Great Gatsby Themed Wedding Invites

Nicole and Patrick were married on a gorgeous summers day in June at The Branford House in Groton, Connecticut. They wanted to throw a Gatsby style affair and paid extra special attention to all the details of their wedding! Nicole (after my own heart) is a lover of paper– and found a kinship with stationery designer Nicole Michel of Coral Pheasant. They worked together to create one of the most memorable invitations (and day of paper suites!). These Great Gatsby themed wedding invites were inspired by Nicole’s style, her love of vintage, and the opulence of The Great Gatsby.

From the designer, Nicole: The wedding celebration of Nicole and Patrick was held at Branford House, a turn-of-the-century mansion with carved Gothic paneling and grand Baroque fireplaces overlooking the Long Island Sound. The magnificent Gatsby-esque venue, combined with details from the bride’s stunning beaded gown and palette of purples, pinks and gold was all the inspiration needed to bring this stationery suite to life!

The invitations were gold foil stamped and letterpress printed on blush Arturo cotton stock – duplexed to make it extra thick. Deco-inspired fonts were paired with beautiful calligraphy by MM Ink. Each invitation was mounted into a custom designed laser cut violet folio. For a modern take on the inner envelope, the folios were wrapped with a gold shimmer belly band each bearing the guest’s name in calligraphy.

The entire package was slipped into a gold shimmer envelope lined in a scallop pattern that was inspired by the beading on the bride’s gown. The outside of the envelope was just as carefully considered as the invitation. A collection of vintage stamps in coordinating shades of pink and purple adorned the outside and further ornamentation was added by MM Ink‘s gorgeous penmanship.

Be sure to visit Nicole & Patrick’s Gatsby Themed Wedding at The Branford House to see how all the details came together! Looking for more wedding invitation inspiration?

Here at Jubilee Events, we love all things wedding and events! Thank goodness we do what we do! Trust us, every spool of ribbon, delicate peony, luxurious Dupionique linen, romantically lit chandelier, and each spec of glitter on our fingers–and sometimes face–thrills us. The best part about each detail is what that means to our couple and their story. The way they are infused into their wedding day and how it is all brought to life.

When I met Rachel and Matthew, they were unsure as to which direction their wedding would process in, but shortly after we started, they said, “Why not get married on our favorite holiday?!” which was, of course, Halloween! Let me tell you how excited I was to collaborate on their wedding when I heard this! It was adventurous and most importantly, it was them!! The scene was set and all we had to do was have fun.

We took inspiration from an old haunted house–one that, in it’s prime, hosted lavish parties every weekend. It had to in order to host this amazing group! There is something truly beautiful in the story held in a forgotten home. Our tables were dressed in a vintage lace and topped with a collection of ghoulish hands, bloodied candles, decayed flowers, and insects crawling all over. Our girl Jane from Just For You Floral Design helped bring this to life…if you will.

The best part: our groom surprised his beautiful wife with the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus. They put on an incredible performance to kick off dancing for the night! Their love for this holiday was in no short supply and it was a huge treat for us to design such an extraordinarily unique wedding.

A big thank you to Robert and Kathleen for capturing all of this extraordinary fun and to Epic Film Makers for allowing us to relive it!

Rachel and Matthew–a very happy first anniversary and a very Happy Halloween to you both (and Grant!!)! We wish you years and years of fun and imagination and all the love in the world that we saw present on your night! Thank you for giving us the gift to take part in such an exceptional day. XO!

CREDIT REEL

Planning, Coordination & Design: Diana Chouinard, Jubilee Events
Photography: Robert & Kathleen
Reception Location + Catering: The Hartford Club
Ceremony: St. Stanislaus Basilica
Floral Design / Props: Just For You Floral Design
Hair + Makeup: Larissa Lake Makeup Artist + Co.
Videography: Epic Film Makers
DJ + Lighting: After Hours DJ
Linens: Nuage
Rentals: Rentals Unlimited, Party Rental, Ltd.

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I’m excited to share with you the gorgeous Gatsby inspired wedding of Nicole and Patrick at The Branford House Mansion in Groton, Connecticut! We had the opportunity to work with an all-star team of creatives to bring to life their vision and details (full list below the images). The day began for Nicole and her bridesmaids at The Steamboat Inn in Mystic and for Patrick and his groomsmen at The Salty Dog for fresh shaves. The ceremony was held at a gorgeous church in Waterford, decorated by Yumiko at Hana Floral with large gold candle pillars down the aisle with floral wreaths and greenery. A drink station greeted guests outside with darling jars full of refreshing lemonades.

