Sandy and Mike’s wedding was a day that reminded me why I love my job so much; from seeing their vision come to life, to spending time with their adorable and funny families, I got to know the two of them like friends over the course of a year and consider them to be just that. It was a beautiful September evening at one of our favorite vineyards in Connecticut with one of the most incredible sunsets of the year. Surrounded by 80 of their closest family and friends, they exchanged vows amongst the vines and danced the night away under a romantically lit Sperry Tent. Sandy has undeniable style, and when she came to me with her inspiration, I instantly fell in love with her color palette. It was unique, different, fun, and colorful– and Elisabeth at BLUSH Floral Design really embraced all these elements. I have so many favorite details from this wedding but my absolute favorite was the quote on the program cover, calligraphed by our friend Elizabeth Porcher Jones, that read “It takes two when it use to take one.”

Sandy wrote about her wedding for Style Me Pretty and I wanted to share her perspective of the day…

From the bride...We had a small wedding of less than 100 people, as we really wanted an intimate evening with our closest friends and family. We chose Jonathan Edwards Winery because we are big wine people, and we thought the place had a great mix of Connecticut charm and outdoor elegance. September is the perfect time to get married there, as the grapes are almost fully grown, and the weather is mild. Since many of Mike’s friends and family members live on the West Coast, it was exciting to show them the beauty of New England. The natural, understated beauty of the venue also allowed me to design my own space from the ground up, not only for the ceremony, but inside the gorgeous Sperry tent for the reception. I worked closely with Candice of Jubilee Events to make my vision come to life and loved every minute of it. I didn’t want to go with the typical dark, fall color palette, and chose to mix pops of colors and textures. I have a real love for beautiful typography and had calligraphy strewn throughout the wedding. My Amsale “Dahlia” gown served as a great inspiration for everything, from the floral design and the wedding cake to the welcome bags I designed. We included a lot of thoughtful details that had special meaning for us as a couple. We had succulents throughout the space as a nod to Mike’s home state of Arizona and a tequila signature cocktail to represent our shared love for Mexico (I studied abroad there, and Mike lived there for five years). Robert & Kathleen Photographers captured our day so beautifully, and thanks to them and the rest of our wonderful vendors, we had a lovely wedding day!

And now, the beautiful images by one of our favorite photographers, Robert and Kathleen.. and the wonderful video by our friend Mike Cyr of Buzz Media Company.

A huge, heartfelt thank you to all our amazing creatives that made this wedding one of the most beautiful events we’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of. I can’t stretch my arms wide enough to thank Sandy and Mike for letting me be apart of their personal history. Congratulations guys– love ya! XOXO

Credit Reel

Photography:Robert & Kathleen Photographers
Venue: Jonathan Edwards Wineryin North Stonington, Connecticut
Event Design + Planning: Candice Coppola of Jubilee Events
Floral Design: Blush Floral Design Studio
Wedding Cinematography: Buzz Media Company
Officiant: Mary Coburn
Catering + Wedding Cake: A Thyme To Cook
Lighting: Shoreline Audio Visual
Rentals: Party Rental Ltd.
Linens: La Tavola
Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones
Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music: Joe Kiernan Trio
DJ: Rob Alberti
Tent: Sperry Tents Marion
Wedding Signs: SweetWeddingDetails
Cake Topper: ReadyGo
Wedding Invitations: Smock
Wedding Gown: AmsaleDahlia via Amsale Flagship Salon
Jewelry: Prins & Volkhardt Jewelers (610-687-8840) +Tiffany & Co.
Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale via Plumed Serpent
Beauty: Jennie Fresa
Bride’s Shoes: Milk & Honey Shoes
Groom’s Attire: JoS. A. Bank+Brooks Brothers
Flower Girl Dresses: Crewcuts

Fall was just around the corner and there was no better way kick the season off than with Danielle and Ramsey’s big day. Danielle and Ramsey were married at a gorgeous and intimate barn in Connecticut, surrounded by their closest family and friends. We had the fortune of being part of their wedding day as they planned their wedding from LA. Danielle is currently guest staring on one of our all time fav television shows– Community!

