You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear;
To-morrow ‘ill be the happiest time of all the glad New-year;
Of all the glad New-year, mother, the maddest merriest day;
For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.
I have been waiting with baited breath to share this amazing, touching, thoughtful, and down right gorgeous may day wedding with you. It was just featured on Martha Stewart’s website and now we’re really excited to share the story of A&J, as captured by Amanda Herzberger of Orchard Cove Photography. But before we do– I need to caution you– their story is a STORY and it can’t be told in a few words. I promise you that the pictures are yummy and delicious, but the meaning behind them even more beautiful.
Allison and Jacob are the reason why I love my job so much. Not because they had a beautiful wedding with lots of sentimental and meaningful details— but because they are two amazing, lovely people with a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love story that we are so honored to share with you. To know Allie and Jacob is to know that first and foremost, they love each other. And I mean they love each other like Jack loved Rose, Richard Burton loved Elizabeth Taylor and Big loved Carrie. Yeah. It’s pretty major. Sometimes, they would write each other emails about how much they loved each other and forget that I was cc’ed on them. They are extremely creative, thoughtful people who wanted every aspect off their wedding to be a reflection of them, their lives, and their families. Allie and Jacob love Connecticut— and love the city of Hartford. They work here, are intimately involved in the community, and wanted to share our lovely rising star with their nearest and dearest, who flew in from all over the world to attend their black-tie nuptials.
They met while attending Middlebury College where Allie became the best of friends with Jacob’s sister, Jenny. Story goes, beautiful blond California Girl moves to the east coast for college and meets a handsome, studious boy from Huntington, New York… who immediately falls in love with her. She played hard to get, but finally, the two became a pair. After college, they maintained a long distance romance and wrote love letters to one another while they were apart. Not being able to stomach another moment away from each other, Allie moved to Connecticut where they settled down and started a new home in West Hartford.
The muse for Allie and Jacob’s day comes from the whimsy and jubilation of May Day. The dawing of Spring, where everything comes alive once again; the towering Maypole, with her fluttering ribbons. May Day is all about joie de vivre—and so is a Spring wedding. Allie was also inspired by a striking spode pattern from her mom’s china, which was displayed behind glass ever since she could remember. A few years before Allie and Jacob were engaged, Allie’s mom passed away to cancer. Growing up, her mom had this very special set of china that was only used for the most special occasions. Not on yearly holidays or special dinners with friends.. But REALLY special, once-in-a-lifetime kind of occasions where only the prettiest, most perfectly blue china would do. I guess you could say that in the grand list of occasions one has during a lifetime, Allison’s mom would consider the wedding of A&J as the specialist of all.
Allison and Jacob’s guests were asked to save the date with a beautiful, amazing, totally gorg save the date as designed by Cheree Berry (and our bride and groom, who were so closely involved in the paper process). Cheree is an incredible designer and put together the entire paper suite. Their save the date was a whimsical notice decorated with a maypole and the important deets, with the spode pattern blind embossed on the back. Their wedding day invitation suite was a tiffany blue edged, fanciful letter pressed art piece with lots of marvelous touches, including a passage from the may day poem above. Elizabeth Porcher Jones (our all time favorite Southern belle) was the calligraphy composer, with her light, breezy hand. All the interior envelopes addressed their guests by their nicknames, like Moo, Poopsy, and Jenny. Their guests sent back the most delightful responses— putting as much thought into their reply as Allison and Jacob had into the invites. One was even transformed into a watercolor— we LOVED looking through them!
The day began with Allie and her maids prepping in a suite at the Hartford Marriott with beauty by Jennie Fresa Beauty Library. Allie chose to wear a borrowed Vera Wang luxe gown (hereby referred to by name, which is “Holly”) as part of a sweet tradition started by her mom and god mom. When her mother Barbara married Allie’s dad, she wore her best friend Patti’s dress. And so, when Allie married Jacob, she wore Patti’s daughter’s (also named Allison) dress. It was a perfectly whimsical gown with a pleated ball skirt and springy details along the hem. Holly was paired with the daintiest veil and bolero from The White Dress by the Shore. Allie chose to wear special jewelry that was her moms, too. Her maids wore lovely floor length satin Vera Wang gowns. Shoes, of course, by Jimmy Choo.
Not to be outdone, Jacob wore a stellar tux with custom blue and white polka dot suspenders and bow tie… Perfect.
Allison and Jacob exchanged vows at place that makes my own heart skip a beat— The Old State House in Hartford. It’s such an architectural showstopper with it’s clean white trimmings, big windows with buttery light, and the giant gold chandelier. Allie and Jacob especially loved this location for it’s history and meaningfulness to the state of Connecticut. Plus, Jacob’s law firm overlooks the state house, so it’s an important piece of his daily life. Me? Well, it’s where I got married too… so I love it for all those reasons and more!