After the ceremony, guests were shuttled by Trolley to the magnificent Branford House– which we completely transformed for Nicole and Patrick. It was truly breathtaking! A large urn of beautiful flowers greeted guests at a table with a linen handmade of flowers by Yumiko and her team, while Emily’s staff served up trays of champagne. Guests enjoyed lawn games on the great lawn, amazing food stations, a mojito bar, and blissful entertainment by Lapis Luna of Elan Artists.

The interior of the Branford House was spectacular– every room brimming with elegant flowers, purple linens, gold flatware, and exquisite paper details.

Some of my favorite details of the day were the gorgeous floral designs by Yumiko of Hana Floral Design– they were brimming with beautiful, big blooms in shades of purple, white and blush. Every piece of floral on this day was just so gorgeous and Yumiko and her team really did a fabulous job! Rick and his team at Emily’s catering customized a fantastic menu for Nicole, Patrick and their guests– and really showcased their culinary expertise with a beautifully displayed raw bar on blocks of ice, a summer shack food station with fresh and local ingredients, and several paired and customized trays of passed alcohol and appetizers. Nichole of Coral Pheasant did a remarkable job on the paper– laser cut, die cut, gold foil and letterpress was everywhere from the RSVP card to the menus at each place setting.

A heartfelt thank you to my team for being so spectacular on this day. They, along with all our amazing vendors, truly did a wonderful job and we couldn’t be more thrilled for Nicole and Patrick. Enjoy! x

CREDIT REEL

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck
Design, Planning, Coordination & Rentals: Jubilee Events
Catering: Emily’s Catering
Reception Venue: The Branford House
Floral Design: Hana Floral Design
Tent: Sperry Tents Marion
Tent Lighting & Bars: Ryan Designs
Paper Story: Coral Pheasant Stationery + Design
Calligraphy: MM Ink
Hair & Makeup: Dana Bartone & Co. and Naomi’s Salon
Cake: Sylvia Weinstock
Additional Lighting: Shoreline AV
Entertainment: Elan Artists
Dance Floor: Chase Canopy
Favors: Ladurée
Ceremony Musicians: Millennium Music
Gown & Veil: Kenneth Poole via Saks
Videographer: Vantage Point Films
Cigar Roller: CT Cigar Company

Happy Cinco de Mayo! In honor of today’s festivities we wanted to share some Cinco de Mayo inspiration in this shoot conceptualized by Carla Ten Eyck (a lover of her strong Mexican heritage) and collaborated on by a team of fabulous vendors. Originally featured on Style Me Pretty many moons ago, this inspirational shoot still tugs at my heart as one of my favorites. The colors, the simplicity yet complexity, and all the goodies nestled within the alter that Diana & Tony worked on together. Enjoy!

CREDIT REEL

Photography & Design: Carla Ten Eyck
Prop Set Up: Diana Chouinard of Jubilee Events
Floral Design: Tony Palmeri of Green Dahlia
Paper Story: Nichole Michel of Coral Pheasant
Gown: The White Dress by the shore
Beauty: Dana Bartone & Co.
Custom Headpiece: Twigs & Honey

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You know those couples who are so sweet, fun, and hysterical that you just want to hug them over and over again to thank them for giving you the chance to work together? Blaine and Chris! The second they walked into our studio, we knew their wedding would be one we would remember forever. Every part of planning their shoreline bash was a small hint towards the adventure we experienced that day! Even without the tornadoes that touched down that September day, it was still a night to remember.

The gorgeous ceremony sat beachside that evening, with the waves crashing on the sand leading up to the rose petal-lined aisle.  The archway, housing our couple and their closest  loved ones was a picture of perfection, draped in roses and plush hydrangea, thanks to the oh-so talented Elisabeth of Blush Floral Design! Dinner and dancing was held in the newly renovated Madison Beach Hotel, which boasts floor to ceiling windows and French doors overlooking the water. Our design had a Great Gatsby flair to it with vintage, glam touches spotted with coral, gold, and a hint of navy. Add Blaine’s contagious smile and the room lit up! 

