large wedding? For us, small weddings are around 50 guests are less. The large weddings are about 175 and above. As you can see, there is a large gap here, and we like to label those the more “average” weddings. As you initiate planning, you’ll commonly find 150 guests set as the minimum or as the venue’s recommended capacity.

Photos by Melissa Stimpson Photography

We’ve compiled a list of considerations for your guest count to help you determine what would be the best fit for your wedding weekend!

Considerations for a Small Wedding

Venue Options – Having a smaller guest count allows more flexibility with your venue options and gives couples the opportunity to take advantage of more unique spaces. While not new, small weddings aren’t as expected as larger weddings, so many locations are best suited for larger counts. To avoid dead space within a venue, couples can have more fun with their decor team creating distinct spaces for the various moments of their day.

Create an Intentional Budget – Fewer guests certainly allow for a smaller overall budget; however, what it truly allows for is allotting funds towards decor and the overall experience. In other words, you can more freely spend money on the items you would like to invest in.

When it comes to budget, minimizing doesn’t equate in an apples-to-apples way. Remember: there are areas that are determined by your guest count and then those that are set by the amount of time a vendor is onsite. These elements consider the venue, photography, videography, entertainment, and even transportation again.

Spend More on the Experience – As we alluded to above, a smaller wedding means costs are dedicated less to areas controlled by the guest count. This allows costs to go to the overall experience, which plays a large role in the impact guests receive. We accomplish this in a few ways with our couples.

First, we allot more to the design – flowers, unique stationery, and customized rentals that allow your day to stand out. You are able to personalize everything, from monogrammed napkins to your own fashion, which lasts far past the wedding day. My favorite area to invest in are the amenities. We love building welcome gifts for our guests, full of all the necessities needed for a long week. These can include emergency kits after a night of partying, local snacks, and even gifts at your welcome party or wedding day that guests can have fit just for them.

One of our favorite and most memorable small weddings allowed us to build a space almost entirely out of flowers, transitioning the dining room into a garden oasis. Flowers spilled over the edges of seats and blanketed the entryways of the room. Guests were in awe and are still talking to this day about what a beautiful celebration it was – very reflective of the couple!

As is the case with many venues, there is a food and beverage minimum to spend based on your overall guest count or the date itself. A small wedding creates an opportunity to creatively meet the minimum by way of customized entrees, cocktail hour offerings (everyone’s favorite!), or an enhanced bar selection.

More time to spend with guests – This aspect is one of the most significant for me when I consider a small wedding! Fewer guests means more time to spend with everyone in attendance. Instead of being pulled into a million directions, there’s room to spend time intentionally with each of your loved ones. As a result, this becomes more impactful for you and your guests.

Some logistics of wedding planning are more seamless – There are several factors in wedding planning that require more focus the more you add to your overall guest list. More guests = more opinions. While we’re of the firm belief that the plethora of questions and ideas you receive as a couple are a sign of support and excitement from your loved ones, we understand just as easily how overwhelming these can become. In many cases, having a more intimate guest count allows for you to protect your ideas, your vision, and even more the experience you face as you plan your celebration!

 

Some of our Favorite Small Weddings

See more of Alyssa and John’s wedding here! After receiving some sad news about her father, Alyssa and her now-hubby, John, opted to pivot their wedding and push it up about three months sooner. With that adjustment, they chose to reevaluate their guest list and condense it to 32 people. Four years later, there hasn’t been a day gone by that Alyssa and John ever questioned this being the right decision. For so many reasons we included above, it allowed them to create a day that will last in their hearts forever. For all the right ways, too!

Photos by Robert Norman Photography

Hosting a Large Wedding

Everyone attends – Hosting a large wedding means everyone gets to celebrate this monumental moment with you and your partner! Everyone who has been a part of your life in some way, every member of your family and every friend, is a witness to your wedding. Being able to host everyone means a lesser chance of having to cut your guest list so dramatically to accommodate a small wedding.

Your day has room for more impact and grandeur – As your guest list grows, so does the space you need to host everyone. The space isn’t the only detail, as the number of tables and the potential for creative layouts increases, all lending to more memorable moments to all in attendance. Being able to expand upon your design allows your aesthetic and venue to hold more impact on everyone in attendance. Imagine an abundance of flowers draped across the room or chandeliers spread throughout the ceiling of your venue. Envision the 12-piece band that fills the space with their sound, causing everyone’s heart to skip a quick beat of excitement.

The Energy Scale is High – With more people and a fuller space, the energy is arguably higher than with a smaller-scale wedding. Arguably is the key word here, but it’s hard not to reach a certain momentum when you celebrate with 175+ people, thrilled to be in your presence and full of support, love, and joy.