One of my favorite parts of this wedding was that it wasn’t just a celebration of a new family unit, but it also honored their history. The couple was married on the lush lawn overlooking the river surrounded by their closest family and friends. Their ceremony was deeply personal as their parents and siblings stood by them underneath the Chuppah, which housed them with a family prayer shawl. Guests made their way up to the cocktail hour, where they were greeted by one of the most cheerful and entertaining A Capella groups, the LarKings. Guests were quick to find their seats as the sweet candy apple escort cards were too good not to touch!

The inside of the barn was adorned with garden lights strung across their beams coupled with long billows of fabric to give it a romantic look. Azalea Floral Design created a magnificent look with the centerpieces with branches extended from tall vases filled with apples. The walls held mason jars and old glass containers that Danielle’s mom wrapped in various colored tissue paper for a pop of color once the candles inside were lit. Danielle’s mom truly outdid herself with all of the fabulous decor. Not only did she personally create all of the table numbers, decorative jars, programs, menu cards, and tasty cookies that guests were able to take home with them, but she brought in so many heartfelt details that brought Danielle’s vision to life. The gift vignette contained rustic tables, antique shutters, and old crates filled with fresh apples. A gift bag, carefully sewn together out of the bride’s aunt’s wedding dress stored the cards from all of Danielle and Ramsey’s loved ones.

As the couple sat together at their table, they toasted with their heirloom champagne glasses in front of numerous photos of their family members throughout the years. It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to be a part of such a special day in a family’s history.

Credit Reel

Photography: Raya Carlisle Photography
Cinematography: Vantage Point Films
Event Planning: Diana Chouinard, Jubilee Events
Floral Design: Azalea Floral Design
Cake: Palmer’s Bakery
A Capella Group: The LarKings
Beauty: DD Nickel
Ceremony & Reception Location: The Barns at Wesleyan Hills, Middletown, CT
Invitations: DIY by Danielle’s Mom, Jodi
Shoes: Anthropologie
Dress: Marissa, Lace detail styled and added by Kleinfeld

One of the happiest couples I know, Christina and Doug, were married this past summer on July 2^nd, where the weather was beyond perfect as they celebrated with their guests at the Old Saybrook Point Inn and Spa. What can be said about Christina, Doug, and their families? They had a wonderful amount of love between each other and could not wait for this wedding! Nothing in the world could have stood in the way of their bursting excitement, shown through every moment and every detail. The anticipation for this day was so contagious that no one could help but smile from ear to ear in their presence!

A big thank you goes out to the always lovely Jennie and team from Jennie Fresa Beauty Library as Christina and her girls looked stunning!! Wait until you see all of the flowers Yumiko and her team at Hana Floral Design created-breathtaking! How romantic is Christina’s bouquet?!

Big thanks to Derek Fowles Photography for capturing it all and Vantage Point Films for sending us this beautiful video!

Christina and Doug-thank you so much for having us as a part of such an extraordinary and special day! We wish you all the best and look forward to see you and your families again! XO

Christina + Doug | The Highlight Film from Vantage Point Films on Vimeo.

 

Credit Reel:

Event Planning/ Rentals: Jubilee Events
Photography: Derek Fowles Photography
Videography: Vantage Point Films
Florist: Hana Floral Design
Beauty: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library
Cake: Kim’s Cottage Confections
Ceremony Musicians: Millennium Music
Entertainment: DJ Bob Raina
Transportation: Peter Pan Bus Lines
Bride’s Fashion: Maggie Sottero
Shoes: Pink, Michaelangelo
Men’s Fashion: Formals by Antonio

I’m so honored to share with you the wedding of Cindy and Tony, married in April of 2011 at the gorgeous Old State House in Hartford, Connecticut. Cindy contacted me to design and plan her wedding with only a few months to go– and we developed a gorgeous, classic and elegant wedding inspired by her amazing Amy Kuschel gown purchased at The White Dress by the shore. It was such a pleasure to work with her and Tony– their love story is an endearing one… and to hear how they both found one another after hardship and loss was truly inspiring. Their love for one another is real, and their love for their family is incredible. It was so important to them to incorporate their children into the ceremony and did so in meaningful ways. We were all reminded about the important things in life being part of Cindy and Tony’s wedding: love, happiness, and family. It sounds so simple– and it is.