CREDIT REEL

Design, Rentals & Planning: Jubilee Events
Photography: Robert Norman Photography
Reception Venue: Madison Beach Hotel 
Floral Design: BLUSH Floral Design
Beauty: Dana Bartone & Co.
Paper Story: Coral Pheasant
Cake: JCakes
Ceremony Musicians: Millennium Music
Entertainment: The Elements
Tent Decor: Ryan Designs
Tent: Sperry Tents
Lounge Furniture: Luxe Event Rentals

Happy Thursday lovelies! Today we have a real treat for you on the blog and a wedding design that is close to my heart. You remember Megan & Mike’s Lobster Bake rehearsal dinner we posted last week, right? Well now it’s time for the wedding day! When Megan walked into my office and said she loved all things kate spade she was not kidding. What she also didn’t realize is that she was basically my fashion soul sister and she couldn’t have chosen a better designer and planner for her day. We seriously hit it off from the start (I would forward her KS secret sale coupon codes and she the same to me!) and planning her and Mike’s wedding was a joy.

We started out with a pink and blue color palette, mixed in fun patterns like chevron and stripes, and dropped a bow where necessary and never lost sight of glitter and confetti. Nichole at Coral Pheasant nailed her invitation– and to date– it is still one of my personal favorites. Megan and Mike wanted the day to be fun, bright and colorful and we achieved just that!

Some of my favorite details of the day are the napkin bows at each place setting, the floral arrangements wrapped in blue chevron fabric, the escort card posted that said “Lets get this party started!”, the gorgeous confections table with so many details and yumminess, the confetti dropped into glass vases for flowers, and Megan’s gorgeous gown.

I also loved the cake by Ana Paryzch— simple yet detailed with white confetti and gold trim. Look at this gorgeous sketch she provided below!

Thank you to Bruce Plotkin for the wonderful images below. Enjoy! xx

Credit Reel

Design, Rentals & Planning: Jubilee Events
Photography: Bruce Plotkin Photography
Reception Venue: The Inn at Longshore
Floral Design: BLUSH Floral Design
Beauty: Jennie Fresa
Paper Story: Coral Pheasant
Cake: Ana Parzych
Confections: Le Petit France
Cupcakes: Sugarbelle
Lighting: Rob Alberti
Entertainment: The Short Bus
Lounge Furniture: Ryan Designs

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I can think of two words that adequately describe how spectacular Ali and Max’s barbeque rehearsal dinner was: Bacon centerpieces. Of course, I can think of several others to describe the event we helped plan for this genuine, sweet and utterly in love couple, but those are two of my favorites. Ali & Max planned an awesome tented rehearsal dinner in Darien, Connecticut!

Having the opportunity to help Ali and Max plan their rehearsal dinner was such a treat. We love to step away from the frills and formalities of planning a wedding to work on a smaller, more intimate event. This gives us the opportunity to learn their stories and translate them into details at a special dinner for their closest family members and friends. For Ali and Max this meant a laid back barbeque at the bride’s childhood home in Darien, CT, inspired by the time they spent living in Tennessee. Ali and Max picked some of their favorite Southern elements to share with their guests: A hay bale lounge, a bourbon bar stocked with the groom’s favorite spirits, and buckets and buckets of bacon for guests to enjoy.

We are so thrilled that we were able to share this special day with Ali and Max. If you can believe it, the wedding that followed was filled with even more love and excitement and we’ll be sharing those photos with you next!

VENDOR REEL:

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck

Transportation: Premier Limo

Catering: Bobby Q’s

Florist: Elegant Effects

Paper: Coral Pheasant

Lighting/Tent: Sperry Tents

Musician/ DJ: Tin Pan Band

Rental Company: Party Rental Ltd.

Want to hear a funny story? I still have my treasured copy of The Great Gatsby that I “borrowed” from my sophomore English class in high school. It sits nestled on my bookshelf at home and from time to time I take it out and read a few passages. I’ve thumbed through its pages dozens of times and, each time I re-read this treasured book of mine, I always discover something new. I love The Great Gatsby from an academic perspective and even wrote a thesis on it in college, but like most, I also appreciate it for the red lipstick, short skirts and page boy haircuts. Why do you think we have such a fascination with the Roarin’ 20s? Every few years, I feel like this era creeps back into popular culture and for good reason– there is so much to be inspired by! And not to mention I was so excited to see this gorgeous shoot featured on Style Me Pretty this week.

It was no surprise that we decided to do a Great Gatsby inspired photoshoot. There were so many directions we could have gone in, but ultimately we chose to do something reminiscent of the era but had modern touches. We selected the historic Branford House Mansion overlooking the Fishers Island Sound in Groton Long Point, Connecticut for our location. Although it was November, there was lovely warmth in the air and we were blessed with a glorious sunset with just the right amount of cloud cover for delightful dimension.