Budget – Compared to a small wedding, large weddings require more diligence when preparing your budget. Because of the factors that adjust with your guest count, decisions should be periodically and carefully visited to maintain the budget you’ve set. With even an increase of 10 guests on your guest list, you can see your overall budget grow an additional $10,000. It’s that easy!

More guests = more opinions + dynamics to manage – One of our points above remains that with less guests, you can often avoid the overwhelming ideas and opinions that come with everyone who will be in attendance. More guests often invites more opinions, questions, and unsolicited advice. While the majority comes from a good place, it can land roughly and increase the stress that can be uncovered throughout planning.

With that, there are often certain dynamics that exist across family and friend groups. Let’s face it: weddings invite emotions, and mixed with alcohol, things commonly escalate.

Get a Load of our Large Weddings in our Galleries!

Lauren and Timmy’s wedding was one of our favorites. Our groom, Tim, is one of eleven children. His parents? One of eight each! Naturally, we had quite a celebration!

Photos by Melissa Stimpson Photography

 

The final thought we will leave you with is that we know configuring your guest list is no easy task. We know sometimes the decision is made for you by the size of your family alone. We know that splitting guests into an A, B, and even C list is just as daunting as building the overall guest list. We even understand that there are planning partners contributing to your overall budget, therefore guaranteeing their input to the guest list. Deciding on a small wedding or a large wedding sounds easier than it is. We hope the process is made easier with the considerations within this post!

We had always been obsessed with the always-gorgeous photos of Troutbeck in Amenia, New York! Of course, this turned into dreams of producing an event at this stunner of a property.

Thankfully, this past summer, we had the opportunity to plan and design a full weekend with our couple, and we quickly fell in love with all of it! The entire property, for one (the possibilities to create here are endless), the food (that may need a separate post because we cannot gush enough here), and their team. Their team is undeniably good at what they do — they are fun, creative, intuitive, and helpful in collaborating on all the things needed to bring multiple days to life to life.

 

Morgan & Jesse’s Troutbeck Wedding

Troutbeck is a gem tucked away in the lush woods of Amenia, New York. You will travel nearly an hour of backroads to reach this venue, but every element of the property fits your dreams for the perfect space to rest, dine, and, most importantly, gather with your favorite person or people!

One of the best things about Troutbeck is the multitude of locations to host your event. Even if you host more than one celebration on the property! There are two barns, rolling lawns, the Walled Garden (this is my favorite!), and the indoor ballroom, amongst many other more intimate spaces for your weekend.

For Morgan and Jesse’s wedding, we opted to host their ceremony and cocktail hour outdoors in the Walled Garden, which is quintessential Troutbeck. Its well-manicured landscape and the perfect setup for 100+ guests welcome everyone to the wedding day beautifully. Later, guests dined and danced in the ballroom so they could enjoy the merriment until the wee hours of the morning!

Their intimate Welcome Party was set on the Gazebo Lawn facing the prominent main inn. We’ve been fortunate to plan and design so many kick-off events with our couples. Be sure to check out more here!

Now the food… As I said, I will need another post dedicated to this because every element was out-of-this-world! From the open-fire roast to kick off the weekend, the poolside BBQ and ice cream social during the wedding day, to the wedding dinner. Morgan and Jesse opted for a vegan lasagna (speaking as a non-vegan, I was dreaming about this lasagna for weeks after our tasting), and grilled trout. Again, the latter was a popular feature in my dreams post-tasting. From familiar to more unique, their culinary team treated everyone that weekend. Months later, it’s an element we are all still raving over!

 

An Ode to the Troutbeck Wedding Team

We cannot let this post go without giving our thanks to the team at Troutbeck! Vendor coordinators and managers are much different than wedding and event planners; however, all roles are equally vital. The balance we provide to the other allows every aspect of our events – and each person contributing to it – maintains the high level of service we are known for. Working with a team such as those behind Troutbeck made this process successful and one we look forward to revisiting with future creative opportunities!

 

Check out the incredible memories below for a sneak peek into their weekend. You’ll quickly agree with our battle of deciphering which was the scene-stealer: the property or the fashion!

 

wedding artists!

Photography: Berty Mandagie
Ceremony + Reception Location: Troutbeck
Event Planning + Design: Diana of Jubilee Events; Coordination: Alice & Kelsey
Flowers: Botanique
Entertainment: Ericalandia
Catering + Confections: Troutbeck
Cinema: Hello Super Studios
Beauty: Sam Brocato Salon
Rentals: Westside Party Rentals, BBJ La Tavola Linen
Ceremony Artists: Grammy Award-winner Samara Joy