Be sure to watch Jim Altieri’s video at the end of the blog post to see the story of their day unfold. It’s a tear jerker– I must warn you.

Big thanks to my friend Robert Norman for the gorgeous images of this day! xx

Congratulations Cindy and Tony! We wish you and your family a lifetime of happiness and love. xx

Credit Reel

Photography: Robert Norman Photography
Videography: Vintage Cinema
Planning & Design: Jubilee Events
Location: The Old State House
Catering & Cake: A Thyme to Cook
Floral Design: BLUSH Floral Design
Gown: Amy Kuschel from The White Dress by the shore
Hair and Makeup: Jennie Fresa Library
Ceremony & Reception Musicians: Powerstation
Transportation: Gateway Limo
Calligraphy: Michelle Dowling
Invitations: Two Ems
Wedding Day Paper: Jubilee Events

A beautiful summers afternoon was the setting at The Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown, Connecticut for Cameron and Josh’s classic wedding. Surrounded by 100 of their nearest and dearest, they exchanged heartfelt vows on the great lawn and danced the night away under a beautiful Sperry Tent.

Cameron and Josh chose simple shades of white, blush pink and charcoal. In their pursuit for wedding decor, they amassed an impressive collection of unique milk glass pieces that Elisabeth from BLUSH arranged peonies and large garden roses in. Gourmet Galley served up a delicious evening of vegetarian delights as guests dined on lasagna and pappardelle pasta. Yum!

Many thanks to the talented Charlotte Jenks Lewis, who made it nearly impossible to complete this blog post because I couldn’t pair down her images into a short list of favorites. Enjoy!

Credit Reel

Photography: Charlotte Jenks Lewis
Videography: Buzz Media Company
Planning & Rentals: Jubilee Events
Location: The Wadsworth Mansion
Catering: Gourmet Galley
Floral Design: BLUSH Floral Design
Paper & Invitations: Mr. Boddington’s Studio
Calligraphy: Tara Jones
Tent & Lighting: Sperry Tents
Officiant: Mary Coburn
Musicians: Millenium Music
DJ: Rob Alberti
Bride’s dress: Amsale (from the Blue Label Line)
Bride’s shoes: J.Crew
Groom’s suit: J.Crew
Junior bridesmaids dresses: David’s Bridal

This was a very special wedding for us here at Jubilee Events– the bride is a close friend of ours and a colleague who we are so fortunate enough to get to work with quite a bit. Elisabeth and Marco were married on THE hottest day of the year in one of the most beautiful weddings we’ve ever had the fortune of being part of. Designed head-to-toe by the bride, infusing her love for blush pink and romantic flowers, their wedding was a celebration with their most closest family and friends. Their main inspiration for the entire wedding was the beautiful Cafe Au Lait Dahlia and a blushy pink large Dahlia that is only available for a short time during the year.

The bride wore a gorgeous yet simple gown from Monique Lhuillier with a beautiful, long floral appliqued veil and khaki colored Christian Louboutian Shoes. The bridesmaids were in khaki colored Calypso dresses. All hair and makeup was done by the talented team at Jennie Fresa Beauty Library.

Their ceremony took place inside the vines with guests sitting on custom made wooden benches from A Thyme to Cook. Just before the ceremony, the skies opened up and rain poured down for a good half hour. Luckily, with a little patience, they were still able to get married outside as planned… and it couldn’t have been more beautiful or romantic. Guests arrived and were greeted with refreshing fruit infused water. Their friend, Eric, played guitar as the bridal party walked down the aisle. Manson jars lined the aisle, hung from shepherds hooks and filled with Cafe Au Lait Dahlias, herbs and greenery. The alter was flanked by a beautiful arch, covered in bay leaf garland with Midori dupioni ribbon streamers in shades of blush pink, champagne and ivory– which fluttered in the breeze during the ceremony. Guests fanned themselves from the heat with chocolate colored wicker fans.