I love the fashion elements that Beth Chapman of The White Dress by the shore put together; decadent, glamorous, opulent. Our bride wore several looks from a mini feather flapper style dress to a long sleeve satin faced chiffon gown. And our Gatsby, of course, wore a white dinner jacket that evoked the over the top parties he was so famous for hosting.

The paper story created by Nicole Michel of Coral Pheasant Stationery and Design, was rich with details. Elements such as the matchbook-style reception cards and the favor boxes that doubled as place cards allowed the guests something to open and discover.

Photographer Carla Ten Eyck used the magical light to assist in telling the visual tale. The mansion’s timeless, turn of the century beauty was further accentuated by a vintage sofa and tufted velvet chairs from New England Country Rentals. The oversized, dramatic fireplace that graces the main entrance created a stunning backdrop for the lavish tablescape. The table was the perfect combination of opulent and vintage, with a delicately sequined linen paired with mismatched antique floral china and Irish linen napkins trimmed in lace. The billowing flower arrangements from Hana Floral Design were the perfect finishing touch!

And now onto our gorgeous Great Gatsby inspired photoshoot!

Want to see more themed weddings, branford house weddings, vintage weddings or photoshoots? Check out our archives!

Credit Reel

Photography: Carla Ten Eyck
Shoot & Table Design: Jubilee Events
Fashion Styling: Beth Chapman, The White Dress by the Shore
Floral Design: Hana Floral Design
Rentals: Jubilee Events
Linens: Nuage Designs
Paper and Guest Gifts: Coral Pheasant
Cinematography: Jeremy White and Steve DePino
Cake: Ana Parzych Custom Cakes
Hair: Jennie Kay
Make Up: dd Nickel
Gowns: Rivini & Ivy and Aster
Jewelry: Maria Elena & The Something Old Collection
Beaded Cape: Ivy and Aster
Tuxedos + Suit: Valentino Tailors
Feather Stole: The Bridal Dresser
Gloves: Carolina Amato

Rustic Webb Barn Wedding

Alia and Jason were married on a gorgeous, warm, early summer afternoon at The Webb Barn in Wethersfield. Surrounded by their closest family and friends, who traveled from distant places like California and Afghanistan, they exchanged vows under the big oak tree and danced the night away inside the candlelit barn. We loved everything about Alia and Jay’s rustic Webb Barn wedding design– from the simple rustic centerpieces of branches and moss to the fairy wings her niece wore– it was all inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream (one of my favorite Shakespearian plays). Not to mention, Alia’s dad quickly became my favorite Father of the Bride. Ever.

From the bride…

I knew the moment I shared my inspiration board with Candice Coppola, of Jubilee Events that I was in good hands. With a single glance at the moss draped tables, and woodland imagery and without knowing that I was hiding a tattooed quote from the play itself on my shoulder, Candice stated without hesitation, “OK so we’re creating a Midsummer Night’s Dream wedding!” And I was sold. My husband and I had agreed that we wanted to create an experience for our guests, one that felt unplanned and organic. One that felt more like the kind of party you happend to stumble upon vs a scripted and stuffy affair and one that ultimately put the surprise and delight of every guest at the top of the priority list.

Rustic Webb Barn Wedding: The Details

Our vision was executed beyond our wildest expectation with the help of some of the best in the industry, and I would throw an event a year if I could, just to bring them all back together again. From the road-less-traveled location of the Webb Barn and the wildflower beauty of Datura: A Modern Garden, to the palate intoxicating buffet of a thousand dishes prepared by Emily’s Catering, to every moment captured by the soulful lens of Judy Pak Photography, and entertained by the psychic DJ Revuelo of Scratch DJs, what transpired that day was a storybook love in a storybook setting filled with laughter and dancing, full bellies and even fuller hearts.

A special thank you to all who brought this dreamer’s midsummer eve to life.

Credit Reel

Photography: Judy Pak Photography
Flowers: Datura: A Modern Garden
Event Planning: Jubilee Events
Venue: Webb Barn in Wethersfield, CT
Rentals: New England Country Rentals
Dress: Rosa Clara
Invitations: Bridgit Espinoza

Congrats Alia and Jay!!! Thank you so much for letting us be part of this historic day! XOXO