Guests arrive to the Old State House and were greeted by stunning details and décor. Allie had fabric made from the spode pattern, which were turned into fabric boutonnières and corsages for every guests. What would a black tie event be without a corsage or boutonnière? Paper lilies of the valley decorated the foyer, too. Their program was a beautiful die cut folded booklet (also by Cheree Berry) with all the important deets on the inside and little touches of romantic imagery through out.
Their ceremony was as emotional and tear-jerking as they come. In fact, Diana and I stood in the back corner and cried our little heads off, especially while they read their own vows to one another. Allie and Jacob decided not to see each other before the ceremony (which is so rare these days), so this moment of Allie walking down the aisle to Jacob with her dad was really extra special. Allie carried a gorgeous bouquet of peonies and garden roses alongside a very special hankie. Guests were surrounded with beautiful white hydrangea wreaths hung on the walls, sprigs of flowers tied with blue bows, and ribbon playfully attached to the backs of their chairs. The aisle runner was hand painted with a faint blue pattern of spode down it’s center. Perfect. Their chuppah was understated, but completely gorgeous, with blue ribbons cascading down it’s sides. The poles were tucked into big garden pots, bursting with moss and spring flowers. We had swags of boxwood garland to make the balcony above festive. Rectangular boxwood pots also sat along the window sills. Elisabeth from BLUSH floral design is responsible for all the incredible, amazing, stunning, and down right fairytale beautiful flowers.
So many details went into the ceremony, it’s hard to believe there could be more left over for the reception. When guests entered the The Hartford Club, where Allie and Jacob are members, they were not only greeted with a blue ribbon signature drink (yum! or so I hear), but also a towering maypole– also created by BLUSH and her talented team. Teacups and saucers in the spode pattern decorated cocktail tables, and a fun escort card display with calligraphy by Elizabeth Porcher Jones.
Guests wrote their wishes for Allison and Jacob and dropped them into a well.
We transformed the upstairs ballroom into a space fit for a may day celebration. Tables were bursting with whites, blues, and silver. Draped in a deep blue crinkle taffeta linen with stunning floral designs by BLUSH– big tall arrangements dripping with beautiful flowers in mercury glass vases, and lower arrangements all perfectly situated in spode tea cups, casserole dishes, fruit bowls… the list goes on. There were surrounded by candlelight and a bed of moss, flowers, and petals. So romantic. Cheree stunned us again with blue paper pennant flags which were leaping out of moss containers for table numbers, the prettiest menu cards detailing the evenings gastro delight, and a surprise waiting for guests beneath their antiqued silver charger. Ribbons in varying shades of blue danced along the backs of their silver chairs. We brought in custom lighting, draping, and even an amazing white dance floor that made the whole room take on a soft, white glow. Their cake, a five tiered white masterpiece, was the design of Ana Parzych. It had lily of the valley detailing along each tier, with a dainty cluster of lily of the valley sugar flowers on top.
The Hartford Club and Chef Kube served up an evening of spectacular spring inspired food— most notably delicious was a “leaf” of pasta (a special dish developed by the groom and chef). Yummy California wines (hand picked by the bride’s dad) and Champagne flowed through out the evening. The best man and maid of honor, both siblings to the groom, gave touching speeches all remarking on one common thing: how perfect Allison is for Jacob, and Jacob for Allison.
Important to them was not only the look, the food, and all the small details…. But also the party. Their band, David Clark and the Renegades, did NOT disappoint. As a matter of fact, they go down in history as having the best Bon Jovi rendition I’ve heard!
Jacob surprised everyone with a performance after dinner. In college, Jacob was part of an acapella group named “D8”, who serenaded our beautiful bride with a four-part musical and theatrical performance. It was outstanding— to say the least!!! Everyone absolutely loved it— myself included!
As the night came to a close, the Hartford Club passed the most yummy blue french macarons from Jerome Bouston with shots of milk. Could you not have a more perfect midnight snack? As guests left for the evening, they were given a Favors: Ben Wolff pot with borage seeds— which closely resemble our spode inspiration, but more importantly, are perfect for cooking (and in case you didn’t know, A&J also LOVE too cook and are quite good at it, too!).
And now.. on to the images.. all captured by the talented Amanda Herzberger of Orchard Cove Photography.
… and they lived happily ever after.
xoxo
Photography: Orchard Cove Photography / Planning: Jubilee Events / Floral Design & Decor: BLUSH floral design / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Maids’ Gowns: Vera Wang / Beauty: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library / Veil & Accessories: The White Dress by the Shore / Paper: Cheree Berry Stationery / Ceremony: The Old State House / Reception: The Hartford Club / Cake: Ana Parzych / Band: David Clark and the Renegades / Rentals & Lighting: Jubilee Events / Film: Vantage Point Films / Ceremony Musicians: Millennium Music / Macarons: Jerome Bouston / Favors: Ben Wolff Pottery