Elisabeth, along with her equally talented mom, spent months planning all the fine details of the day from every single bloom to the handmade signs labeling the food, favors and drinks. Her mom handmade the gorgeous chalkboard signs that were scattered around the reception, completed with handmade ivory paper flowers and leaves. They were so, so beautiful!

Cocktail hour was amongst the vines and along the beautiful rock wall during sunset. Guests dinned on local artisan cheeses paired with J. Edwards wine. Highboy tables had beautiful mason jars tied with twine and loose, organically arranged flowers which we later spread along the rock wall during dinner.

Elisabeth and Marco really wanted a laid back wedding, where they could spend a fun evening with all of their family and friends. Guests dinned on a relaxed, seasonal, and delicious menu prepared by A Thyme to Cook of spice rubbed sirloin, local green and yellow wax beans, wood grilled swordfish and cherry tomato and cucumber salad.

Their tablescapes will always be a favorite of mine– and I had so much fun seeing Elisabeth’s vision come together. They had a mixture of rectangle and round tables with beautiful floor length white linen and natural “tuscany” runners from La Tavola Linen. Each place setting had a beautiful rattan charger with an irish hemstitched linen napkin, blush pink menu card, and a spring of fragrant rosemary.

The floral design was a collaboration with Yumiko and the staff of Hana Floral Design, which helped to make Elisabeth’s visions a reality! I can only imagine what it must be like planning the floral design of your wedding as an event florist, so Elisabeth spent months planning her flower order to get just the right shade of blush pink and all the right textures to create the whimsical organic feel for the vineyard. She found these rich dark wood boxes that were the perfect addition to the round tables, filled with a mix of flowers in shades of pale pink, champagne with soft greens. The longer, family style rectangular tables had a wooden plant crate down the center, with varying mason jars filled with single flower varieties. Succulents and balsawood flowers added some interesting textures on both tablescapes. Candles were scattered all over in square frosted votives and mason jars.

The gorgeous cake was created by Ana Parzych and featured a large handmade sugar Cafe Au Lait Dahlia with chocolate branches and hand painted leaves, it was absolutely stunning! (and delicious!!)

Perhaps my favorite part of the wedding, Elisabeth and Marco supplied two large wheels of Parmesan Cheese with waxed bags for guests to take a chunk home–a nod to Marco’s Italian heritage and their love of cooking!

And as the night concluded A Thyme To Cook came out with delicious miniature ice cream cones filled with Basil Verbena Sorbet– they were so scrumptious and cooled everyone down after a night of dancing!

A huge thank you to Denise Creiger Photography for the beautiful images below!

Elisabeth and Marco just celebrated their 1 year anniversary– congratulations guys! It was such an amazing and memorable day and we feel truly honored to have been part of it. xo!

Credit Reel

Photography: Denise Creiger Photography
Hair & Makeup: Jennie Fresa Beauty Library
Flowers: Hana Floral Design & BLUSH Floral Design
Event Planning: Jubilee Events
Ceremony & Reception Location: Jonathan Edwards Winery
Cake: Ana Parzych
Invitations: Lucky Luxe
Celebrant: Victoria Burdick
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Dress: Monique Lhuillier from The Plumed Serpent
Catering: A Thyme to Cook
Tent: Sperry Tents
Out of Town Bags: Le Petits Presents
Rentals: Jubilee Events
Linens: La Tavola Linen

Melissa and Peter were married on a chilly November evening in Greenwich on the harbor, with a beautiful vintage / deco wedding style with some modern elements. In a color story of crisp white, blue, and silver– they warmed up their palette with shades of amber and orange.

Their ceremony was held in a local church with 200 of their closest family and friends. Melissa wore a stunning Claire Pettibone dress with a gorgeous lace back. Her bridesmaids were beautiful in state blue j.crew dresses and jewels. Datura: A Modern Garden created a stunning bridal bouquet, choosing white paphiopedilum orchids which were so fresh and perfect, accented with only a single green trick dianthus at the center and a few spirals of grass at the base. The bouquet was wrapped with fabric from her mom’s wedding gown. For her maids, Datura chose bronze cymbidium stems with uluhe fern shoots and grass.

The altar was dressed with two massive 14′ tall fall foliage trees at their autumn peak with Moroccan lanterns strung from the branches. The aisles were lined with fresh autumn leaves and accented with over sized lanterns and nearly 200 candles, designed by Datura.

Melissa and Peter’s reception was held at L’escale, a world famous restaurant in downtown Greenwich with the most delicious french food! They took over the entire restaurant, where guests dined in a room filled with thousands of candles and gorgeous long and round tables with two centerpiece designs: a white orchid and candle component composition in slender stemware along with gathering vases with an art-deco style branch centerpiece strung with white vanda orchids and votives in blown glass globes. For their sweetheart table, Datura designed a custom branch cascade with willow and orchids.

We used a mixture of gorgeous La Tavola Linen in the Andalusian in Silver and Nonius in Silver accented with a deep grey pintuck. Their napkins were Dupionique Iridescence in New Moon were folded horizontally across silver beaded chargers with a deco designed circular menu card.

They had an incredible lounge that guests enjoyed toward the end of the evening! L’escale’s long banquets were lined with silk pillows in varying shades of silver and blue, silver pewter chiavari chairs, and mirrored coffee tables. We created unique lounge vignettes with white leather tuffeted ottomans and mirrored coffee tables, along with a velvet tuffeted couch. Datura created varying centerpieces in square mirrored vases and round glass bowls. We lined the patio with hightops in the Nonius Silver and draped the edges of the patio with fabric and uplighting.

Guests danced the evening away to a sick band from Vali Entertainment and a photobooth by Carla Ten Eyck Photography! Check out the gorgeous images below by Katie Slater and after your finished, head over to Vantage Point Films to check out their highlight reel!

Melissa– Pete– thank you SO much for letting me be part of your wedding day. I miss our daily emails and planning pow-wows. I am so happy for you both and wish you all the very best things that life has to offer. XOXOXO!

Credit Reel

Photography: Katie Slater for Carla Ten Eyck Photography
Cinematography: Vantage Point Films
Floral Design: Datura – A Modern Garden
Event Planning & Design: Jubilee Events
Reception Location: L’escale at the Delamar Hotel
Dress: Claire Pettibone
Beauty: Jill Imbruogo and Arlene Cole
Bridesmaid Dresses & Jewelrey: J. Crew
Cupcakes: Great Cakes of Westport
Uplighting: Shoreline AV
Lounge Furniture: Jubilee Events
Linens: La Tavola Linen
Band: Vali Entertainment

Before we start to share with you inspiration for the wedding of Prince William and Kate, we are beginning our Royal Wedding Week with an homage to the most recent royal wedding of our time: Charles and Diana. Over the past few days I’ve been immersed in the details of their 1981 wedding, which defined a generation and changed the wedding industry indefinitely. I am certain we are on the cusp of the same level of greatness, so what better way to celebrate than to look at how it all began?

The one detail that permeates through the ages is the opulence and magnitude of Diana’s gown. Designed by two virtually unknown designers David and Elizabeth Emmanuel, her gown was something princesses are made of with layers of ivory silk, delicate lace detailing on the bodice and large ruffled sleeves, and a 25-foot-train. She wore the Spencer Family gold tiara, which is formed into tulip and star shaped flowers with diamonds. She carried a massive cascading bouquet with white flowers and lush greenery. Her maids were dressed in sleeved gowns inspired by her own, with pretty hand tied bouquets and floral wreaths for their hair.

When looking at all the images from the Royal Wedding of 1981 everything looks like a fairytale. Much of the fashion and details feels quite dated next to the current, more modern weddings of our time. Pay close attention– because A LOT of what you see is going to come back into Vogue– and rather soon. Well, that is, everything except for the cascading bouquet!

Since every bride’s wedding starts off with a source of inspiration– her gown– tomorrow we’ll talk about our ideas for what Kate Middleton might wear to the formal ceremony and her evening reception!

Cheerio!
Xxoo!

A wedding with so many carefully thought out details: that was the story of Anna and Matt. They started their planning journey with a rocky start– troubled by hardships. Luckily, they entered a contest on Style Me Pretty and were chosen to receive a wedding with support by a lot of special vendors, including Jessica’s Country Flowers, who organized the give-a-way and designed all of their flowers.

They were destined to have an Alice in Wonderland styled wedding on the last weekend of summer, surrounded by 150 of their nearest and dearest. Mostly do-it-yourself, they took on a ton of projects to truly make their wedding their own. From fabric pennant flags that the bride sewed, to the wedding paper suite expertly designed by the groom (with a little help from an amazing illustrator Krista Wildermuth). Perhaps the most amazing piece of homemade décor was the antique door we suspended above their long, family style head table with dozens of antique medicine bottles hanging above like a chandelier. The sweetest part of their story is they were inspired by so many blogs and other couples!

In this kind of styled event, we were inspired by the original Alice in Wonderland and took some visual cues: pearls that the bride wore, “eat me” and “drink me” signs, a play on cards using them as favors and being inspired by them with their cake, the use of zinnias and dahlias in their flowers. But overall, Anna and Matt wanted a colorful, fun, and quirky look that represented them as a couple. We used fun and playful colors— aqua, blue, pink, red, and shades of silver to bring their vision to life.

Their ceremony took place just a stones throw from where the bride grew up at a little, teeny tiny church called Hope Valley Church. A hydrangea covered wreath greeted guests at the steeple and sweet music from a duo of violins prompted the ceremony, where Anna was escorted down the aisle by her dad. She wore an absolutely gorgeous gown with ruffles that cascaded down the back… And layers, and layers of vintage pearls collected from flea markets & antique shops. A cage veil and pretty fascinator, all from The White Dress by the Shore. Matt wore a Versace suit and tie with a pair of custom chuck taylors.

After the ceremony, guests blew bubbles and saw the newly weds off to their epic reception— complete with gorgeous tablescapes designed by us full of sweet little details, and a lot of fun. The bride and groom had their hand on every piece of décor for their wedding— we scouted vintage china used to serve guests dinner at flea markets (Brimfield, to be exact!) together and borrowed unique pieces from Anna’s father— a man who loves antiques! Each guest plucked their escort card from an antique barn door from Anna’s home that Matt hammered vintage nails into. A tag with their name on it, affixed to a skeleton key, guided them to their table. After dinner, they danced the night away with family and friends into the wee hours!

Big props to my friends at Raw Photo Design for sharing so generously these stunning images!

What seems like yesterday was so long ago– congratulations Anna and Matt! We feel so honored to have been part of your journey and are exceptionally grateful for your friendship.

Credit Reel

Wedding Photography: Raw Photo Design
Event Design & Planning: Jubilee Events
Flowers: Jessica’s Country Flowers
Wedding Dress & Veil: Vineyard Collection by Priscilla of Boston via The White Dress by the Shore
Ceremony Location: Hope Valley Church, Amston, CT
Reception Location: The Barns at Wesleyan Hills
Custom Lighting: Rob Alberti
Wedding Invitations: DIY by Bride & Groom
Monogram: Krista Wildermuth
Wedding Cake: Kelly’s Sweet Rewards
Makeup: Blush Couture Design
Ceremony Music: Millennium Music
DJ: DJ Derek
Shoes: Stuart Weitzmen
Hair: Andrea’s Hair Studio, Glastonbury, CT
Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo via The White Dress by the Shore
Calligraphy: Jondahl Meotti